New Leisure Fashion Stores to Open - UTAH

Moving back to Marina Point, to a large 2,500 square foot premises – where they all began some 13 years ago, UTAH are opening a large new specialist premises over the coming weeks. Ireland’s newest fully fledged “ Regatta Store” with world leading outdoor and activity brands including the iconic Dare 2 B and CRAGHOPPERS – sister brands, is Val Colleran’s latest business expansion. “We have been tracking our customers’ needs and chosen lines for the past 2 years and there is a surge in demand for outdoor leisure wear of quality“, explains Val, when asked why open a new retail store during the third wave of a pandemic. “Covid has been cruel to retail, we know that however it also encouraged people to try and redirect shopping excursions to larger urban centres if they can access what the need locally or click and collect locally” he continues.

The new store will carry a vast and diverse range of outdoor leisure wear for Men, Women, Kids and footwear and boots for all. Indeed the store will remind some of us of Dublin’s famous Capel Street as it will also stock a range of camping, tents, hiking and outdoor activity equipment. The shop, along with the mother store on Society Street, will be managed by Val, but he sees employment numbers for UTAH growing from 8 to 12 in year one across both stores. Relocating and expanding his current outdoor section which has been a strong seller from Society St., frees up some new space that Val – (a retailer with some 30 years’ experience behind him) is going to launch “UTAH Kurve”, catering larger sizes for ladies. The store will open from 9.30 am to 6.00 Mon to Sat and will be able to manage reasonable numbers in comfort even up to level 3 restrictions. Equally for those who purchased UTAH Vouchers for gifts or for Christmas pressies – they will be fully redeemable in the new store for any line.

Val, who has worked in Penneys, before moving as Senior Sales Manager in Texas with their stores in Tullamore, Mullingar and Athlone, prior to opening UTAH Dept Store in 2008 also explained that lines will be available from the UTAH website but shortly will be available from a dedicated portal www.utahoutdoors.ie.

​He is looking forward to the challenge of managing two outlets in town which wouldn’t be possible without the continued the support of his wife Kellie, and two children, Faolán, Eanna and his dedicated members of staff. “Things are looking up for UTAH. Between the Big Dig and Pandemic we have had, like most of retail in town, a truly horrible 11 months but we have been hugely encouraged by the loyalty of local shoppers and families from the surrounds who voted with their wallets and feet during December and especially on line“ enthuses Val. The store will open as soon as regulations permit.