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Austins store has been the cornerstone of the
city’s Diamond area since 1830. At 175 years of
age, Austins is 5 years older than Jenners of Edinburgh,
15 years older than Harrods of London and 25 years older
than Macy’s of New York. We are the oldest such
store in the world and are soon to celebrate yet another
golden age.
Located in the historic centre of Derry, Austins is
now a most imposing 5 storey Edwardian building with
its conglomeration of large windows, columns, pedestals,
balconies and a copper roofed cupola. Always a department
store, Austins is renowned throughout Ireland for its
impressive range of Irish crystal, Giftware, Fashions,
Linens and Homewares.
The business began in 1830 when a certain Mr Thomas
Austin came to Derry from the the Limavady area to open
his new store in the corner of the Diamond. From these
humble beginnings the Austins history began and today
on the very same site, there is now a 25,000 square
foot modern department store that dominates the beautiful
Diamond area of the city.
The ground floor of the store houses an impressive mixture
of cosmetics, fashion and accessories, with the new
Hugo Boss man shop to the rear part of the floor. Overhanging
the ground floor is the new fully licensed Café
Mezzo - described as the city's latest café experience.
Occupying a mezzanine location, Café Mezzo specialises
in contemporary eating in a table service setting.
The first floor, serviced as all floors by a lift and
escalator, is the main fashion floor for Ladies. On
this floor there is also a spacious Bridal Suite containing
two large and completely private dressing rooms.
The second floor of Austins is the Crystal and Homewares,
gifts and bedding floor. Austins specialises in wedding
gift services and has a dedicated on-line ordering service
and ordering point for the convenience of customers
both in store and overseas. The second floor also houses
the biggest Waterford Crystal department in Northern
Ireland.
The third floor is home to the Roof Top Restaurant –
a 150 seater self service restaurant that offers a most
tasty but uncomplicated menu. The Restaurant provides
special facilities for children along with a popular
"family friendly" corner that has a stunning
view overlooking the city’s Diamond. Special facilities
for the Disabled are also available and where necessary,
the store provides a complimentary wheelchair. The Roof
Top Restaurant is a well known "meeting place"
in Derry and has catered for many famous visitors throughout
the years.
The stores administration and training services division
is located on the fourth floor. Austins Quality Services
specialises in retail and catering training along with
recently introduced IT training for individuals and
companies alike.
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