Beauty clinic owner shutting Dublin store due to ‘escalating street violence'

Sunday World

29-04-2025

'I'm from the area and I don't even feel safe going to work anymore. It's no secret that the street has become more dangerous'
The owner of well-known beauty clinic Bowie Aesthetics has said she is closing down one of her stores in Dublin's north-inner city due to 'street violence'.
Taking to Instagram, Stephanie Simons shared a video in which she announced the closure of their Dorset Street clinic, adding that their other premises on Pearse Street will now operate as the business's sole location.
'I have decided to close our Dorset Street Clinic. Reason being, it's just not safe anymore. It's not safe for my workers. It's not safe for my customers,' she said.
'I'm from the area and I don't even feel safe going to work anymore. It's no secret that the street has become more dangerous in the past, I'd say since I'm there four years, it wasn't that bad, but it's like the problem has escalated.'
Statement by Stephanie Simons on Bowie Aesthetics' social media accounts
Simons included a video that showed a man standing outside the clinic door and looking in the window.
In the video, a voice can be heard telling the man to go away.
'When there was like men coming up to the doors of the shops and then my staff had to get like their partners, their boyfriends to come and pick them from work 'cause they were scared.
'So there was that going on,' she explained.
She alleged that there was another incident on last week where there were 'machetes and men fighting', adding, 'there was blood everywhere.'
Further footage, which was shared widely on social media earlier this month, was included and appeared to show a group of men running down Dorset Street wielding pipes and cricket bats. One man can be seen carrying a sweeping brush.
'That just got me thinking, I was like, 'right, what's next?' What is the next escalation from this? Like what's going to happen next?' Because if this is how bad it is now, what's it going to be like next year or in a few months?'
Simons expressed concern for her clientele and their children, adding that she feared them witnessing or getting caught up in potential violence.
'That really kind of made me stop and think that this is not something I want my company to be involved in anymore, to be around,' she continued.
'I feel for me, it's the best decision for Bowie.
'As a business owner, it's not easy to walk away from my premises. I'm losing out on so much money that I've put into doing up the place.
Stephanie Simons
The businesswoman said that the clinic on Dorset Street was the brand's first.
'It was my first baby in business, it's just a very sad thing to have to walk away because of something beyond your control.'
She said the clinic will operate from Pearse Street only, and added: 'I'm praying and hoping that Pearse Street doesn't start to turn into the same situation that we have in Dorset Street.'
In the video's caption, Stephanie added further detail: 'For over a year, I have fought hard to keep this location alive — dragging it along through increasingly difficult circumstances… I really did try my best to make it work as the street kept getting worse the but the most recent violent attack was just the straw that broke the camels back.'
'I can no longer justify putting my team or our clients at risk, particularly when safety, especially for women, can no longer be assured.
'Walking away from Dorset Street comes at a significant financial loss, but no amount of money is worth more than the well-being of the people who trust us and work with us.'
Simons ended the post by thanking her clients and staff, adding: I am heartbroken it has come to this, but safety must come first.