The redevelopment of Clerys on O’Connell Street is set to be completed within weeks, with new outlets expected to open before the summer after eight long years.
Meanwhile there was nostalgia aplenty for many today with its famous and now restored clock unveiled at a ceremony overseen by Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy.
The clock was a traditional meeting point for countless young Dubs and couples from near and far to meet up before the advent of modern telecommunications.
The catchcry a simple but definitive ''Ill meet yizzer under Clerys' clock.''
The restoration of one of Europe’s oldest purpose-built department stores, includes the colonnaded façade, internal staircases, columns and ceilings, tea rooms and the clock.
The 170-year-old department store was abruptly shut in June 2015 with more than 460 jobs going shortly before being bought by the Natrium consortium.
The new more marketable 'Clerys Quarter', has been undergoing redevelopment since 2019 as a retail, office, hotel, bar and restaurant complex.
High-end fashion retailer Flannels, is to occupy half of the retail space. Swedish fashion giant H&M has selected it as its location for its latest and largest store in Dublin city centre.
Oakmount and Press Up Entertainment Group will operate the development’s rooftop bar and restaurant, to be known as Clerys Rooftop Restaurant.
The shock closure in 2015 saw 130 Clerys employees and about 330 people working for concession holders lose their jobs.
Natrium at the time said it would develop the store with the project employing more than 1,000 people during the construction phase and a further 2,500 once operating.
