House of Fraser Dundrum/ Dunnes / John Lewi

[beanaseireann]

Sadly it looks like House of Fraser Dundrum may close because of decisions made in the UK.
There is talk it might be broken up into two smaller units. Dunnes could take one unit.
Or John Lewis could come in and take over the whole store - pre recession they had been thinking of opening a store on O' Connell Street. I think Dundrum would be more suited to their target market.

I was in dundrum for the first time in ages at the weekend, the house of Fraser store looked like a shadow of its former self, lots of the concessions were empty, display cases with nothing in them, it looked dreadful.

A John Lewis would be fantastic in its place but I think that's unlikely as they are in difficulty too, not paying a bonus to their staff for the first time. Maybe Dunnes would be good since they've moved upmarket, I love their home wares. I'm more likely to go to cornelscourt than dundrum these days.

I think John Lewis would be fantastic, there’s nothing nice in HoF any more and the only other “luxury” shops up there are BT2, which I find too young for me,and Harvey Nicks which is just a bit weird (and too dear).

Dunnes would be ok but one floor would be more than enough for them.

I hope JL take it!

I feel sorry for the staff with the threat of closure hanging over them.
HOF is very understaffed in the evening. I'm talking about the make up counters.
So many in what I presume are concessions are gone home ( they've done their hours presumably) so you don't get good service. Some staff from other concessions do try to help but others give the impression you are just a nuisance as it's not their job - it's not the concession they work for.
I agree May Feyner re Harvey Nicks being weird.

Does John Lewis or Selfridges have some sort of tie up with Arnotts? John Lewis have never been able to get planning permission at Sprucefield near Lisburn, for a big shop.

Armotts and Brown Thomas are linked to Selfridges via the Weston family I think.

That would make sense.

But how would that stop John Lewis getting planning permission in Sprucefield ?

I think they wanted to build there for a few years, but were never granted permission. But I thought I saw a few John Lewis items in Arnotts homeware dept last month, which wouldn't make sense unless they were linked. (I'd love a John Lewis near me, I miss Roches).
But Arnotts seems to be more upmarket than it used to be, so the Weston link would explain that.
I don't live near Dublin or Belfast! Is House of Fraser still open in Belfast?

Arnotts was bought by Brown Thomas/ Selfridges a couple of years ago.
Why would Lisburn councillors refuse permission to JL in Sprucefield?
I presume it falls under Lisburn council's remit ?

www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-38024398

www.pressreader.com/uk/belfast-telegraph/20130201/281479273794628

Been going on for years, but JL threw in the towel a long time ago. Last time I was in Sprucefield, it looked very unloved.

Thank you Unmentionablesandfluff

JL won’t happen at Sprucefield. Lisburn town centre won that battle.
HoF in Dundrum was always a bit dire in my opinion. The one in Belfast is much better. It is staying open up there. I hope the one in Dundrum does close, but will miss the make up section. Sad for the job loses though.

Dunnes could take one or two floors and Zara Home could take another.
Sorted

I suspected they were winding HOF down in Dundrum. All of the labels there (most) are in Dundrum Shopping Centre anyway so Ill miss it a bit but not that much.

@eggandonion JL home section is in Arnotts in town.

I won’t miss HOF. The customer service is horrendous.

I’d love to see JL. Though you can get lots of JL stuff in Arnotts.

I always thought it was weird that there’s no Dunnes in Dundrum. Though I am not a huge fan so 🤷‍♀️

LaurieMarlow what sort of JL stuff can you get in Arnotts ?
JL should have bought Arnotts when it was sold fairly recently.
Instead Brown Thomas, part of the Selfridge group bought it.
Strange that a Selfridge store would sell John Lewis stuff.

www.arnotts.ie/brands/john-lewis/

I haven’t a clue about how/why but here you go

Thanks LaurieMarlow

Looks like Brown Thomas is taking two of the floors. Irish Times story

Meh. Can’t get too excited about that.

Has anyone heard anything further about Fallon&Byrne coming to Dundrum?

I’m still getting over my devastation that they closed in Rathmines.

I just heard that on the radio. A proper BTs in Dundrum might get me back there, I used to go a couple of times a month, now it's more like a couple of times a year, I tend to go into town more now that dc are older.

The Press Up group who own half the restaurants/bars/hotels in the city are building a bowling alley and diner in the block where Hamleys used to be. I think the Fallon & Byrne must be going in to that area, or possibly that space where the ice rink used to be?

I think Dunnes have "missed a trick"
It would be great if they had taken a unit or two.

I’m sure there’s a story behind that. It’s not like it won’t have crossed anyone’s mind to have them in DD.

They are apparently complete arseholes to deal with so perhaps Dundrum Management has a bust up or couldn’t be bothered with them. Or perhaps there’s an exclusivity contract with Tesco.

DD could do with better homeware though, for sure.

It was Dunnes homeware and fashion I was thinking of not the supermarket so
It wouldn't be in competition with Tesco.
I had heard Dunnes wanted to go into Frascati but Aldi got it.