Primark in Bury St Edmunds to open in March as recruitment begins for over 100 jobs

Primark is set to open the doors of its new store in Bury St Edmunds in March next year and is kicking off the recruitment of staff from today.

The 33,300 sq ft store will be at the arc Shopping Centre, on the ground and first floors of the former Debenhams.

The retailer will be recruiting more than 100 new staff for roles including retail assistants, stockroom colleagues, and visual merchandisers, with start dates as early as February to help prepare the store for the big opening.

The exact opening date will be confirmed nearer the time.

Philippa Nibbs, Primark UK director of sales for London and the South East, said: “We can’t wait for the doors to open in the spring and it’s been great to see the excitement building in the community ahead of the store opening.

“The construction team have been hard at work over the last few months and we’re now reaching another important milestone as we look to recruit and build a team that will make the opening a success.”

Next year will mark 50 years of Primark in Great Britain and Primark Bury St Edmunds is set to be the company’s 193rd store in the UK.

It is part of the retailer’s £140m investment in UK retail.

Primark confirmed last November that it would open a store at the former Debenhams in Bury.

It followed months of speculation and demand from shoppers across West Suffolk with thousands joining the Primark for Bury St Edmunds Facebook group.

At the time, the company said it expected to open before the end of 2023.

Addressing the delay in October, a spokesman said: “When we announce a new store, there are so many factors to take into consideration – while we always aim to give an accurate time frame to the best of our knowledge at the time, sometimes this will change depending on when we take possession of the building as it's only then we can begin getting the store ready.”

A 228 seat, three screen Everyman Cinema is also due to welcome customers early next year when it launches in the basement of the empty department store.

Last week, excited shoppers caught their first glimpse inside the store.

Debenhams shut in May 2021 when the struggling firm disappeared from the high street following a multi-million pound takeover of the brand which excluded its shops.

The retailer was the arc’s flagship and opened at the launch of the shopping centre 14 years ago.