As for how exactly this has been achieved, Douglas Court has set out from the beginning of this takeover to become a location that not only meets the needs of today’s shoppers, but which also serves as a catalyst for business growth. Discussing this in an interview with the Irish Examiner at the time he and his three sons acquired Douglas Court, Anthony O’Leary said: “We are committed to enhancing the shopping experience, attracting new businesses, and ultimately creating a dynamic and thriving local retail destination.” Armed with a genuine drive to make Douglas Court the best in its class and capacity to make this happen, the team behind this revitalisation focused on several key areas as they set about overhauling this location – including visionary marketing community engagement and most important providing exceptional customer experience. Additon of a tech-first parking is a prime example of this approach. As a result of these initiatives, discussed further below, not only has footfall to Douglas Court increased, but so too has the perception of the shopping centre, which is today lauded as both vibrant and upmarket. The new Car Park played a big role in this transition. In much need of an urgent repair following years of neglect resurfacing was underway but the customers were not expecting what was about to come. “At the heart of our operations is a commitment to delivering the best possible experience for our customers. To support this, we’ve implemented the CleverCiti guidance system, which uses display screens throughout the car park to clearly communicate the number of available spaces in each lane. “This ensures a smoother, quicker, and more convenient parking experience for all visitors It has elevated our profile and set us apart from other Shopping Centres in Munster. It also demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the customer journey from the very moment they arrive at our property” Much of the raised standing Douglas Court has achieved in the community sense can be attributed to the events it runs, of which there were more than 25 last year alone. From book signings and special guests to crafts, displays, exhibitions, and seasonal events like ester egg Hunt and community favourite Kite Festival where over 1 000 kites was on display in the shopping centre all painted by local kids. These events attracted thousands of faces to the centre, and were featured extensively across local and national publications alike. Halloween 2025 saw six schools participate and bring the festivities to life with some truly remarkable creations being displayed that were made by children of all ages – from primary pupils through to high-school students. Christmas is another exciting time for communities across Ireland, and Douglas Court prides itself on delivering an exceptional Christmas experience. From putting up magnificent lights and its signature giant stag decoration to welcoming Santa, running an elf treasure hunt, offering free rides on its vintage carousel, to a reindeer project where again local schools decorate real size reindeers in their own unique style that are the on display across the mall for everyone to see. First time last Christmas Introduction of Douglas Court own advent calendar filled with prizes to win by its customers everyday ion December was another opportunity for Douglas Court to show how much it cares. Ultimately, all of the above is just the beginning of what is an ongoing drive to transform Douglas Court from the inside out and position it as one of the leading retail destinations in Ireland. If these first two years are anything to go by, both the O’Leary Family and their team are more than capable of achieving this ambitious aim, refining the retail experience and appealing to new and long-time customers and tenants alike as they go. In the wake of the success of this shopping centre revival, which has been noted by many customers and store owners alike, it is our pleasure to recognise Douglas Court in our Irish Enterprise Awards 2026. This is just one of the accolades it has received in recent months – with others including being named the Cork Shopping Centre of the Year at the local Cork Business Awards – a testament to the quality of the work that is being done here. Bartosz added: “While we are proud of our many milestones, we are far from complacent. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure we maintain our upward trajectory. Our focus for the coming year remains on further enhancing the tenant mix, so we can fill the high demand, optimising operational efficiencies, and to continue modernising our facilities. We are committed to ensuring that Douglas court remains a competitive, high-performance environment for your business to thrive.” All that it is left is to champion Douglas Court Shopping Centre with our Retail Revitalisation Excellence Award 2026, and invite readers to visit the location and see for themselves the amazing work that has been put in.
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