Legacy furniture superstore The Loft hits the market for €6m The Loft, a well-established furniture superstore located on a prominent site between Cornmarket Street and North Main Street in Cork city centre, has been placed on the market with a guide price of €6 million. The property, owned by the Herlihy family, spans approximately 21,000 sq ft on a 0.5-acre (0.2-hectare) site and has long been recognised as a landmark retail destination in the city. The vendors have undertaken preliminary planning work in collaboration with Douglas Wallace Architects to explore future development opportunities for the site. Their proposed scheme envisions a mixed-use development that would retain retail space at ground level while incorporating student accommodation in the upper floors. This approach reflects an effort to balance commercial viability with the evolving demographic needs of Cork’s city centre, particularly its large student population. Rodney Herlihy, representing the family owners, noted that significant consideration had been given to the site’s potential, citing the influence of the late Hugh Wallace, whose earlier architectural input helped shape initial concepts for the property. The Herlihy family confirmed they had engaged in a “positive” pre-planning consultation with Cork City Council regarding the proposed development, describing it as a carefully considered architectural intervention aimed at responding sensitively to the historical, urban and human context of the location. The sale of The Loft comes amid broader changes in Cork’s retail landscape, with several long-standing businesses on North Main Street either closing or relocating in recent months. However, the property’s size, central location, and development flexibility have positioned it as a notable opportunity for investors interested in urban regeneration projects that combine commercial and residential uses.
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