Tesco Enters Advanced Negotiations for Former Comans Pub Site in Rathgar
British supermarket group Tesco is in advanced negotiations to acquire the long-vacant Comans pub site in Rathgar village, The Irish Times reported. The prominent property on Terenure Road East has sat shuttered for many years following a family dispute, and features a large car park at the rear. While a deal is not yet signed off, planners will receive a change of use application if an agreement goes through. A number of other bidders also expressed interest in the property.
Tesco plans to retain the exterior of the building to preserve local heritage. The site sits directly opposite a SuperValu shop owned by Musgrave. Adding a Rathgar outlet would expand the retailer’s footprint in south Dublin, complementing existing stores in nearby Terenure and Rathmines. Tesco’s Irish operation reported an 8.6 percent increase in pretax profits last year, reaching €211.6 million according to latest accounts. The company currently operates 194 outlets across the Republic and plans to open its 200th Irish store early in the new year.
Decades of Family Trading and Property History
Patrick Coman and his wife Mary originally opened the pub in the late 1950s. The site historically contained a grocery store with a small pub at the front, alongside a restaurant operating upstairs. The family traded from the location for nearly half a century before a legal dispute involving their sons forced its closure. Next door, the family also operated a former bank branch pub named Bottlers Bank, which continues to trade. Their former wholesale drinks business was merged with a Heineken subsidiary in 2016.
Commercial property agents Agar Commercial Property sought offers exceeding €1.25 million for the rear car park in 2022. That land carried potential for an 18-apartment development, though no sale was secured at the time. Tesco declined to comment on the current negotiations for the main site.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Rathgar Site
Who originally opened the Comans pub site?
Patrick Coman and his wife Mary opened the pub in the late 1950s, trading there for nearly half a century before it closed due to a family legal dispute.
How many stores does Tesco currently operate in Ireland?
Tesco operates 194 outlets in the Republic and expects to open its 200th Irish store early in the new year as part of an ongoing expansion.
What happened to the car park behind the pub?
Agar Commercial Property sought offers in excess of €1.25 million for the rear car park in 2022 for a potential 18-apartment development, but no deal was secured.
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