Phase Two is due to start from next week, which will see lots of Irish shops reopening in line with the guidelines. Here’s what we know about Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Penneys, and more stores reopening next week
Since the Covid-19 pandemic caused restrictions and store closures across Ireland in March, we have been waiting to see when some of our favourite fashion and beauty stores will reopen. Ireland is set to enter Phase Two of the plans for reopening on Monday June 8 – should the public health officials advise it’s safe to do so – and some of the country’s biggest retailers are planning to open their doors. Here’s what we know so far about Brown Thomas, Arnotts and Penneys reopening, and what the next phase looks likes for retailers.
Dublin
Brown Thomas and Arnotts are introducing a phased reopening of their stores from next week. From Wednesday 10 June, Brown Thomas on Dublin’s Grafton Street is opening its ground level, which includes its beauty and accessories halls, Hermes store, Louis Vuitton store and the MAC store.
Nearby on Grafton St, one of Ireland’s most renowned retailers, Weir & Sons, which celebrated 150 years last year, will be open from Monday 8 June with social distancing, health and safety precautions in place. This is especially great news if the recent restrictions halted plans for popping the question, as you can now view rings,check sizes and get advice in person! Appointments are encouraged by emailing: customersupport@weir.ie.
On Thursday 11 June, Arnotts will open its ground-level floor giving access to the beauty hall, menswear and accessories sections.
The Phase Two plans allow for smaller, street-access retail units to open, so it was thought that larger department stores wouldn’t be able to open until much later. However, the Brown Thomas and Arnotts plan to “divide their ground floors up into separate smaller silos that effectively will be operated as individual stores with their own street entrances,” according to the Irish Times.
Cork, Galway & Limerick
Brown Thomas stores in Cork, Galway and Limerick are also set to open next week, from Friday 12 June, in a similar manner. They will only be accessible via street entrances and will give access to the sections on those levels. The stores will adhere to strict social distancing measures, with all staff trained in these measures ahead of reopening.
Penneys and others
Over the weekend a number of posts were circulated on social media stating that Penneys was starting a phased reopening of its Irish stores from June 1, garnering hundreds of comments and shares. However, spokespeople for the retailer have said that the statements are untrue and that no date has been announced for the stores to reopen yet: “We have not made any announcement about reopening in Ireland and social media posts which are circulating with an opening date are false,” a spokesperson told thejournal.ie. “Nothing matters more to us than the health and wellbeing of our employees and customers. That is why we will only reopen our stores once we are convinced that it is safe and right to do so.”
However, Primark – as Penneys is known internationally – has revealed that all 153 of its outlets in England will reopen from June 15, while stores in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are expected to reopen later in June, pending ‘further guidance’ from regional administrations.
In terms of other retailers, Phase Two plans say that “small retail outlets and marts where social distancing can be observed” are allowed to open. The Phase Two plans also indicate that people will be able to travel up to 20 kilometres from their home from Monday, but the advice is still to avoid unnecessary journeys. This next phase is dependant on getting the go-ahead from public health officials.
