One of the world’s most well-known fitness brands, Decathlon, has today announced plans to expand into Cork with doors set to open at a new store in the Douglas Village Shopping Centre this summer.
The new outlet is part of a partnership with Tesco, and the Douglas supermarket is also set to undergo a major refurbishment ahead of its opening. It’s a welcome announcement for Rebel fitness fanatics, who, up until now, have either had to order online or visit one of the brand’s stores in Dublin or Limerick.
The new store will operate within Tesco, taking up over 2,300 sqm of sales space, with everything from football boots and marathon running shoes to camping gear and cycling essentials on offer. Decathlon has promised a ‘curated selection of thousands of products’ for the new store, and a full click and collect service will also be available for more niche items.
Decathlon says this latest expansion is driven by strong customer demand here in Cork, with Rebels showing a passion for everything from sea swimming to long country hikes – alongside plenty of soccer and GAA. The store will stock products from well-known fitness brands such as Quechua, Kiprun, Van Rysel, and Kuikma.
The inclusion of padel brands like Kuikma will be particularly welcome here in the Rebel County, which is home to Ireland’s largest Padel facility. The sport continues to grow in popularity across Ireland, with several new courts expected to open across Cork in the near future.
Elena Pecos, CEO of Decathlon UK and Ireland: “At Decathlon, our purpose is to bring people together through sport to make wellbeing accessible for all. We are thrilled to be opening at Douglas Village Shopping Centre and to be growing our presence in Ireland.
“Cork has such a strong sporting culture and sense of community, and this partnership with Tesco allows us to meet customers where they already shop, making sport more accessible and convenient for families across the region. Opening in Cork has been a long-standing ambition for us.
“It’s a city we’ve believed in for years, and one we’ve been determined to be part of. We are absolutely thrilled to finally bring Decathlon to Cork; it truly feels like a dream realised. We can’t wait to welcome Corkonians through our doors this summer.”
The new store will also be a major boost for the Douglas Village Shopping Centre, with the trendy brand expected to bring plenty of new customers through the doors.
Simon Cooper, Head of Property at Douglas Village Shopping Centre, said: “Douglas Village Shopping Centre has always been focused on creating a vibrant, relevant destination for the local community, and this partnership between Decathlon and Tesco is a perfect reflection of that vision.
“Welcoming a globally recognised brand like Decathlon strengthens our retail offering and enhances the overall experience for our visitors. We’re excited to see this new concept come to life and to provide customers with even greater choice, convenience and reasons to visit the centre.”
The new store in Douglas aims to cater to everyone from total fitness beginners to seasoned experts, and it will also operate a buyback service, allowing customers to trade in used gear for store credit. Plans for the store’s grand opening will be revealed soon, featuring a series of launch activities and exclusive offers delivered by a local team of passionate sports experts.
No precise opening date has been announced yet, but the new store is expected to open this summer. CorkBeo will bring you all the latest details once they become available.