Zazzle deal dazzles
The 15-year-old company, based in Redwood, California, has purchased a former converted warehouse building near City Hall and the South Mall, previously used by Kraft Foods, Guinness House and Cork law firm Henry PF Donegan. The deal — likely to be in the region of €1.5m — was done off-market, and no terms have been disclosed.
Henry PF Donegan vacated the Union Quay building in recent weeks, relocating to No 6 Lapps Quay. They had bought the 11,000 sq ft building in 2008 for a reported €3.5m-plus, after vacating the four-storey Georgian No 74 South Mall, which was then put up for sale guiding €1.6m. No 74 — adjoining the Imperial Hotel — never sold, and now is being refitted for short-term flexible business lets.
Zazzle have been slowly building a base for European HQ and US support services in the past year, and had short-term accommodation in the Elysian tower while they scouted for a property to buy. It’s understood that one of the options they looked at was the former AIB bank on South Mall, for sale via Downing Commercial.
Attempts in recent weeks to get a comment on the positive jobs story and the offices take-up from the IDA and the company were unsuccessful. Now, Zazzle has moved in, has started refurb works inside and out, and employment is expected to grow in the coming months.
Zazzle offers customised items such as tee-shirts, mugs, hats, print media etc, often with a 24 hour delivery.
Zazzle were represented by Lisney in their Cork searches, but the agents said they were unable to comment.
* Details: www.zazzle.com, Lisney, 021-4275079.
