Roches Stores
Encyclopedia
Debenhams Ireland is a national chain of department stores in Ireland
, that is owned by Debenhams
.
in 1901 by William Roche, as a small furniture
shop, the chain grew to eleven stores throughout Ireland. In October 2007, Roches Stores ceased operating. Today, the Roches family leases the buildings which formerly housed Roches Stores to Debenhams Ireland. Debenhams mainly supports and sells a wide range of British
goods, from cosmetics
to houseware to clothes and stationery
.
Roches Stores caused huge controversy in the 1970s and early 1980s when it demolished Frescati House
in Blackrock, the home of Lord Edward FitzGerald
. This is to this day still recognised as a major cultural loss to the Blackrock area and with the development of newer shopping centres in Dublin, the justification for a centre at Frescati has diminished with the memories of the chain. It is worth noting that at the time of the demolition of Frescati that the planning department of Dublin Corporation
, infamous because of its failure to protect Viking remains at the Wood Quay
development was trying to gain an injunction against Roches Stores, in order to prevent the demolition. Within sight of such an action, the property was demolished after hours to prevent protesters from mounting a demonstration.
Most of the larger Roches Stores locations had a supermarket
on-site. In 1998 these stores became franchises of SuperValu
, branded as "SuperValu at Roches Stores". However between 2004 and 2006, the supermarkets were closed down.
plc, with regard to a possible sale of the business. On August 8, 2006, it was announced that Roches Stores' retailing business would be acquired by Debenhams for €29 m. As part of the deal Debenhams acquired the retail business of 9 of the 11 Roches Stores operations – including stores at St. Patrick's Street in Cork, Henry Street in Dublin, Blackrock, Waterford, Tralee and O'Connell Street
in Limerick – a total of 500000 sq ft (46,451.5 m²) of retail space. Marks and Spencer plc had agreed to acquire the company's Wilton outlet in Cork, however that deal later fell through due to a dispute over rent with the owners of the centre. As a result both the Wilton store as well as the Nutgrove store (in Dublin) closed, along with the company's head office. As part of the deal, the Roche family retained ownership of the group's property assets (the stores) and lease the premises back to Debenhams as their new tenant. The stores were rebranded as Debenhams, a move which resulted in the Roches Stores name disappearing from the Irish high street in 2007, and which is causing a sadness of sorts among Irish consumers especially those in Cork.
In October 2006, Roches Stores placed adverts in the national newspapers advertising their latest sale as their "Closing Down Sale", beginning the process of transitioning to the Debenhams brand. Sections of stores were replaced with Debenhams stock, fittings, signage and designers such as John Rocha
and Jasper Conran
. The Limerick
store was the first to be rebranded Debenhams, followed by Blanchardstown
and Tallaght
.
The St. Patrick's Street store in Cork
was rebranded as Debenhams on 30 January 2007, but the Roches Stores name remains visible as it is sculpted on the wall over the large arch window over the front entrance to the store, which was the original Roches Stores branch. Many Corkonian consumers are pleased with this, and a large number of them still refer to the store as Roches Stores rather than Debenhams. However, it was a different story in Limerick where a mosaic on the ground outside the main door was removed.
In March 2007, Debenhams reported that all but two of the stores had been rebranded, and launched a major marketing campaign under the Debenhams name.
Due to poor sales Debenhams Retail (Ireland) announced in January 2010 that it would slash 170 jobs within its Republic of Ireland stores.
In November 2010 Debenhams launched Debenhams.ie, the retailer's new Irish online store.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, that is owned by Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
.
Roches Stores (1901 - 2006)
Founded in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1901 by William Roche, as a small furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
shop, the chain grew to eleven stores throughout Ireland. In October 2007, Roches Stores ceased operating. Today, the Roches family leases the buildings which formerly housed Roches Stores to Debenhams Ireland. Debenhams mainly supports and sells a wide range of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
goods, from cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
to houseware to clothes and stationery
Stationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
.
Roches Stores caused huge controversy in the 1970s and early 1980s when it demolished Frescati House
Frescati House
Frescati was an estate situated in Blackrock, Dublin, between the mountains and the sea. During the eighteenth century, Blackrock found favour with the well-to-do of Ireland and it grew into a fashionable seaside resort. The gentry of smog-ridden Dublin advanced into the area to embrace the sea air...
in Blackrock, the home of Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald
Lord Edward FitzGerald was an Irish aristocrat and revolutionary. He was the fifth son of the 1st Duke of Leinster and the Duchess of Leinster , he was born at Carton House, near Dublin, and died of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason.-Early years:FitzGerald spent most of his...
. This is to this day still recognised as a major cultural loss to the Blackrock area and with the development of newer shopping centres in Dublin, the justification for a centre at Frescati has diminished with the memories of the chain. It is worth noting that at the time of the demolition of Frescati that the planning department of Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
, infamous because of its failure to protect Viking remains at the Wood Quay
Wood Quay
Wood Quay is a riverside area of Dublin that was a site of Viking settlement. Dublin Corporation acquired Wood Quay gradually between 1950 and 1975, finally announcing that it would be the location of their new offices. Finds made during the initial excavation of the site led to a massive, but...
development was trying to gain an injunction against Roches Stores, in order to prevent the demolition. Within sight of such an action, the property was demolished after hours to prevent protesters from mounting a demonstration.
