An expansive former furniture store in the heart of Bessbrook has hit the property market for almost £500,000.
The premises on Fountain Street was for almost 60 years home to family-run homeware and furniture store, J W Griffith Interiors.
Since announcing their difficult decision to cease trading in May of this year – with their final day of trading in July – the substantial property has remained vacant, leaving a sizeable hole in Bessbrook’s main shopping street.
When the business was first opened back in 1968 by Mr James Griffith, it focused primarily on the sale of women’s and children’s fashion and only commenced dealing with homeware when his son, Adrian took up the reins and moved premises to the site now available for purchase.
The opportunity spans across three two-storey buildings with a service yard and land to the rear.
Under the agency of Hanna Hillen Estates, it has been listed for sale with a guide price of £450,000, presenting suitability for a “variety of uses, subject to planning”.
The agent describes the property as a “unique site” that could be suitable to both residential or commercial development.
The rural village could already be set to see £60m investment if plans to drastically redevelop the Mill are passed.
An application outlining plans for the major development were first submitted in August 2023, proposing the former Bessbrook Mill site and one-time army base to be transformed into a mix of housing, retail and office accommodation.
A revision of the initial plans was submitted for the project in April of this year, which saw the number of residential units reduced from 272 to 264, with two proposed retail units reduced to one. Three office units and gym remain unchanged within the revised plans.
It remains under consideration by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council at this time.
