50 years of Primark: key milestones in the history of a retail icon
Primark, which trades in its home market of Ireland as Penneys, is today celebrating its 50th anniversary. Now one of the most successful fashion retailers on the high street, it opened its first street on Mary Street, Dublin in 1969.
Over five decades the value fashion giant has grown from that one store to an international force with 372 stores in 12 countries with more than 75,000 employees and over 15m sq ft of retail space, where it sells its "Amazing Fashion at Amazing Prices".
The business first came to the UK in 1973 and began expanding into Europe in 2006 opening in Spain, followed by the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, the US and Italy. Last the business opened a store in Slovenia, marking its entry into Central Eastern Europe, with plans to open more new stores in Poland and the Czech Republic in the future.
In the UK it caused a sensation with the opening of the largest ever Primark store in Birmingham, spanning five floors and covering 160,000 sq ft of retail space. The store features Primark’s biggest beauty studio to date, a barbers and three new dining experiences, including the hugely popular Primark Café with Disney.
Primark Birmingham
The Mary Street store in Dublin remains an important landmark with the company’s international headquarters located above the store. Arthur Ryan House, named after Primark’s visionary Chairman and Founder, is HQ for more than 700 people. To mark the Golden Jubilee the store's windows have been turned into a creative display that celebrates our customers, employees, stores and fashion over the past 50 years.
Speaking about the 50-year milestone, Primark CEO, Paul Marchant said: “The doors to the very first Penneys opened on Mary Street 50 years ago today, and I am so proud of everything we have achieved together in that time – starting from humble beginnings with just one store to now serving over one million customers a day.
"Today we celebrate our visionary Chairman and Founder, Mr Arthur Ryan, and the passion and commitment of our people, who are the heart of our business. I want to personally thank all our colleagues, both past and present, for their significant contribution and outstanding dedication.
"I would also like to thank our customers for their loyalty over the past five decades. We look forward to providing them with an exceptional shopping experience into the future.”
The Mary Street store celebrates its history
Key milestones in the history of a retail icon:
1969 - first store opens in Dublin, Ireland. The company now operates 37 Penneys branded stores in Ireland.
1973 - first store opens in Derby, UK. The business now has more than 188 stores in the UK.
May 2006 - Madrid, Spain, is opened. It now operates over 45 stores in Spain
December 2008 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There are now 20 stores in The Netherlands
December 2009 - Lisbon, Portugal. There are now 10 stores in Portugal
December 2009 – Bremen, Germany. There are now over 28 stores in Germany
December 2009 - Liege, Belgium. There are now 6 stores in Belgium
November 2011- Primark branded concessions open in Selfridges Birmingham & Manchester, UK
September 2015 - Boston, America. The company now operates over 8 stores in America with plans to open in American Dream, New Jersey by the end of 2019. Primark will also open its first store outside of the North Eastern Corridor, in Sawgrass Mills, Miami in 2020.
April 2016 - Arese, Italy. There are now 4 stores in Italy
April 2019 - The world’s biggest Primark opens in Birmingham, UK
June 2019 - Ljubljana, Slovenia. Primark enters its 12th market and 1st in Central Eastern Europe.
