The renovated store is 50 per cent bigger in size and creates an additional 180 new jobs for Galway.
The renovations were a part of the retailer’s commitment to invest €250 million in Ireland over the next 10 years, the figure includes the redevelopment, relocation and/or refurbishment of its stores across the country, with €20 million going into the refurbishment and enhancement of the popular store in Eyre Square. It will now offer 45,000 sq ft of retail space across two floors and will feature a new Nails @ Penneys beauty salon in store.
The extension has resulted in an additional 180 new jobs, 50 permanent and 130 temporary roles, bringing the total employment figures for the Eyre Square branch to 355 people. As a part of Penneys’ focus on developing its people and creating internal opportunities for growth, 14 new department managers have been promoted internally from the existing store team.
Speaking about the expansion and growth in the number of jobs, the Mayor of Galway, Cllr Clodagh Higgins said, “Penneys has expanded its premises and in doing so they have created 180 new jobs, which is a huge investment for Galway.
“It demonstrates the strength and continued growth of Penneys with this €20 million investment and it’s a testament to their place in the Irish market. Furthermore, it highlights the attractiveness of Galway for investment from important home-grown international retailers.”
Speaking on the extension, head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, Damien O’Neill said, “We are delighted to complete this major extension and renovation of our Eyre Square store, just in time for the busy Christmas season ahead.
“We are committed to providing the best in-store experience to our customers, so this refreshed store with a new lower ground floor space allows us to showcase an expanded product range, offering even more great-value fashion and essentials to people in Galway, including a new beauty salon. We are proud to continue to play our part in supporting Irish towns and communities and to investing in Irish retail.”
