George's Street Arcade
The south city markets better known as Georges St arcade on South Great Georges St Dublin 2
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History
The first purpose built Victorian Shopping Centre in Dublin was South City Markets, commonly known now as Georges St arcade. The City Market Company was incorporated in Dublin with a share capital of two hundred thousand pounds and a loan capital of fifty thousand pounds, for the establishment, maintenance and regulation of a market on the south side of the city in 1876. In order for the company to require the land necessary to develop the markets an act of parliament was needed and acquired, this gave the company not only the power to acquire the lands but also the responsibility to widen and generally improve the surrounding streets. Noted British architects Lockwood & Mauson won the contract to design and build the market complex. In 1881 south city markets was officially opened by the then lord mayor Sir George Moyers after the development was heavily promoted by by the cities elite with substantial property interests in the area. The opening was a grand occasion and was well attended by the invited elite who were entertained to luncheon by the market chairman Mr Joseph Tod Hunter Pim. There were no native Dubliners on the guest list and this went down very badly with the locals and was not forgotten.
Fire
Due in some part to the appointment of English builders and architects, the market was not initially popular with ordinary Dubliners. Tragedy struck the markets on August 1892 when the building was destroyed by fire, luckily there were no fatalities but this was devastating for all concerned with the shop keepers losing their shops and over head homes but it was the stall holders who were hit worse by having no insurance on their stock. To this day some of the original letters from the stall holders to the management detailing their losses still exist. After a flood of public sympathy, a relief fund was established for them and was successful.
Rebuilt
The markets were rebuilt in the same style, this time using local labour and craftsmen and on September 13th 1894 were open once again for business. On this occasion all local dignitaries of any standing were invited and the south city markets of Georges St arcade as it is more commonly know today has traded continually since then. Reflecting the various economic circumstances throughout the years, the fortunes of the markets soared, fell and soared again.
The markets today
The property was acquired in 1992 by the current owners, the Layden Family Group from City Properties. Through good tenant mix and management and the low key sympathetic refurbishment of the buildings, the south city markets are once again doing well. There are approximately fifty tenants varying in size from Dunnes Stores to small sidewalk stalls, selling everything imaginable from high fashion and accessories to trendy funky gear, from custom designed solid silver to costume jewellery, from sophisticated hair-styling to fortune telling, with lovers of music, art, books, speciality ornaments, memorabilia, stamps and coin collections, cafés, general groceries and speciality foods all catered for. It really is a unique jewel in the Dublin shopping scene with its own very special ambience, where old Dublin meets the new city with a rhythm both harmonious and vibrant.