NEWRY'S Buttercrane Centre has been boosted with the opening of five stores trading across 15,000 sq ft of additional retail space in what represents a £1.1 million investment, creating more 45 jobs.
There have been new lettings to Boots Opticians, B Perfect Cosmetics and fashion boutique Ivy Lane, while existing tenants Home and Superdrug have both doubled their footprint.
Buttercrane is already home to 50-plus stores, anchored by Primark, Dunnes Stores, Sports Direct and Lidl, and the new lets mean the centre now has an occupancy rate of 98 per cent.
“Following on from recent major investment in the scheme, opening up Bridge Street and acquiring anchor tenants Sports Direct and Lidl last year, we’ve capitalised on that appeal to deliver an exciting combination of new brands to Buttercrane,” centre manager Peter Murray said.
“These new brands, larger stores and enhanced mall offering are testament to the hard work of our management team, letting agents Lambert Smith Hampton and Cushman Wakefield, and the ongoing investment of the landlord in ensuring the highest quality services and facilities for our customers.”
He added: “Buttercrane has always offered an enviable mix of independent and national retailers which customers love, and we are delighted to welcome these new brands and expansion of existing traders.
“This has created significant new employment in the area and it’s great so see local and national companies investing economically in our region.
“The cumulative £1.1m investment is a clear signal of confidence in Newry City, in traditional ‘bricks and mortar retail’ and in Buttercrane centre itself.”
Boots the Chemist has been successful trading in Buttercrane 20 years and has now added Boots the Optician in what is their seventh such store in Northern Ireland.
Award-winning Irish cosmetic brand B Perfect, first launched by Brendan McDonnell in 2012, has launched its new store in Buttercrane, joining other mega stores in Belfast, Dublin and Glasgow, and Buttercrane has also welcomed Ivy Lane, a new independent female fashion boutique specialising in on-trend, affordable fashion.
Meanwhile Superdrug has doubled the footprint of its store and its staff numbers, becoming one of the brand's largest stores in Northern Ireland. It now occupies 7,000 sq ft and brings a number of new cosmetic brands to Newry including Nails Inc, Bourjois, Re Love by Revolution and skin care collections from La RocPosey, AHC, Egyptian Magic, ALYA and Imina.
And kitchen, living and bedding specialist Home, which has been trading in Buttercrane for four years, moved into a new retail unit in the centre, which doubles its footprint to 2,800 sq ft.
