Historic Singers shop in Cork City closes its doors after 150 years in business
One of Cork City's longest-standing shops has announced its closure after 150 years in business.
The historic Singers shop has closed its doors for the last time after providing garment alteration and sewing services to Cork customers since the 1870s.
Located on the ground floor of the five-storey early Georgian building on Grand Parade, Singers Corner is a landmark spot with its distinct gold and black facade, which was renovated in 2014.
The black and gold floral motif was decided on to reflect the design of the black wooden sewing machines, some of which have been kept on display in the windows below.
Steeped in history, the end of terrace building dates to the early 1800s, and was acquired in 1870 by the Singer Manufacturing Company, founded by the inventor Isaac Merritt Singer. The ground floor was remodelled in the 1930s and 1940s.
Cork's Singer's Corner was the company's Irish HQ for many years, with a number of other Singer shops scattered around Ireland. It became one of the first global brands to go the franchise route, and in 1960, Thomas Carr, a former manager of the Cork business, took on ownership and subsequently acquired the Grand Parade property.
However, after a rich history operating in the centre of Cork City, the sewing shop posted a notice on its doors last week announcing that it would be closing the business.
Customers with uncollected alterations or machine repairs have been encouraged to collect them immediately by calling the store. The business has now been listed as 'Permanently Closed' on Google.
Contacted by the Irish Examiner, the company referred it to the appointed liquidators, with the process of winding down set to be completed by next week.
It marks the second closure of a landmark Cork City business in recent weeks, following that of clothing retailer Mannix & Culhane.
The historic store closed its doors for the last time in March after 95 years in business.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Sandyford offices offer 10pc net initial returns
They comprise numbers 15, 16 and 18 The Courtyard, on the intersection of Carmanhall Road and Ballymoss Road, located between the Luas green line station and Beacon South Quarter shopping centre. Sitting atop The Courtyard office development, their combined floor areas extend to a total gross internal area of 8,325 sqft. They have also been recently fully let to a subsidiary of Azets Ireland at a passing rent of €262,530 per annum until March 2028. Sean Molony of sole agents Knight Frank is seeking offers in excess of €2,390,000 for them and their 13 dedicated secure basement car-parking spaces. Specification includes raised access floors, suspended ceilings, air conditioning, lift access, private toilets, showers and kitchenette facilities. Their floor-to-ceiling height is a generous 2.7 metres which allows natural light to fill accommodation on some of the best floors within the scheme. The property is held on two co-terminus three-year leases commencing in March 2025. There is no tenant break option or rent review. Azets, a business and accountancy consultancy, employs more than 300 people in four Irish offices: two in Dublin at Mespil Road and Sandyford, as well as two in the south-east, in Enniscorthy and Waterford.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
EU's tariff ‘hitlist' will hurt Ireland more than other member states, says lobby group Ibec
The EU's planned countermeasures against Donald Trump's proposed tariffs would have a 'disproportionate' impact on Ireland and Irish business, according to an analysis by Ibec.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Higher food prices for consumers are here to stay, says Agriculture Minister on trip to boost sales in Japan
Irish consumers have seen food prices rise more than 4pc in the past year, Central Statistics Office data showed in May. That's around three times faster than general consumer inflation. 'We historically had a long sustained period of very low food prices,' Mr Heydon said. 'Farmers will tell you that maybe those food prices were not matching the cost of production, and had put farmers in a very difficult space. We saw a significant increase in farmers' input costs, and the increase in the price of food didn't [initially] catch up. 'That has changed in more recent times, and I think the price of food and beverages is now more reflective of the cost of production, and I think it's unlikely to change.' He was speaking in Tokyo, where the minister and senior officials from the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia are on a trade mission looking to expand Irish exports into the world's third largest economy. Mr Heydon had meetings with the Japanese ministers for agriculture and health. The minister said he was 'very mindful' of cost pressures and pointed to wider actions by Government, including Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, around competitiveness. However, his role as agriculture minister was to open the maximum number of opportunities and markets for Irish food and drink producers, to allow them to get the best possible return. Only 10pc of the food and drink we produce is consumed at home – 90pc is exported Food and agriculture represent 40pc of GDP in rural areas, Mr Heydon said. 'Only 10pc of the food and drink we produce is consumed at home – 90pc is exported. It is my job to make sure we get the best possible return for that.' Under a Japan-EU trade agreement that came into force in 2019, the Asian economy opened up to food imports in exchange for increased EU access for Japanese products, including cars and machinery. The deal means tariffs on imported Irish dairy and beef, once as high as 40pc, are being gradually eliminated. It was the first trade deal of its kind to include an explicit commitment to make a 'positive contribution' to combat climate change, creating an additional opportunity for eco-friendly products. Irish food sales to Japan have doubled since the 2019 trade agreement came into effect – though at just €168m last year, it remains a small fraction of Ireland's €19bn food exports. Cheese accounts for 34pc of Irish food sales in Japan, followed by pig meats (28pc), beef (14pc), fish (10pc) and beverages – including Irish whiskey (6pc). The market for butter remains restricted through non-tariff barriers, and full access for Irish poultry and cooked meats is under discussion. Despite its distance from Ireland, Japan represents a significant market opportunity and offers a strategic diversification away from dependence on the UK and US markets, Mr Heydon said. He said there is a pressing need to diversify with whiskey, due to the impact of US tariffs. The sector is now experiencing 'significant cash flow issues' following a decade of expansion and capital investment. Whiskey is a popular drink in Japan, with domestic producers and Scotch brands serving the market, offering an opportunity for Irish brands to expand. Japan is already the biggest importer of Irish beef tongue – accounting for around 70pc of the market. As the product is unpopular in Ireland and its immediate markets, this helps maximise the value per Irish beef carcass without adding to the number of animals slaughtered. Beef tongue is popular in Japan, sliced thin and grilled, and sold by restaurants including the Negishi chain of 49 outlets that serve 100,000 meals a week around Tokyo. There is also a market for premium steak cuts, with Ireland's leaner, grass-fed beef providing an alternative to the fat-rich wagyu style in which Japanese beef farms specialise. Local Japanese chefs say the leaner Irish alternative is finding a niche with younger, health-conscious consumers, helping overcome a perception that grass-fed beef is tough. The push from Ireland includes consumer goods. Keogh's Crisps has struck an agreement with a Japanese partner and is supplying a number of retailers, while Cashel Blue cheese has entered the market under its own branding. It's about developing relationships, building trust and respect Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole said Japan, along with South Korea, represented a significant opportunity for Irish producers but would take time to develop. Both countries have high levels of disposable income and neither is self-sufficient in food, so they are both often among the top five of global import markets. For Irish producers, understanding the market cultures and the mechanics of supply chains was vital. 'The business culture is specific and quite formal and Japanese buyers don't do things opportunistically,' Mr O'Toole said. 'It's about developing relationships, building trust and respect, and developing that for an enduring business.' He sees a market opportunity in fish, as Ireland is already shipping mackerel. 'To the point about the discerning quality demands of Japanese buyers, I know in some processing plants in Ireland, there will be a Japanese person watching to make sure that the specification is fulfilled,' he said. 'So this is not about quick wins. This is about painstaking detail.'
