Dublin department stores

1848 – Former Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin

Architect: William Caldbeck

Started in 1848 with a large extension a decade later, and Italianate in style. Gutted in the 1990s for Marks &

1851 -Todd, Burns & Co., Mary Street, Dublin

Architect: William Caldbeck

Todd Burn’s Department Store on the corner of Mary Street and Jervis Street was a bustling enterprise on Dublin’s northside.

1853 – Clery & Co., O’Connell St., Dublin

Architect: William Caldbeck

Opened in May 1853 when McSwiney, Delany and Co. opened ‘The New or Palatial Mart’ opposite the General Post Office.

1856 – Pim’s Department Store, Sth Great George’s Street, Dublin

Architect: Sandham Symes

Large department store demolished in the 1970s to make way for an office building. Designed by Sandham Symes and built in several stages by the Pim family from the mid 1850s onwards.

1865 – McBirney’s Department Store, Aston Quay, Dublin

Architect: J. Rawson Carroll / William M. Mitchell

Designed by J. Rawson Carroll around 1865, with later work at the end of the 19th century by William M.

1875 – Arnott & Co., Henry Street, Dublin

Architect: G.P Beater

Like others of the Dublin department stores of the era, the original Arnott’s started life as a brick faced building that was later extended and stuccoed over to present a consistent facade.

1894 – Arnott’s, Henry Street, Dublin

Architect: G.P Beater

Ireland’s largest single department store, a grandiose Victorian design, the building has suffered greatly through fire,

1905 – Todd, Burns & Co. Department Store, Mary Street, Dublin

Architect: William Mitchell

Built as Todd, Burns & Co. warehouse department store, this is a fantastically decorative building with dome which acts as a counterbalance to the tower of Arnotts.

1913 – Switzer’s Department Store, Grafton St., Dublin

Architect: J. Hampden Shaw / Donnelly & Moore

The former department store first opened its doors way back in 1838 at 91 Grafton Street and later acquired the building at Grafton Street and Wicklow Street.

1920 – Former Clery’s Department Store, O’Connell Street, Dublin

Architect: Ashlin & Coleman

A Dublin landmark – opposite the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, Clery’s has for generations being a Dublin and indeed Irish tradition –