Inside Clerys Quarter’s BIG Money plans and what will be in the new complex when it reopens

THE new Clerys Quarter is slated to be completed within a few weeks – and stores are slated to open before the summer.

The major restoration project will open to the public almost eight years after the iconic Dublin store Clerys closed

3

3

Clerys’ iconic clock has been restored and was unveiled today at a ceremony by Dublin Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy.

The 170-year-old department store suddenly closed in June 2015 with the loss of more than 460 jobs.

Inside, the refurbishment aimed to restore the old, historical features.

These include antique stairs, columns, ceiling elements and the columned facade.

And the original Clerys restaurant and bar and tea rooms are also in need of a refurbishment.

In addition, buyers will see the store being developed into a retail, office, bar and restaurant complex, as well as a hotel, alongside an adjacent building.

High-end fashion retailer Flannels will occupy half of the retail space.

Fashion giant H&M will take over the remaining space, making it the chain’s largest store in Dublin city centre.

And a rooftop bar known as “Clerys Rooftop Restaurant” operates from the top of the department store.

The 170-year-old department store closed without notice to its 460 employees in 2015 under controversial circumstances.

The store was originally bought by the Natrum consortium led by businesswoman Deirdre Foley for €29 million before it closed.

And it was sold to new owners in 2018 for around 63 million euros and has since been restored.

The iconic clock that has served as a meeting point for generations of Dubliners has been restored by clockmaker and owner of Stokes Clocks, Philip Stokes.

Speaking to RTE, he said: “Our job was to recreate the original.

“HUGE EXCITEMENT”

“We have restored the hands and Roman numerals with gold leaf and modernized the mechanical system to keep it running for the next 100 years.”

The Lord Mayor was excited about the impending reopening on Twitter.

She said: “Huge excitement at the Clerys Quarter Exhibition and the unveiling of the restored Cerys clock.”

Cllr Conroy shared snaps of the new watch as it gleamed in the sun.

She continued, “Clerys was the first department store in the world. O’Connell Street looks great.”

A new in-store exhibition called Clerys: The Archives opens tomorrow and runs through the end of the month.

3