Charity shop forced to shut is back with new pop up
FANS of Primark in Belfast can start making their lists and checking them twice — because it’s just one more sleep until the clothes retailer flings open its doors to shoppers in the city centre.
There were fears that the department store famed for its bargains wouldn’t be up and running in time for the festive season following a catastrophic three-day fire at its flagship store in Bank Buildings in August.
But tomorrow, Primark will be open again, this time at Commonwealth House on Castle Street.
So whether you’re in the market for a pink and white unicorn pyjama set for her, a kid’s ivory Christmas reindeer Christmas jumper, some Super Mario slippers, or a penguin shirt for the man in your life... it’s all within your grasp from tomorrow.
If it’s partywear you’re after, there’s still time to pick up a pair of pink check boots or a sliver chainmail bag before the office party, or what about a Christmas bauble pack of decorations for the tree?
And don’t forget the skincare and beauty ranges, including lipstick and lipliner that were all the rage earlier this year because the Primark products cost a fraction of the price you’d pay for their big name equivalents.
It has been three long months for Primark lovers, but the company’s website confirms that the countdown to shopping nirvana is almost over.
At 9am tomorrow, all four floors will open and every department will be represented at the 26,700 sq ft shop, which boasts two customer elevators, three sets of customer stairs, 22 tills and 31 fitting rooms. Access will only initially be possible via Castle Street, from the west side of the city centre, and there will be measures in place to deal with the high numbers expected to visit the retail mecca on its first day of trading.
Yesterday, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley got a special preview of the new Primark hub during a visit into the city centre.
On Monday the opening of a new walkway opposite Primark heralded a new era of hope for city centre retailers who were badly hit by the devastation are now looking forward to a pre-Christmas trade boost.
The passageway reconnects Donegall Place and Royal Avenue and allows pedestrians to walk past fire-damaged Primark for the first time since the devastating blaze.
McDonald’s, Argento and Sketchers and Spar reopened this week for the first time since the fire.
But Zara, Tesco Metro and the British Heart Foundation remain closed. A CHARITY shop forced to close because of the Primark fire has made an urgent appeal for donations to their new pop up store that is set to open by Christmas.
The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) shop in Castle Street, Belfast, was forced to close its doors after the devastating fire.
The charity urgently searched for a new site and is set to reopen a pop up shop in Fountain Street on Thursday, December 20.
But because parts of Castle Street remain closed off, they cannot access the existing shop to collect donations and are starting the new shop from scratch.
Maureen McElhatton of BHF NI shops said they hope people will rally round.
“Anything the public can spare to help us restock our shop we will be so grateful to receive,” she said.