No 9. Cafe in Waterford to be replaced with inner-city apartments
Proprietors and staff of George's Court Shopping Centre at Christmas time in the early 1980s.
Following a report in the Waterford News & Star about the re-development of George's Court shopping centre, owners Lisa and Bill Fitzgerald shared their plans for Waterford's historic shopping centre.
A €12 million redevelopment will see a significant reconfiguration of George’s Court, including the creation of two large retail units on the city’s main shopping streets alongside new residential accommodation on the upper floors.
The redevelopment represents a total private investment of approximately €12 million and is expected to support between 130 and 195 jobs during construction. Once complete, the modernised scheme is projected to support around 200 full- and part-time roles across retail and related sectors.
Construction is expected to commence later this year.
As part of the upcoming redevelopment of George’s Court, No.9 Restaurant will close, with Saturday, February 21, confirmed as the final day of trading.
Carter’s Chocolate Café will continue to trade as normal and will undergo refurbishment alongside an extension of its seating area. A number of No.9 staff members will transfer to Carter’s.
Speaking about the closure, Lisa Fitzgerald said she was “grateful for the impact that No.9 had on her family and the people of Waterford”.
“Myself, Bill, Phil and our late mother Kathleen had so much to be thankful for,” Lisa said. “We want to thank all of the staff who worked in No.9 over the years. In a large restaurant like ours, their dedication and hard work meant everything to us. We are also deeply grateful to the many local and regional suppliers who supported the business throughout its lifetime, particularly in the challenging post Covid years. Most importantly, we want to thank every customer who supported No.9 and made it such a special place. We look forward to welcoming many of you to Carter’s in the years ahead. No.9 has always held a fond place in people’s hearts, and it will be greatly missed.”
An auction of catering equipment will take place in the coming weeks as preparations begin for George’s Court redevelopment.
