The operators of the Dundrum Town Centre believe they will attract up to 50,000 customers for the opening day of the south Dublin shopping complex tomorrow.
Despite concerns among local residents about traffic congestion, and complaints from some indigenous traders about rent prices, the centre - the largest enclosed retail space in the country - will be opened as planned at 10am after an ecumenical service in the town's new square.
A spokesman for the centre said he hoped its 3,400 car-parking spaces would be sufficient to meet the demand of customers, adding discussions were ongoing with staff about their parking arrangements.
"There is no staff parking at the site," he said. "We will be encouraging staff to avail of public transport, and some will be incentivised to do that."
The centre was responding to criticism yesterday from local residents who claimed that builders and other workers at the site were already parking in large numbers in their estates.
Chris McCarthy, a spokesman for the neighbouring Ardglas Residents' Association, said: "The centre is being opened prematurely. We have had the builders with us for three to four years, and now we will have staff searching for parking."
The association also criticised the decision to locate a new filling station on the main round-about into Dundrum, saying this would add to existing traffic chaos. In addition, "many of the local shops which have loyally served the Dundrum community for many years are being forced to close, because they would not be facilitated in the new centre".
One such retailer threatened with closure is Dundrum Books, whose owner, Liz Meldon, accused the developers of reneging on promises to facilitate small traders. "I was in the tenants' association, and they made us believe we were part and parcel of the new centre. But what they are actually doing is putting us out of business.
"I have 21 years left on my lease. But I don't want compensation. I want to continue with my business," she said.
Rents in the new complex are said to be up to 10 times those in the existing Dundrum shopping centre which will be demolished "some time in 2006", according to the developers. They said plans for a low-rent retail space behind Holy Cross Church had been scrapped some time ago, principally because of planning conditions which required all construction to be done "on site".
The centre spokesman stressed, however, that many existing retailers would be facilitated in the second phase of the development, due to be completed in spring 2008.
But Ms Meldon said: "With the rents they are charging, it will only be the big retail chains here. The independent retailers are going to be eliminated, and I don't think that's what the community wants."
Some other retailers made similar complaints to The Irish Times yesterday but said they preferred not to be named.
The centre spokesman said a number of shops, including Tesco, AWear, Pennys and Spectra, were moving to the new complex. "If there are people who are discommoded, they would be in a minority. The majority are happy with their compensation or are moving up," he said.
Local Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell said she sympathised with local residents, whose demands for proper traffic management should be heeded.
She said: "I am sure the centre is going to be sheer bedlam until it is fully open in September. But I think overall Dundrum was dying prior to this development."
Dublin Bus has given a reprieve to its 48/48A bus route servicing Dundrum following an outcry from local residents and politicians. Four other bus routes will service the new centre: the 17 (between Rialto and Blackrock); the 44 and 44C (between the city centre and Enniskerry); and the 75 (between Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire).
The centre is also a short walk from the Balally stop on the Luas Green Line.
