Primark Making its U.S. Debut

One of Europe’s fastest growing apparel chains is finally making its much anticipated debut into the Unites States. Primark is known for its value prices and trendy fashions for the entire family. The fast fashion retailer was established in 1969 in Ireland. The company now operates 290 stores encompassing 11 million sq. ft. of selling space in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and France. The company employs more than 57,000 people around the world.

Late last year, Sears Holding Corp. agreed to lease seven stores in the northeast U.S., totaling about 520,000 sq. ft. of retail space, to Primark. The first U.S. store opens on September 10 in downtown Boston, MA. With over 77,000 sq. ft., the four-floor store features 73 cash registers and 84 fitting rooms. Primark said the store will employ 500 hourly workers and 60 for management. Boston is also where Primark has established its U.S. headquarters.

The Boston store will be followed by a second opening in November, in King of Prussia, PA. Six additional openings are planned by year end in previous Sears locations, with stores in Burlington and Braintree, MA; Danbury, CT; Freehold, NJ; Willow Grove, PA; and Staten Island, NY. To support its entry into the United States, and presumably many more locations to come, Primark leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Bethlehem, PA. The fast fashion retailer will have 10 stores in the U.S. by spring 2016.