DUNNES Stores is thought to have paid about £3.5 million for the anchor store of 40,000 square feet in a new shopping centre, which is to open next March in Thurles. Dunnes will operate a supermarket and clothes store, its first in the Co Tipperary town. The remaining 20,000 square feet of retail space will be broken into 14 units, according to Neil Bannon of letting agents Harrington Bannon. Rents of £20 per square foot are being quoted for the smaller units, which will range in size from 275 to 2,000 square feet. The shopping centre is being developed by Clancy Construction of Co Tipperary.