Ready for lift-off - Laois business reveals date for grand opening in Portlaoise
Multi-million new filling station and shop in Portlaoise nearly ready
The opening date is confirmed for what will be a new chapter in the story of one of the busiest filling stations and shops in Portlaoise.
The Downey family is on the final countdown to opening a new shop and filling station on Portlaoise’s Dublin Road as part of a two-phase redevelopment of their motoring and retail business in the Laois county town.
Nearly a year and a half after work began to knock down the former home of the Leinster Express, the doors are set to open on a new Centra shop and Texaco filling station at the junction of the Dublin Road and Colliers Lane.
Downey’s, who also own the adjacent Ford service and sales business, confirmed the timeframe on social media.
“After many great years in our current store, we’re getting ready for an exciting new chapter. We’re really looking forward to welcoming all of our customers into the new store and showing you what we’ve been working on,” they said.
The current premises will close at 8 pm on Monday, August 31, and from Tuesday, September 1, the doors will open on the new store.
“Same team, same great service — just in a bigger, better new home,” promise Downeys.
The shop is located on a two-acre site which was purchased by the Downeys from the former owners of the Leinster Express Business Park in 2017. After a number of years with An Bord Pleanála, planning was granted for the new service station to Portlaoise Service Station Ltd in early 2024.
Insight Architects, a RIAI-registered practice based in Portlaoise, designed the building.
“The new station will provide a more spacious facility for the customers, including parking for cars and coaches, e-charging, and quick access to the fueling pumps. Internally, a large convenience shop with deli and other offerings,” said the company. More below photo.
The retail and filling station redevelopment is connected to a second plan to convert the existing filling station into a car sales and showroom. That plan was approved in August 2022.
A new roundabout has also had to be built at the junction of Colliers Lane, Dublin Road and the new premises to facilitate the redevelopment.
The new filling station includes a new two-storey building that will be made up of a licensed forecourt convenience store comprising a retail shop, a delicatessen area, toilets, stores, ATM, a seating area, with a full off-licence on the ground floor. The first floor will have staff facilities with a canteen, office spaces, plant space and external plant.
There will be a forecourt with canopy, pump islands, signage, illuminated roadside totem signage, a services area, a car wash, and underground fuel storage tanks. It will have 48 parking spaces, including five for EV charging, three disability spaces and six bicycle spaces. It will have a fuel offloading point, a new site entrance, new boundary treatments and landscaping.