One more sleep to Penneys Portlaoise relaunch
Image: Laois Shopping Centre
IT’S just one more sleep to the big relaunch of Penneys in Portlaoise, after completion of a major expansion that doubled the size of the store.
The ribbon will be cut at an official relaunch celebration on Thursday, 26 March at 8.30am, with doors opening to customers at 9am.
The 20,000sq.ft outlet in Laois Shopping Centre will be formally reopened by Fintan Costello, head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, together with the expanded staff team led by store manager Orla Hudson.
Work on the expansion began last September and was carried out in stages, after Penneys got planning permission to extend into two neighbouring vacant units.
The extended section opened to customers in December, while work went ahead on the refurbishment of the old store.
The total floor space has increased from 1,456m² to about 2,874m², which includes staff quarters and ancillary space, with new branded signage and self-service tills.
Penneys management described the new look store as ‘a bigger, brighterâ¯and more exciting placeâ¯for customers’â¯following the expansion and refurbishment.â¯
The old Portlaoise store came under constant criticism from shoppers for its limited stock and cramped layout, particularly in comparison to large branches in neighbouring counties such as Carlow and Kilkenny.
The expansion includes reconfiguration of the sales floor and upgrading of staff facilities such as offices, changing rooms, toilets and canteen.
