Shopping boom continues into new year
January 2001
A pre- Christmas boom in Dundalk shops shows no signs of abating as bargain hunters seek out the best deals at the January sales.
Traders along Park Street are celebrating one of their busiest festive seasons in recent years with the town’s catchment area proving a major strong point in this success.
‘ The general feedback is that it has been an excellent Christmas,’ reports Austin Reid, chairman, Park Street Traders’ Association.
‘Northern trade has, of course, been up over the last two years with shoppers crossing the border making great savings on purchases and as a result Dundalk’s economy is booming.’
Park Street boasts a wide variety of shops, but insufficient parking continues to be a source of concern.
‘We would support calls for a multii-storey car park in Dundalk as it is evident there are growing problems,’ Mr Reid continues.
He welcomes an announcement by Minister Noel Dempsey to limit the size of shopping centres and to prevent such developments on green field sites.
‘Obviously, these major out-of-town centres are a threat to the livelihood of independent traders like myself and others in Park Street.’
He points out plans to remove the Bank of Ireland from Park Street are of some concern, especially in terms of security when businesses will have to make deposits in night safes at the Clanbrassil Street branch which is further away.
Meanwhile, Dundalk Shopping Centre, reveals ‘all figures up on previous years’ and shops continuing to be busy into January.
‘Even inclement weather does not put people off making their way here,’ says Vincent Byrne, manager.
‘ The availability of ample parking is a big draw, and the opportunity to buy everything under one roof.’