Menarys

Menarys is a Northern Ireland-based department-store retailer whose business combines stores trading under the Menarys name, younger-womenswear locations under the Tempest banner, and an online store. The group has its roots in a drapery business established by Joseph Alexander in Cookstown in 1923. Alexander subsequently added a store in Dungannon, creating the foundation of a retail operation that developed from traditional textile and clothing retail into a broader department-store format. The business expanded during the 1970s through the acquisition of stores operated by Menary Brothers in the Craigavon area. The Menary name became the basis for further development, while the earlier Joseph Alexander identity was eventually removed from the Cookstown and Dungannon stores. The company has retained connections to its founder through the Joseph's café name used in selected Menarys locations, including stores in Dungannon, Cookstown, Lisburn, Bangor, and Newtownards. Its head office at Moygashel, near Dungannon, is known as Alexander House, another reference to the company's origins. Menarys traditionally focused on clothing and bedding, but its assortment has broadened considerably. Current and recent store categories include household goods, cookware, lingerie, accessories, luggage, cosmetics, clothing, and other department-store merchandise. The company also operates the Tempest format, which is oriented toward high-street brands and younger women's fashion. This gives the group a way to address both the broader household and fashion needs associated with Menarys and a more narrowly styled fashion customer through Tempest. A notable feature of the operating model is its use of concession operators. Rather than selling every brand directly, Menarys hosts concession businesses in its stores and receives a commission on their sales. Arcadia, associated with Philip Green, was identified as the largest concession operator in the cited material and represented approximately 15 percent of sales at the time described. The group reported sales of almost £20 million and pre-tax profits of more than £340,000 by October 2019; these figures are historical and are not presented as current financial results. The group launched its online store in May 2010, extending the business beyond its physical branch network. It later expanded through the acquisition of the Houstons business on 22 April 2022. The Newry Houstons store was excluded from that transaction and was reported as remaining open separately. Menarys is therefore best understood as a regional, multi-format department-store operator rather than a global consumer brand. Its identity is strongly tied to Northern Ireland, with a heritage based on family retailing, regional store expansion, concessions, and a mix of fashion, beauty, home, and general department-store categories.

Menarys began in 1923 when Joseph Alexander established a drapery business in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. Drapery retail traditionally centred on textiles, clothing, and household fabrics, and this original focus formed the foundation of the later department-store group. Alexander expanded the business by adding a store in Dungannon, creating an early two-location operation. The company later grew through acquisitions and name development. During the 1970s, Menarys acquired stores in the Craigavon area that had been owned by Menary Brothers. The Menarys name was subsequently used for further expansion, helping establish a common identity across a wider regional store network. Although the Joseph Alexander name was eventually removed from the Cookstown and Dungannon stores, the business preserved elements of its heritage. Cafés in selected Menarys locations operate under the name Joseph's, and the group's head office at Moygashel, near Dungannon, is called Alexander House. Over time, the business moved beyond its original drapery role. Menarys stores developed into broader department stores offering clothing and bedding alongside household goods, cookware, lingerie, accessories, luggage, cosmetics, and related merchandise. The company also adopted a concession-based model, hosting branded operators within its stores and taking a commission from their sales. This model enabled the retailer to provide a wider range of recognised fashion and lifestyle brands without directly managing every category or brand proposition. The cited reference identifies Arcadia, associated with Philip Green, as the largest concession operator at the time and states that it accounted for about 15 percent of sales. Menarys also diversified its store formats. The Tempest banner was used for stores focused on high-street brands and younger women's fashion, giving the group a more targeted fashion proposition than the broader Menarys department-store format. In parallel, the company launched an online store in May 2010, adding an e-commerce channel to its physical network. The group continued to operate as a regional retailer headquartered in Northern Ireland. Historical information cited for October 2019 reported sales approaching £20 million and pre-tax profits above £340,000. Those figures describe the period covered by the source and should not be treated as current performance data. On 22 April 2022, Menarys acquired the Houstons business. The Houstons store in Newry was not included in the transaction and was reported to continue operating separately. Menarys remains associated with Northern Ireland retailing and operates through multiple brands and channels. Its history reflects a transition from a locally founded drapery business to a regional department-store group combining fashion, home, beauty, concessions, specialist formats, cafés, and online retail.

• 2022

  Houstons business is acquired

  [1]Menarysen.wikipedia.org

  Menarys acquired the Houstons business on 22 April 2022, excluding the Houstons store in Newry.

• 2010

  Online store launches

  [1]Menarysen.wikipedia.org

  Menarys launched an online store in May 2010.

• 1970

  Craigavon-area stores are acquired

  [1]Menarysen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, Menarys acquired stores previously owned by Menary Brothers in the Craigavon area, supporting subsequent regional expansion.

• 1923

  Joseph Alexander establishes the original drapery business

  [1]Menarysen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Alexander founded the business as a draper in Cookstown, establishing the retail operation from which Menarys developed.

• A Dungannon store is added

  [1]Menarysen.wikipedia.org

  Alexander expanded the original Cookstown business with a store in Dungannon.

A regional Northern Ireland department-store group combining traditional department-store merchandise, fashion concessions, home products, beauty, and a younger women's fashion concept through Tempest.

• Department-store retail

  Menarys department-store merchandise

  The core Menarys assortment developed from the company's original drapery and clothing activities into a broad regional department-store offer. It includes apparel and bedding together with household goods, cookware, lingerie, accessories, luggage, cosmetics, and other lifestyle merchandise. The range is supported by both directly managed categories and concession operators located within Menarys stores.

• Women's fashion retail

  Tempest

  Tempest is Menarys's younger-oriented fashion format. Its stores are described as carrying high-street brands aimed at younger women, giving the group a more focused fashion proposition than the wider Menarys department-store format. The banner complements Menarys's broader mix of home, beauty, lingerie, accessories, and general fashion merchandise.

• E-commerce · 2010

  Menarys online store

  The Menarys online store, launched in May 2010, provides an e-commerce extension of the retailer's physical department-store business. It represents the group's move beyond store-based trading and supports the sale of fashion, home, beauty, and related department-store categories through a digital channel.

• In-store hospitality

  Joseph's cafés

  Joseph's is the name used for cafés in selected Menarys stores, including locations identified in Dungannon, Cookstown, Lisburn, Bangor, and Newtownards. The name commemorates founder Joseph Alexander and serves as a visible link between the modern retail group and its historical origins.

• 2022

  Acquisition of the Houstons businessM&A

  Background

  Menarys continued to expand its regional retail presence through acquisition.

  Action taken

  On 22 April 2022, Menarys acquired the Houstons business, while the Houstons Newry store was excluded from the transaction.

  Aftermath

  The Newry store was reported to remain open separately after the deal.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of the online retail channelProduct launch

  Background

  Menarys had historically operated through physical regional stores and department-store formats.

  Action taken

  The group launched an online store in May 2010.

  Aftermath

  The launch added e-commerce to Menarys's store and concession-based retail model.

  Source

1. 1Menarysen.wikipedia.org