McAdams and Albany back in business in Monaghan.

Three months on from the devastating fire at the Albany Home Décor store in Market St,

The Albany Home Décor team in their temporary premises.

Monaghan, the owners report that business is flying again. As many of our readers and HAI members will know, the well-known family business run by Packie and Bridie McAdam, and in recent years by Lorcan McAdam, lost its long established premises in a fire on March 10th this year.

The McAdam family had traded at the 6,000 sq. ft premises for decades and the store was something of a landmark in the town with a strong reputation across the north east for interior design and specialist décor products. An extensive refurbishment to a soft furnishings display area had meant that the store was in better shape than it ever had been. However, that was undone within a matter of hours. The devastating fire which gutted the entire premises created havoc including a street closure that lasted two days.

Interior of the temporary premises beside Drumbriston Furniture on Dublin Rd, Monaghan.

Lorcan McAdam said: “The response from everyone was amazing and it went a long way towards pushing us on. From locals to our suppliers everyone was so considerate and supportive to us.” Spurred on by the support and generosity demonstrated by all, they got to work on finding a way back. Amazingly, one month on from the fire, Albany was reopened at the temporary premises beside Drumbriston Furniture on Dublin Rd, Monaghan.

While this new premises is a lifeline and a perfect trading location for the well-known store for now, the long-term goal is to get back trading in the town centre again in the future. That is going to require a total refurbishment and reconstruction in parts of the Market St premises which is going to take some time, possibly years. In the meantime, and on behalf of all our members, both merchants and suppliers, we want to wish the McAdams and all their staff the very best of luck with the business for many years to come.