Dunnes Stores signals major Derry confidence with Foyleside investment

For more than three decades, Dunnes Stores has been an unmistakable part of the retail fabric at Foyleside Shopping Centre, its doors opening when the centre first welcomed shoppers in 1995. Originally trading across groceries and clothing, the store quickly established itself as a cornerstone of the centre and a familiar presence for generations of Derry shoppers.

Over the years, Dunnes Stores at Foyleside has evolved into one of the retailer’s strongest-performing locations in Northern Ireland, consistently placing it in the top tier of the company’s regional portfolio. Continued growth in customer numbers and sales has seen the store outgrow its existing footprint, prompting Dunnes to pursue a significant upsize in order to meet demand and deliver a more expansive, contemporary retail experience. Its success has also helped anchor Foyleside as the North West’s leading shopping destination, drawing visitors from across the city and beyond.

Now, after 30 years of continuous trading, Dunnes is embarking on the most ambitious transformation in the store’s history. With a multimillion-euro investment, the redevelopment will fundamentally reimagine the space and its role within the centre. Central to the project is the absorption of the former Foyleside food court, allowing Dunnes to significantly expand its footprint and create a single, cohesive store environment focused on fashion, lifestyle and homewares.

Once complete, the redeveloped store will represent Dunnes Stores’ largest footprint in Northern Ireland sitting at 43,591 sq ft of retail floor, underlining both the scale of the investment and the retailer’s confidence in the Derry market. The size and layout of the new unit have been designed to support a more fluid, spacious shopping experience, reflecting the way customers now choose to shop, browse and spend time in-store.

The scale of the investment signals Dunnes Stores’ long-term confidence in both Foyleside and the wider city. Leading European designers have been appointed to deliver a contemporary, design-led interior. The finished space is expected to offer a premium retail environment, setting a new benchmark not only for Derry but for Northern Ireland as a whole.

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A major feature of the redevelopment will be a new in-store café, designed to operate as a destination in its own right. The café will offer full breakfasts, traditional carvery options, fish and chips, sandwiches, soups and wraps, alongside convenient food-to-go choices. A strong emphasis will also be placed on quality coffee and fine desserts.

Positioned to take advantage of unrivalled panoramic views across the River Foyle, the café is expected to become one of the most distinctive dining locations within the city, offering shoppers a place to relax, meet and take in the riverside landscape.

The revitalised store will showcase an extensive range of well-known Dunnes fashion and lifestyle brands, including Savida, Leigh Tucker, Gallery, Paul Gavin, Paul Costelloe, Carolyn Donnelly, Helen Steele and Power Cut. Specialist ranges from COOK and Considered will also feature, reinforcing Dunnes’ commitment to flexibility and choice and allowing customers to truly “shop your way”.

Paul Doherty, Centre Manager at Foyleside Shopping Centre, said: “Dunnes Stores has been part of the story of Foyleside from the very beginning, so this redevelopment feels like a real milestone moment for the centre. The scale of the investment and the quality of the design show a long-term confidence in Derry and in the strength of the city as a retail destination. This project doesn’t just transform a store, it elevates the overall experience for everyone who visits Foyleside.”

As one of Ireland’s largest indigenous retailers, Dunnes Stores maintains a strong presence nationally across fashion, homewares and food, while tailoring individual locations to local demand. The scale of the redeveloped Foyleside store reflects its importance within the wider Dunnes estate and its position as a flagship location in Northern Ireland.

Retail observers have already drawn comparisons with Dunnes’ landmark Patrick Street store in Cork, where a high-profile redevelopment successfully blended contemporary design with a strong sense of place. That project has been widely credited with reinvigorating a historic retail address, and similar expectations now surround the transformation at Foyleside.

Gareth McCready, Store Manager at Dunnes Stores Foyleside, commented: “This is the most exciting chapter in the history of Dunnes Stores at Foyleside. We’re creating a completely reimagined space that focuses on fashion, lifestyle and homewares, with a level of finish that customers might not expect to see outside flagship city locations.

"Our team is incredibly proud of what’s being delivered here, and we can’t wait to welcome customers into a store that truly reflects how people want to shop and spend time today.

We would also like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during the redevelopment works and apologise for any inconvenience caused while we deliver this new store.”

As work progresses, anticipation is building among shoppers eager to see the finished result. Thirty years on from its original opening, Dunnes Stores at Foyleside is preparing to enter a new era, one that reflects the evolution of the brand, the growth of the store, and continued confidence in Derry as a thriving retail city.

For centre details, visit www.foyleside.co.uk or follow foyleside_ on Instagram and TikTok, FoylesideSC on Facebook for launch news.