Primark Belfast strength leads to second city centre store

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 11, 2019

The fire that destroyed the central Belfast branch of Primark last year certainly highlighted how important the brand is to the city’s shopping scene, so it's no surprise that the value-focused retailer is going to open a second store there this spring.

The closure of the Belfast store after a devastating fire during the summer sent footfall in the surrounding area down sharply in the ensuing months. And it has only recovered since the company reopened the Commonwealth House section of its Castle Street building at the start of December, albeit with UK footfall in general still proving sluggish.

Primark is going to take advantage of the positive sentiment towards the brand with an opening during April in Fountain House in Donegall Place. That location has become available because of problems faced by rival New Look, which vacated the space as part of its wider store closure plan.

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Primark continues to be one of the UK fashion retailers most focused on growing its physical footprint, which is no surprise given that it remains a rarity in not having a webstore. 

It's a testament to its strength in the Belfast market that it doesn't feel the two branches will cannibalise each other.

More details about the new location will be announced in the weeks ahead and the Primark store is expected to be a sizeable one with the branch of New Look that's closed having reportedly been big enough to employ around 70 staff.