Hopes remain high that a buyer will be found for the Athlone Zavvi store, after a number of branches in the Republic of Ireland were purchased by rival chain HMV this week.
According to a spokesperson for Ernst & Young, liquidators for the company, the Athlone store continues to trade and hopes remain high that the jobs of its 15 employees can be retained. Talks are continuing with interested parties on the possibility of securing a buyer for the store.
The Athlone branch of Zavvi went into liquidation on December 30, along with the retailer’s 10 other Irish stores.
However it emerged on Wednesday that music retail giants HMV - subject to court and regulatory approval - are to purchase five of Zavvi’s stores in the Republic of Ireland, securing employment for a total of 110 workers in the Dundalk, Dundrum, Liffey Valley, Limerick, and Newbridge stores.
HMV also bought nine Zavvi stores across the UK, saving a total of 269 jobs. All of these 14 stores will be rebranded as HMV.
Athlone is among the five remaining Zavvi branches which continue to trade but whose future is uncertain. Stores in Arklow, Cork, Kilkenny, and Sligo also remain open, with a total of 78 jobs up in the air.
Earlier this week Zavvi closed its Blanchardstown store with the loss of 13 jobs.
A total of 22 stores have been closed since Zavvi went into administration on Christmas Eve, as a result of the collapse the wholesale division of its main supplier, Woolworths’ Entertainment UK.
