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STORE PROFILE
Ambition realised in Mace Culleens
Following a stunning renovation, Mace Cullens in Co. Sligo is currently outperforming in almost every category and delighting the local community with the range and value on offer
T
he realisation of a 20-year ambition of Mace retailers Liam and Mary Scott was a cause for celebration when they recently opened the doors on their sparkling new Hilltop Service Station forecourt and Mace store in County Sligo. Planning permission to convert the site adjacent to a former dance hall into a shop and service station was given some years ago but due to a number of unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, ground was never broken. That’s all changed now and the site boasts a ground floor shop, storage area, office, solid fuel store and toilet facilities. The service station also has a canopy for motorists, car parking and truck parking with a new one-way entrance and exit off the main Ballina-Sligo road.
Mace colour palette As well as looking stunning following a dialling up of the traditional Mace colour palette, the 6,000sq ft store is outperforming in almost every category with retailers Liam and Mary Scott reporting a huge uptake in hot lunches and freshly baked goods. The
Retailers Mary and Liam Scott believe it is “a privilege to be part of our customers’ day”
ShelfLife July 2021 | www.shelflife.ie
Mace Culleens is situated in an ideal location on the main Ballina-Sligo road
store, which Liam and Mary took over some 23 years ago, is one of the first be treated to Mace’s new design concept. It is, as they attest, truly resplendent. The 20-year dream was helped to fruition by Liam and Mary’s son, Shane, who doesn’t work in the store day-to-day but was the family’s defacto project manager in terms of ensuring the development stayed on target.
Tuffy and his wife Molly who served the local community for 70 years, as Liam explains. “My wife Mary is the retailer and has been trading here with the support of the family for the last 23 years,” he says. “Her knowledge of serving the local community, teamed with our shop manager Billy’s 35 years in retailing, gives us a solid foundation to offer a great place to shop.” There is a rich and vibrant history to Mace Culleens in that there has been a general store and pub on the site since 1909. The Tuffy family were trading there for 70 years with Mary and Liam taking it on then and they immediately knew they wanted to expand but were delayed. “Truly, the new store and service station has been a 20-year ambition of ours as the first plans were drawn up back in 2001,” Liam adds. “To be open finally still feels surreal. It’s great to know that the local community will be well served into the future.”
Local community
Employment
Mary took over the running of the original store from the previous owners, Tommy Joe
As well as Mary and Liam, Mace Culleens provides employment locally to more than 20
The store’s For Food Sake deli offers cooked breakfast options, four hot lunches including a roast of the day, hot snacks and pizza right up to 8pm daily
Mace Culleens serves Insomnia coffee which according to retailers Liam and Mary, has been “a great partnership; it looks amazing in-store and tastes excellent”
STORE PROFILE
Retailer: Liam and Mary Scott Address: Mace Culleens, Hilltop Service Station, Co. Sligo Staff: 20+ staff led by shop manager Billy Cormack and deli manager Orlagh McKnight Size: 6,000 sq ft Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 7am – 11pm; Sunday 8am – 9pm
