The Athlone branch of troubled home improvement chain B&Q is to remain open, after a deal was made to secure improved lease terms.
B&Q confirmed on Tuesday that the store will now remain open, with the jobs of its 45 staff members safe for now, subject to a successful outcome to the ongoing examinership process.
While the Athlone store will now return to normal trading, the announcement does not affect the Waterford store, which is still scheduled to close on May 4.
B&Q Ireland operates nine large B&Q stores in Ireland, in Athlone, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Naas, Waterford, Liffey Valley, Swords, and Tallaght. Negotiations on the leases for the remaining seven B&Q stores are ongoing.
B&Q announced on January 31 that the chain had gone into examinership, and that it was planning to close its Athlone and Waterford stores as they were “uneconomic”.
Cllr Paul Hogan welcomed the news that B&Q is to continue operating and that the 45 jobs have been reinstated.
“I am delighted with the news that the 45 jobs have been reinstated at the Athlone facility in Arcadia Retail Park. This is tremendous news for the workers, their families, the company, and all of the adjoining businesses in Arcadia Retail Park.”
