Mr Price store flooded ahead of grand opening

DISCOUNT retailer Mr Price’s store in Hanover Square had to suspend trading last week after it was flooded following the heavy rainfall from Storm Chandra.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The store had to close for some of Monday and Tuesday and suspend trading for the safety of staff and our loyal customers, and to allow our hardworking store staff and maintenance team to pump the water out. The floors were covered in water. with some areas worse at the lower levels.” This comes as the retailer is set to open its biggest ever store in Carlow Shopping Centre, with the grand opening set for Thursday 12 February at noon.

The new shop will be moved from Hanover Square to a larger unit in Carlow Shopping Centre, which has been lying idle since it was formerly occupied by Penneys. Mr Price’s Barrow Valley Retail Park store in Graiguecullen will continue operating as normal.

The new opening provides a welcome development for Carlow Town Shopping Centre and it is hoped that the store’s presence as an anchor tenant will bring more retailers back to the centre and the town itself, which has experienced multiple closures of retail units in recent months.

To celebrate the grand opening, Mr Price will be handing out ‘golden tickets’ to the first 30 customers in the door on Thursday 12 February, while there will also be giveaways, free balloons and an instore DJ.

A statement from the company confirmed that there will be a team of 35 staff working in the store. ‘Our team of 35 staff are excited and ready to welcome customers into what is our biggest store yet. We believe shoppers will be amazed by the size of the store and the sheer volume of bargains on offer. Taking over a vacant unit and bringing new energy, jobs and footfall back into the shopping centre is something we’re incredibly proud of,’ the statement read.

Mr Price is fully Irish owned and employs over 1,700 people nationwide.