Traders in Ireland's first ethnic market in Dublin's Moore Street will be forced to shut up shop permanently by the end of the month.
About a dozen traders renting units in the indoor mall, including African and Chinese hairdressers as well as food and clothes retailers, have to leave on foot of a recent High Court order. The building, originally a bingo hall, does not have proper planning permission and is in breach of fire regulations.
The market is one of a cluster of buildings bought in the area by the developers of a proposed large Millennium Mall, which was granted planning permission 18 months ago. However, the buildings are now the subject of a compulsory purchase order by Dublin City Council.
Traders say they knew the premises were earmarked for future development, but were not aware that they did not have proper planning permission and breached fire regulations.
They say they fear their forced move will lead to a drop in the businesses they have steadily built up in the premises, which have become a focal point for ethnic minorities on the busy fruit and vegetable market street.
Mr Ramadan Bettamer, a disc jockey who has run a reggae music shop in the market for almost a year, said traders were shocked to learn several weeks ago that the premises had to be be closed shortly. "We have been mentioned in guide books to Dublin, and a lot of people will come to visit us because people love markets, and now we are being forced to be dispersed," said Mr Bettamer.
"We are like a family here. Everybody comes here to buy music, African food, clothes. Being in a market is not like being in a single shop."
Mr Bettamer said he spent some €1,200 fixing up his small unit. He and some of the traders plan to share new smaller premises in 8 Parnell Street, while others are moving into other premises in Moore Street.
Mr Eugene Ju, who set up the busy Chinese Huaying Restaurant and Internet CafΘ only six months ago, said he had expected to remain in the premises for at least a year. He invested heavily in installing a kitchen to the rear of his shop, which attracts many Chinese students.
"I can't take that with me so I'll lose the money invested in the kitchen," he said. "I have found another room a few doors up on the second floor just for the Internet cafΘ but it's very hard to find a place for a restaurant."
The premises in Moore Street were found to be in breach of fire regulations earlier this year following an inspection by district officers from Dublin Fire Brigade.
Dublin City Council sought the cessation of the unauthorised use of the premises, which was granted by the High Court, with the consent of the owners, Mr Paul Clinton and Mr Richard Quirke. A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said planning permission was never sought or granted for the current multiple use of the building.