Several new businesses are expected to open their doors on the high street in Armagh over the next four weeks.
And this comes just days after independent business owner George Corr of 4C launched his newest venture ‘4C Bakery’ on Market Street – to resounding praise.
Breathing new life into Scotch Street, popular beauty supplies store LA Image and fashion retailer Melia Boutique have also recently moved to their respective new premises from their former sites on Thomas Street.
Chairperson of Armagh City Centre Management Art O’Hagan, speaking to Armagh I, congratulated George on opening his new business and spoke candidly about the upcoming advancements across the high street: “4C is well established in the town and it’s great to see.
“It proves that there is longevity in business here and that local business people understand the opportunity in the city and want to invest in our city and that should be recognised and supported.
“City Centre Management and local retailers want the local community to get behind the city centre because it is the heart of our community and only by their support will there be more shops opening and ongoing business will thrive.
“We have a number of family owned businesses in the town who have diversified to make their businesses more sustainable.”
And – in what we are sure will be music to many an Armachian’s ear – Art announced that there will be two new businesses coming to the city centre in the next four weeks.
Alongside their opening, “revolutionary” beauty and wellbeing clinic Alora Rejuvenation will also be moving from their previous home on Russell Street to a fully refurbished and more centralised space on Market Street in the coming weeks.
While it may be all to easy too point out the vacant units along Armagh’s shopping streets, Art points out the findings of a street map assessment conducted in April 2025 which indicated a total of 81% of Armagh city’s streetscape as occupied.
Said Art: “I know Armagh has had a linear street map assessment for the amount of square metres that are used as shop fronts from Shapla right up to Ogle Street and down Scotch Street and Barrack Street. Armagh is sitting at 81% of its streetscape occupied. Whereas Portadown, Dungannon and Newry are all below 65%.
“There has also been £6 million from the Townscape Heritage Initiative that has been spent in our city centre over the last two years. That’s why all these buildings along opposite the Bank of Ireland are all there and occupied – because our city centre is much more vibrant than it was four years ago.
“Now we need the public to get behind it.”
On June 10, from 9.30 – 11am, Armagh City Centre Management will be hosting an open forum for all retailers at the Market Place Theatre.
Business owners are welcome to attend to discuss ways to “cluster together” to promote the city centre to the communities in Armagh and further afield.
