Inside of the former Debenhams (Image: YouTube/ Urbandoned)
One of Ireland’s most iconic department stores has sat empty for the past six years — and in that time it has come to resemble something straight out of a zombie film.
So say a number of urban explorers who have documented the “eerie apocalyptic scene” inside the former Roches Stores and Debenhams on Patrick Street in Cork City.
The historic building dates back to 1922 and operated as a Roches Stores before Debenhams took on a lease of the premises in 2006.
Debenhams went into administration in 2020, forcing the site to shut its doors. Although fresh plans have recently been given the green light, the vast derelict building has been concealed behind hoarding and has become a magnet for urban explorers across Ireland and the UK.
The urban explorers snuck inside (Image: YouTube/ Urbandoned)
‘Apocalyptic scenes’
Among those drawn to the abandoned site are Alistair, Alex and Theo, who run a page called Urbandoned. The trio paid a visit to the once-bustling department store a few years ago.
Speaking in the video, Alistair said: “The ringing alarm, which we would find out later was triggered by us, added an eerie sense of dread to the exploration, we were half waiting for the security from the neighbouring shopping centre to suddenly appear inside.”
He continued: “Walking into the department store’s main atrium, there was an apocalyptic scene before us, because there was hardly any deterioration and the electricity still worked.”
The old Roches Stores building in Cork, Ireland (Image: undefined)
The lads observed that it was the first shopping centre they had encountered with such an abundance of interior fittings still in place. Many of the shelving units remained intact alongside photographs and brand signage on the walls.
They added: “It must be a strange experience watching our video if you were a familiar shopper with the Cork Debenhams, seeing a building that perhaps gave you joy over many weekends for decades and decades, now in a paralysed state neither here nor there.”
Following the upload of the video, which you can view in full here, one viewer responded: “I never thought I’d see a video of an abandoned place that I was inside of when it was still open. It gives such a weird feeling.”
Another said: “It’s crazy to think that this place is gone now… I have many fond memories of being dragged to go clothes shopping there during my childhood.”
A third wrote: “Oh man, I’ve been dragged through this store so many times as a small boy by my mom, so I remember it vividly. Quite surreal to see it like this.”
Transformation
Despite lying dormant since 2020, Irish sports retailer Intersports Elverys, together with a consortium of private investors, acquired it three years later for €12m, despite it initially being listed at €20m. Refurbishment work commenced shortly thereafter with significant structural alterations being carried out internally.
It will soon be transformed (Image: YouTube/ Urbandoned)
Last July, proposals were lodged by Tricondale Ltd regarding the separation of the building into four distinct retail units. In December, Cork City Council gave the green light to plans for the site to be divided into separate units, meaning it is hoped the former Roches Stores will soon be welcoming shoppers once again.
The principal frontage of the building will house three ground-floor units — with a fourth accessible from the opposite side on Mayor Street.
A graphic of the planned revamp (Image: undefined)
It has been reported that a second application for residential accommodation, a hotel and additional retail space may be submitted for the rear portion of the building.
The approved scheme also includes “the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing facades” and preview images show additional windows being incorporated into the building’s frontage.
It is understood that one section of the building will be taken by a beauty and cosmetics retailer, while the central space is likely to become an Intersport Elverys.
Zara and Rituals have also been mentioned as potential occupiers of the site, though similar to Elverys, no formal confirmations have been made. That said, Rituals did publish a listing on its website suggesting that a boutique would launch at 12-17 Patrick Street.
Despite the ambitious scheme, and City Hall planners giving their backing to revitalise it, a launch date has not yet been confirmed.
