Fairhill manager moves on

Published:  17 April, 2009

Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena has marked the recent retirement of its long-serving centre manager, Jim McGookin who has been at the helm since the centre opened in 1991.

Built on the site of the former Ballymena Livestock Market, the 110,000-sq ft shopping centre brought the Co-Op and Marks & Spencer to the town. And throughout McGookin’s tenure and under a string of owners the centre has been upgraded and extended to 350,000 sq ft. In the latest move Bhs has vacated the centre and this space is currently being redeveloped to create two major new shop units for Next and New Look, which are scheduled to open later this year.

Roger Craig of landlord Corbo said: “Jim’s commitment to Fairhill and his knowledge of the scheme is unquestionable and this has been of major importance. His management style has always been hands on and he was ever present in the mall talking to shoppers and shopkeepers alike, and beyond this he contributed widely to the general business community in the town.”

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