After 50 years trading Arch Motors in Westside is to close the car dealership side of the business with immediate effect due to the difficult trading conditions in recent times.
It was announced this week that the Peugeot dealer for Galway will no longer be in the business of car sales and repairs with the loss of 12 jobs. The Topaz Filling Station and shop will be unaffected and will continue to operate as normal.
A statement from the board of Arch Motors reads: “We sincerely thank our many valued customers for their continued business and support which helped sustain us for all of the 50 years. We would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, both past and present, for their loyal support over the years.
“This hugely difficult decision was arrived at after experiencing many years of difficult trading conditions, compounded by the wider challenging business issues which prevail in the motor trade. Our decision to close was also motivated by the desire of the directors to cease business in circumstances where we are in a position to pay all staff redundancies and our creditors in full.
“Today is a very sad occasion for us and the board of Arch Motors extends their good wishes for the future to everyone impacted by this decision.”
This news comes as the Central Statistics Office (CSO ) announced the results of the Transport Omnibus 2012 which reveals how the number of new vehicles licensed has fluctuated between 2003 and 2012. For Galway city and county there were 8,065 new vehicles licensed in 2003. This rose to a high of 10,839 in 2007 but dropped to 8,403 the following year before falling even further to a low of 2,940 by 2009. The figure rose in 2011 in 4,571 but dropped again in 2012 to 3,701.
Meanwhile the future of the A-Wear fashion retail store in Edward Square and the staff employed there is still uncertain.
Ken Fennell of Kavanagh Fennell was appointed last week as receiver to the fashion chain which had been in examinership since last month. Four stores located in Blanchardstown, Dundrum, and Grafton Street in Dublin, as well as the Sligo store were re-opened this week. It is understood that the receiver plans to re-open another five or six stores by next week and is currently deciding which branches will be included. Gift cards and vouchers sold during the examinership period from October 8 will be honoured until Christmas Eve.
