'3 shops have closed down, Blackrock, Churchtown and Clontarf. There was an interested party that was supposed to buy the 4 shops. stopped trading yesterday.
One remaining shop open which is Baggot St.'
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The failure to find anyone apart from EFB to buy a substantial number of the Oddbins' estate suggests that HMRC were realistic in giving the CVA the thumbs down.
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Blogger has been down for most of today. It still hasn't restored some of the recent posts. Hopefully that will happen soon.
3 comments:
Such a shame. Some of the people who continue to bring different and passionate wine knowledge to Ireland cut their teeth in oddbins. There was a time when if you wanted good wine at a good price with real passion then oddbins was the only option.
In reality the improvement in the wine offering in Ireland is down to the oddbins move here in the 90s. O'Briens is the shop it is because of oddbins.
Oddbins was a shop that changed the wine retail landscape. Look at the successful wine businesses in Ireland now, most are owned or run or at least staffed by ex oddbins staff
Lynn Coyle a respected buyer in the Irish Market was once the buyer for oddbins... She brought the revolution here.
The demise of oddbins in the UK could have been stopped in Ireland had it not been for the Young family who frankly were an embarrassment to everybody who worked in the company. Henry Young is a stain on the oddbins brand. A self confessed ignoramus in all matters to do with wine he held up his Irish birth as a good enough reason to bring oddbins in Ireland to greatness. What a lovely fellow he was and how well he treated and respected his fellow countrymen...what a secure future he built for them.
The continuous blame of Castel for the fall of this once great brand is a joke. Castel were a blessing compared to Baile and Young.
If it is true that churchtown, blackrock and clontarf are to close it is not the fault of Castel. I believe these were high turnover shops before the idiots took over in 2008. Baggot St it seems may survive, I can only assume as an O'Briens.
It is not credible either to blame the crippling economic situation in Ireland when other wine shops are doing well enough.
Everyone in the UK has their own story of a former love affair with oddbins. It was slightly different in Ireland. The wine business was so far behind, the choice was so appalling. If you were lucky enough to live close to a good Superquinn you had some chance but the Market was dominated by brands. Independent wine merchants seemed to stock unaffordable and unapproachable French wine for the well heeled. As a student it was Buckfast or beer. Then bang! Oddbins arrived and it is not an overstatement to say it changed EVERYTHING.
I for one will miss them. Good luck to the staff.
Good night Oddbins Ireland. Thank you.
All signs are that the Baggot St shop will not last either. It is pitifully empty today and the staff seem more than despondent...
Around Baggott Street, The French Paradox Shelbourne road has a very nice selection of French and Spanish wines. They import all their wines direct and the value for money seems to be very good. It took time for me to realise this as they are better known for their wine bars. The owners can spend a lot of time finding the most appropriate wine I am looking for and their wine-by-the tap system allows some free tasting. To try!
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