The Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon has reported record footfall in November as it marked the completion of a £10 million refurbishment programme, adding 13 new stores.
The Co Armagh retail site, which was acquired by Killahoey Limited in February 2023, said footfall in November was 30% up on last year.
Killahoey, which is joint venture between Ian McMahon’s Sheephaven and May Street Capital, expects the revamped centre will attract 10 million visitors next year.
The latest stage of their investment plan involved six new retailers open in the space previously used by Rushmere’s anchor tenant Sainsbury’s, which closed its doors in 2022.
Mango, Rituals, Schuh, Søstrene Grene, Mountain Warehouse, Café Nero and Warren James have all opened in recent weeks.
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PureGym will also open a new site at Rushmere later this month.
The latest additions bring the number of tenants operating the site to more than 70, employing a record 1,400 people.
Centre manager Martin Walsh said: “Rushmere has never been as popular and our investment in new stores and in enhancing the centre’s appeal is proving a big hit, proving that with the right environment and retail mix, visitors prefer to shop in physical stores and not just online.”
The next stage in the investment plan involves a £1.7m bid to create a new access road into the centre.
Lidl is also progressing plans to open a new supermarket on the former Sainsbury’s fuel forecourt at Rushmere.