Most of the larger Roches Stores locations had a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
on-site. In 1998 these stores became franchises of SuperValu
SuperValu (Ireland)
SuperValu is a supermarket chain in Ireland and Spain, owned by the Musgraves wholesaler firm. Its headquarters is located in Cork and has stores across the entirety of Ireland.-Company structure:...
, branded as "SuperValu at Roches Stores". However between 2004 and 2006, the supermarkets were closed down.
Debenhams Ireland (2007 – present)
Roches Stores also had an aborted attempt in the Northern Ireland market with a store in Newry. This was closed in 2002 and announced that it would be redeveloped in to a Debenhams store. It was not an acquisition, as the staff from Roches were made redundant and then were welcome to reapply to Debenhams when it opened 2 years later, although many by this time had found new jobs. This was the first contact between Debenhams and Roches and in July 2006, Irish newspapers reported that Roches Stores was in discussion with the British department store chain DebenhamsDebenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
plc, with regard to a possible sale of the business. On August 8, 2006, it was announced that Roches Stores' retailing business would be acquired by Debenhams for €29 m. As part of the deal Debenhams acquired the retail business of 9 of the 11 Roches Stores operations – including stores at St. Patrick's Street in Cork, Henry Street in Dublin, Blackrock, Waterford, Tralee and O'Connell Street
O'Connell Street, Limerick
O'Connell Street is Limerick's Main Thoroughfare. It was previously known as George's Street until it was renamed after Daniel O'Connell. Shops on O'Connell Street include Penneys, Debenhams and Brown Thomas...
in Limerick – a total of 500000 sq ft (46,451.5 m²) of retail space. Marks and Spencer plc had agreed to acquire the company's Wilton outlet in Cork, however that deal later fell through due to a dispute over rent with the owners of the centre. As a result both the Wilton store as well as the Nutgrove store (in Dublin) closed, along with the company's head office. As part of the deal, the Roche family retained ownership of the group's property assets (the stores) and lease the premises back to Debenhams as their new tenant. The stores were rebranded as Debenhams, a move which resulted in the Roches Stores name disappearing from the Irish high street in 2007, and which is causing a sadness of sorts among Irish consumers especially those in Cork.
In October 2006, Roches Stores placed adverts in the national newspapers advertising their latest sale as their "Closing Down Sale", beginning the process of transitioning to the Debenhams brand. Sections of stores were replaced with Debenhams stock, fittings, signage and designers such as John Rocha
John Rocha
John Rocha CBE, is a Hong Kong born fashion designer of Chinese and Portuguese descent who is based in Ireland.-Personal life:...
and Jasper Conran
Jasper Conran
Jasper Alexander Thirlby Conran OBE is an English fashion designer. He is the son of the designer Sir Terence Conran and the author Shirley Conran.-Education:He was educated at Port Regis School and Bryanston School in the 1970s...
. The Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
store was the first to be rebranded Debenhams, followed by Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown is a large suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal, Ireland. It is within the historical barony of Castleknock. It is located 10 km north-west of the city centre. The suburb is in the Dublin 15 postal area, the Dublin West electoral constituency, and Fingal County...
and Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
.
The St. Patrick's Street store in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
was rebranded as Debenhams on 30 January 2007, but the Roches Stores name remains visible as it is sculpted on the wall over the large arch window over the front entrance to the store, which was the original Roches Stores branch. Many Corkonian consumers are pleased with this, and a large number of them still refer to the store as Roches Stores rather than Debenhams. However, it was a different story in Limerick where a mosaic on the ground outside the main door was removed.
In March 2007, Debenhams reported that all but two of the stores had been rebranded, and launched a major marketing campaign under the Debenhams name.
Due to poor sales Debenhams Retail (Ireland) announced in January 2010 that it would slash 170 jobs within its Republic of Ireland stores.
In November 2010 Debenhams launched Debenhams.ie, the retailer's new Irish online store.
Store locations
- Blackrock ([Dublin) (formerly Roches Stores Blackrock)
- BlanchardstownBlanchardstownBlanchardstown is a large suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal, Ireland. It is within the historical barony of Castleknock. It is located 10 km north-west of the city centre. The suburb is in the Dublin 15 postal area, the Dublin West electoral constituency, and Fingal County...
(formerly Roches Stores Blanchardstown) - Cork (Mahon Point)
- Cork (St. Patrick's Street) (formerly Roches Stores Cork)
- Dublin (Henry StreetHenry StreetHenry Street can refer to the following streets:*Henry Street , a street in Dublin, Ireland*Henry Street , a street in Manhattan, New York, United States...
) (formerly Roches Stores Dublin) - GalwayGalwayGalway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
(formerly Roches Stores Galway) - LimerickLimerickLimerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
(formerly Roches Stores Limerick) - NewbridgeNewbridge, County KildareThe earliest known mention of Newbridge was by traveller and bookseller John Dunton in 1698, though he does not refer to any settlement other than at Ballymany....
- TallaghtTallaghtTallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
(formerly Roches Stores Tallaght) - Tralee (formerly Roches Stores Tralee)
- WaterfordWaterfordWaterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
(formerly Roches Stores Waterford)