Blow for Dundalk as burrito store closes its doors

California Burrito in Park Street is no more

Park Street has suffered a major blow following the closure of California Burrito in the last few days.

The Mexican-style grill opened to great excitement last September as they became the first local restaurant to serve burritos.

However, they shut their doors last Thursday, with their store at 19 Park Street – the former ACC Bank – now up for lease with DNG Duffy estate agents at a rate of €30,000 per year.

Indeed, the restaurant’s online presence has also gone up in smoke in the last few days with their Facebook page deleted and their data removed from the likes of just-eat.ie

They have confirmed via their Twitter feed that they are closed for good though.

This is the latest in a series of blows for Park Street with Butterflyz and Angelz being forced to move out of the town to a location at Flurry Bridge and Baldwin’s Jewellers also set to close their store to move into Mint in Earl Street.

Corr not giving up on plan for Ravensdale estate

Jim Corr

Musician Jim Corr hasn’t given up the option of building a small estate on land he owns in Doolargy in Ravensdale.

The 49-year-old, who achieved worldwide fame with family group The Corrs, had outline planning permission granted in 2010 for 14 detached houses to be built close to the border.

He recently applied to extend that duration with Louth County Council but his application was deemed to be incomplete and therefore invalid. However, he is expected to return with another application shortly.

The guitarist, who still lives locally, invested in property and land during the boom times and last year was forced to settle a €1.4m debt with ACC Bank following a High Court case.

Corr set to be questioned over missing €4m

Jim Corr

Dundalk musician Jim Corr will be asked to explain what has happened to €4 million in cash he once had on deposit in Irish and US banks when he returns to the Commercial Court next week.

Lawyers for ACC Bank told the Commercial Court recently that there was “no explanation” for where the money had gone.

Mr Corr returns to the Commercial Court next Wednesday to resume answering questions by ACC Bank about his finances.

The case is part of efforts by the bank to recover €1.4 million in property loans borrowed by Mr Corr and others.

At the Commercial Court yesterday afternoon, ACC Bank sought orders for Mr Corr to hand over records relating to the proceeds of sales from a number of his properties.

These orders were made on consent as he had already agreed to provide the information, the court was told.

However, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said it was regrettable that the application had to be made as Mr Corr had been aware for some time the bank wanted the information.

He had also given undertakings to provide it “weeks and weeks ago,” the judge said.

Mr Justice Kelly did not order Mr Corr to produce documentary evidence of what had happened to €4 million in cash, but said he could expect to be questioned about it when he comes before the court next week.

“There have been financial advisers in place and it is perfectly clear the bank wanted the information since last February.

“He will be asked questions about it and ought to be in a position to respond, given he has had advisers in place. It would be very much in his interest if he does have documentation, to produce that too,” the judge said.

He did not rule out the prospect of the bank seeking another order in future for documentary records of what happened to the money

Counsel for Mr Corr had argued the discovery orders sought by the bank in relation to the €4 million “went way beyond” what was originally agreed and it was not possible to comply with requests for such information before next week.

Counsel for the bank Bernard Dunleavy said Mr Corr had complained of the breadth of the records wanted by the bank, but he said “at the heart of it is €4 million worth of cash with no explanation” as to where it had gone.

Previously: Corr accused of putting assets beyond the reach of ACC

Burritos to be sold in Dundalk from July

The owners of the California Burrito Bar have revealed that they will be opening in July.

As mentioned previously on Talk of the Town, the new restaurant will be located at 19-20 Park Street – the former ACC Bank building.

In an update on their Facebook page to mark Cinqo de Mayo, the owners revealed that they hope to start fitting out the new premises from next month, with an opening date planned for early July if all goes according to plan.

Previously: New burrito bar on the way to Dundalk

Source: California Burrito Dundalk (Facebook)

Corrs for concern

There may be financial problems ahead for Dundalk-born musician Jim Corr, as he has been called before the commercial court as ACC Bank looks to secure payment of €778,000 still outstanding from a €1.4 million judgement obtained over an unpaid loan advanced to him and others in 2004 to buy lands in Kilkenny.

Jim, the eldest member of Dundalk’s biggest ever musical exports The Corrs, is reported to have liabilities far exceeding his assets with outstanding liabilities of some €6.5 million arising from property investments.

ACC also in February 2011 secured summary judgment for €1.4 million on consent against Liam Marks, The Coach House, Sandymount, Blackrock, Dundalk, arising from the same loan.

The proceedings arise from a loan advanced to Mr Corr and Mr Marks in November 2004 to assist in purchasing some 97 acres of non-residential lands at Gorebridge, Co Kilkenny.

During the February 2011 proceedings, ACC said Philip Marks, a son of Liam Marks, was also a party to the letter of loan sanction but it was unsure of his whereabouts, having heards reports he is living in Hong Kong.

Once it has ascertained Mr Marks’s whereabouts, it intends to bring proceedings against him, the bank said.

Source: The Irish Times