Mayo store Mulroy’s Londis celebrates 30 years at Moneen Roundabout, Castlebar
MULROY’S Landis at the Moneen Roundabout in Castlebar are celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Five years earlier Sean and Eileen Mulroy opened a Londis supermarket on the Breaffy Road in Castlebar.
In the early years they spent long days building up the business and on December 2, 1992 they launched another Londis outlet at the Moneen Roundabout.
Their son, Alan, who today runs the Moneen business, stated: “My parents put a massive effort in at Breaffy Road when they started and when things were tight.
“They both worked an awful lot of hours to get the business off the ground. They worked very hard on the tills.”
Alan got a major boost in February 2020 when a customer scooped €17 million in the EuroMillions Lottery.
It was the third time a ticket winning in the EuroMillions jackpot had been sold in the town.
The ‘golden’ Quick Pick ticket in Mulroy’s had the winning numbers of 24, 26, 32, 43, 46 and the Lucky Star numbers were 6 and 10.
At the time Alan said he was ‘speechless' having learned he had sold the winning ticket.
Alan said: “It was just before Covid kicked in. The few weeks afterwards were massive for us altogether. There was a lot of good will and the business went up a lot with that win. And, no, I still don’t know who won it.”
Speaking about his staff, Alan stated Tom Joyce from Islandeady, who operates the pumps at the Moneen Roundabout, started with his dad on the lorries when he was a young lad.
“Tom was with dad on Breaffy Road and then he came down here. A lot of the staff have been here a long time,” he boasted.
He continued: “I did a revamp here at Moneen last year. We opened a new off-licence where we have more of a range and more craft beers. We installed all new refrigeration and a new deli counter.
“We cladded the building outside. That was a big, big job. Vertex Roofing Systems, a local company beside us, did a brilliant job on that and I would highly recommend them. I got a great reaction to the cladding outside. I am really happy with it.”
Alan continued: “The deli hot food is the key seller here as well as the off-licence and the grocery trade. One key factor here is we have extensive parking which is of great benefit to our customers. We are lucky we have so much room.
“We have four tills always staffed in the shop. I go on the door myself at peak times when it gets busy.”
There is a staff of 75 - 35 full-time and 35 part-time at Moneen with a staff of 25 at Breaffy Road.
Alan explained: “We are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. The bakers would be in at 5 a.m. and the chefs are in at 6 a.m. so they are all ready to go at 7 a.m. as soon as we open the doors.”
“Coffee sales at Moneen have really kicked off for us. We have a great brand - Seattle’s Best - while Circle K outside has been very good for us to.
“We are with Londis a long time. We signed up with them for Breaffy Road 35-years ago and it has been a great relationship all the way through.
“All our staff are absolutely brilliant. Without them we don’t have a business. Both full-time and part-time have been great. Even through Covid, when it was tough, they were brilliant coming in. They are very loyal. The customers like to see the same faces on the tills.”
Alan has the height of praise for the students of the nearby Davitt College, stating: “The students of Davitt College who come in here are so mannerly. They come in and out and there is no messing. They are brilliant kids.”
Looking back 30 years Alan recalled they invested over €50,000 in the Moneen forecourt in 1992.
Today the busy forecourt store is home to the popular coffee brand Seattle’s Best as well the new Lands deli concept Bia Blás.
Alan elaborated: “We have a seating area for those who not only want to refuel their cars, but themselves.
“The key focus on the recent revamp was to enhance the shopping experience and range of fresh food options for our customers, not only through the new deli but also with our new fresh bakery and patisserie, selling delicious breads and homemade cakes.”
With increased floor space, the store is now able to provide an enhanced offering which includes fruit and vegetables and an own brand range.
After some extensive homework Alan compiled a price list comparing November 1922 and November 2022 prices - Litre of milk 0.58p (0.73c) in 1992 compared with €1.35 today; pound of butter 1.34p (€1.70) - €3.95 today; white loaf 0.70p (0.88c) - €2.25 today; gallon of petrol 0.77p (0.98c) - €8.16 today; and litre of petrol 0.17p (0.21c) - €1.79.
Alan added: “I believe that well-run, independently owned retail outlets, who know their customers and serve them well, will always have the edge.”
Finally Alan thanked his parents Sean and Eileen, his brothers, Colm and John, his sister, Mary, and his wife Sharon, and their loyal customers for their continued support and help.
Mulroy’s Landis is located at the Moneen Roundabout, Castlebar, and can be contacted on (094) 9021359, and at Breaffy Road, Castlebar, and can be contacted on (094) 9021888.
Moneen is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p. daily and Breaffy Road Londis and is opened daily from 8.30 a.m. to 10 p.m.