Smyths and Penneys are among the non-essential retailers to finally reopen their doors after the lifting of lockdown.
The Level Five restrictions that have been in place for the last six weeks banned the opening of most retail outlets.
However Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed last week that all stores can reopen from December 1.
And two of the most highly anticipated stores to return are Penneys and Smyths - particularly with the Christmas build-up now in full swing.
Shoppers were already queueing in the early hours of this morning at many Penneys stores.
However here is a way you can can check the busiest times at your local shops and avoid the biggest queues:
How do I check my local store?
It's not too difficult, you will simply have to Google the store where you shop, "Penneys, Mary Street, Dublin", for example:
You will then be able to see a breakdown of the busiest part of the day throughout the week, allowing you to avoid the queues.
What are the Penneys and Smyths opening hours?
Smyths Toys opens on Tuesday at 9am and they will also be extending their opening hours with stores open late from Monday to Friday until 11pm until the 23rd of December.
The extended hours excludes Jervis St., Dublin &; Maylor St., Cork stores where weekend opening hours remain as usual.
Meanwhile Penneys confirmed last week that its Irish shops will be open until at least 9pm on weekdays throughout December, with some open even later.
Here is a full breakdown of the opening hours of every Penneys store in Ireland:
Throughout December, Penneys stores will trade to a minimum of 9.00pm on weekdays.
- Town Centre (main streets) stores will trade until 9.00pm
Stores: Dun Laoghaire, Wexford, Sligo, Drogheda, Newbridge, Clonmel, Ballina, Killarney
- Town Shopping Centre stores will trade until 9.00pm:
Stores: Navan, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Ennis, Letterkenny, Galway Shopping Centre, Kilkenny, Santry, Artane, Tralee, Castlebar, Longford, Athlone, Dundalk, Carlow
Until 9.30pm: Limerick- Dooradoyle
- Major Shopping Centres will trade until 10pm
Stores: Galway-Eyre Square, Swords, Cork-Wilton, Dundrum, Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley, Nutgrove
- City-Centre Stores , the majority will trade until 10.00pm
Stores: Dublin - Mary Street, Limerick- O’Connell Street, Waterford, Cork– Patrick Street, Dublin - O’Connell Street
- 24-hour trading: Penneys will open in Dundrum Town Centre and Blanchardstown Centre from 7.00am on Wednesday, 2 nd December and trade right through until closing time on Thursday, 3 rd December.
