British department store chain John Lewis has declared "long-term" plans to enter the market in the Republic, but only after it opens a £40 million (€58.68 million) store outside Belfast.
John Lewis is among the last big-name brands in British retailing that does not have a business in the booming Irish market, where its rival Debenham's this month bought out nine of Roches Stores 11 outlets.
"The company has a clear all-Ireland perspective. However, the focus is very much on making Northern Ireland its first entry/location in Ireland," said a spokeswoman for John Lewis.
She said John Lewis "has had approaches" from within the market in the Republic, but she would not identify those who made the approaches or the nature of their proposals.
The chain was not at present examining any specific project in the Republic or any specific location, she said. Its "aim and objective" was to develop a presence in the Republic but it has no firm plans at the moment.
Speculation in Dublin suggests that John Lewis might have an interest in taking over Clerys' landmark building on O'Connell Street, but the John Lewis spokeswoman said that was not on its agenda. In the wake of Debenham's deal with Roches Stores, Clerys dismissed any suggestion that it would also be sold. Clerys recently reported a return to profitability, but its ownership of the O'Connell Street building makes it a prime takeover target. However, the company has doggedly maintained its independence.
John Lewis' intention to establish a business in the Republic appears to have been delayed by the planning difficulties it has encountered in the North. The chain has promised to create 1,000 jobs at a new 20438sq m (220,000sq ft) outlet at Sprucefield near Lisburn and Belfast, but planning permission was overturned on what the chain described as as "procedural technicality".
Secretary of State Peter Hain has said since then that the application should be resubmitted as quickly as possible. The John Lewis spokeswoman said that the Sprucefield store will "draw significant numbers of customers from the South" when it opens. Given the rapid expansion of the Irish market and the flood of international retail brands into it, industry insiders believe a move by John Lewis is inevitable.
Separately, Dublin retailer Arnotts said the US chain Gap will take out 8,500 square feet of floorspace in the basement of its department store at Henry Street, Dublin. The floorspace in Gap's first Irish outlet will be slightly smaller than the 929sq m (10,000 sq ft) occupied by the River Island concession in Arnotts.
