Catalogue sales multiple Argos is shortly to open its 12th store in the Republic in Cork. The company will be paying a rent of slightly over £250,000 per annum for a 10,000-squarefoot store at the Queens Old Castle shopping centre on Grand Parade. It will also have 2,000 square feet of storage at first floor level. Clarendon Properties, which acquired the centre from Power Corporation, bought out the interests of the tenants and later let part of the space to Virgin Megastore at staggered rent of £225,000 to £250,000. Fintan Tierney of Lambert Smith Hampton advised Argos on the deal.