McElhinney's of Athboy store to be sold

Almost 80 years after its founding, the tradition of McElhinney’s Ladies Fashions in Athboy is coming to an end, with the appointment of DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and Sherry FitzGerald Sherry as joint selling agents for former department store, which drew thousands of women to the town for generations.
On the instructions of Receiver Barry Forrest, offers sought in excess of €650,000. Peter Love, senior surveyor in DTZ Sherry FitzGerald, says: “We expect a high level of interest in this property due to its prominent location, lot size and potential for multiple uses. This provides a unique opportunity to acquire a substantial amount of floor space on Athboy’s main street.”
The former McElhinney’s extends to approximately 1,812.39 square metres (19,509 square feet) and comprises a detached part two storey, part single storey building, with dual frontage onto the main street and a road running along the side of the building to St James’ Church and the Public Library at the rear of the building. The property is situated in the heart of the main street in a prominent position.
The property provides an open plan former department store with a mezzanine to the front and a café to the rear. The café benefits from a full kitchen and seating area. There are also storage and staff facilities to the rear of the ground floor and on the first floor. There is car park to the side and rear which provides approximately 35 car spaces. The total site area of the demise is approximately 0.66 acre (0.27 hectare). There is potential to sub-divide the property to provide a number of commercial units.
Molly McElhinney started the business in 1937, in the premises where her son Pat now runs the men’s wear store. (Pat’s business is not affected by the sale of the ladies’ store). Molly was a member of a business family in the town, the O’Callaghans, who had a pub next door to this store. She was a far seeing woman before her time. She had the idea of a café in the store long before it became fashionable in the city stores. Her husband, George, drove her to Dublin on buying trips. Her original store was a general drapery, selling men’s women’s and children’s clothes. She bought it for £500, a lot of money at the time. The family was brought up over the shop.
In 1973, with the business rapidly expanding, McElhinney’s moved up the street to the former Alms House. Molly purchased the derelict building a couple of years previous. The Alms House was founded in 1797 by the fourth Earl of Darnley for the support of 12 widows and rebuilt in 1834 by the sixth earl. By the time Molly passed away in 1988, the 10,000 square feet carpeted sales floor was seeing £1 million worth of clothes being bought in each season.
In 1980, McElhinneys, who have a huge customer base from all across the country, responded to the demand to cater for brides. The store was already providing fashions for the wedding day itself, in its special occasions clothes, and opened a separate bridal boutique in the town’s former Market House, built in the 1790s.