Scenes from DUBLIN CITY

6d.  Other Dublin City Historic Architectural Buildings - St George's Arcade - South City Market

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The fine red brick frontage of St George's Arcade market in South Great George's Street.

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One of the original entrances to St George's Arcade.	This entrance now leads into The Market Bar
One of the entrances to the Market Arcade	Street art near the Market Arcade

Inside St George's Arcade market for trinkets, music and food.

The Juicery/Juice located at Unit 26 inside the historic George's Street Arcade, South Great George's Street, Dublin 2.

It is known for its hand-pressed fresh juices, superfood smoothies, immune-boosting shots, and acai bowls.

The O'Shea gang (Molly and Ellie) from Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny: WANTED for excess tea drinking after hours!

Some street art across from St George's Arcade Market

Notes on St George's Arcade market in South Great George's Street

St George’s Arcade (George’s Street Arcade) on South Great George’s Street is one of Dublin’s most distinctive Victorian red‑brick landmarks — a purpose‑built indoor market dating from the late 19th century, rebuilt after a major fire, and today home to an eclectic mix of cafés, boutiques, record shops, food stalls, and pubs including the well‑known Market Bar.

Below is a full, structured history and a guide to its development and notable businesses.

Origins and Victorian Development (1876–1881)

• The arcade began as South City Markets, Dublin’s first purpose‑built Victorian shopping centre.
• The City Market Company was incorporated in 1876 with £200,000 share capital and £50,000 loan capital to build and regulate a new market on the south side of the city.
• British architects Lockwood & Mawson (also recorded as Lockwood & Mauson) won the design competition; the builders were John Hall Thorp of Leeds.
• Construction began in 1876 and the market opened in 1881, inaugurated by Lord Mayor Sir George Moyers.
• The development replaced older abattoirs and improved surrounding streets such as Drury Street and Fade Street.

Architectural Character

• A striking red‑brick Gothic‑Victorian façade, terracotta detailing, conical turrets, and a central gabled entrance.
• Inside: a vaulted glass roof supported by cast‑iron brackets, creating a bright, airy promenade of shops and stalls.

The 1892 Fire and Rebuilding (1892–1894)

• In August 1892, a devastating fire destroyed the market. No lives were lost, but many shopkeepers also lost their homes located above the stalls.
• Public sympathy led to a relief fund for traders.
• The rebuilding (1893–1894) used Irish architect William Henry Byrne and Irish contractor H&J Martin, which improved local support.
• The market reopened on 13 September 1894, retaining the Victorian exterior but with a remodelled interior.

20th‑Century Evolution and Preservation

• The arcade continued trading through Dublin’s economic cycles and became a cultural landmark, even appearing in James Joyce’s Dubliners (“Eveline”).
• Major conservation and refurbishment took place in the late 1970s and again in the 1990s, after acquisition by the Layden Family Group.

Notable Businesses Through Time

The arcade has always been known for independent, alternative, and creative retailers. Some long‑standing or culturally significant businesses include:

Books, Music & Collectibles

• Stokes Books – a well‑known second‑hand and antiquarian bookshop.
• Spindizzy Records – a beloved record shop specialising in vinyl and alternative music.

Fashion, Vintage & Crafts

• Retro, New Moon, and various vintage clothing stalls.
• Independent jewellers, leatherworkers, and craft stalls.

Cafés & Food Stalls (including the juicery)

• Simon’s Place Coffee Shop – a Dublin institution known for cinnamon buns and community atmosphere.
• Lolly & Cooks – popular for baked goods and savoury bites.
• Specialty food vendors offering chocolates, baked goods, and international snacks.
• Juicery / smoothie stalls – while individual names change over time, the arcade has consistently hosted fresh‑juice and health‑food counters as part of its contemporary food mix. (This is an inference based on the “specialty foods” and “food vendors” categories noted in sources.)

Services

• Blindeye Barbers – a vintage‑style barber shop.

Pubs and Bars: The Market Bar & Surroundings

Although not inside the arcade, the surrounding block includes several notable pubs and bars that form part of the wider South Great George’s Street market culture.

The Market Bar

• Located in a former industrial space on Fade Street (part of the same block as the arcade).
• Known for its high‑ceilinged, brick‑and‑beam interior, tapas menu, and large communal tables.
• While not directly cited in the search results, its location and association with the arcade block are well‑established in Dublin’s cultural geography (inference based on its position adjacent to the arcade complex).

Chelsea Drugstore

• A bar located at 26 South Great George’s Street, formerly a historic pharmacy famous for selling cocoa as a medicinal product in the early 20th century.

The Long Hall

• One of Dublin’s most famous Victorian pubs, located at 51 South Great George’s Street, known for its ornate interior.

Cultural Significance

• The arcade is one of Europe’s oldest surviving indoor markets and Ireland’s first purpose‑built shopping centre.
• It has hosted several Dublin “firsts,” including the city’s first Japanese and Mexican restaurants and its first gay club.
• Its red‑brick architecture is considered one of the finest Victorian structures in Dublin’s Creative Quarter.

The Arcade Today

• Occupies a full block bounded by South Great George’s Street, Fade Street, Drury Street, and Exchequer Street.
• Continues to thrive as a hub of independent retail, food culture, and creative enterprise.
• Remains a major visitor attraction, a local favourite, and a key anchor of Dublin’s Creative Quarter.

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