EDINBURGH PRIMARK UPDATE

LATEST UPDATE:  A STORE BY XMAS 2009!!!

With 125 stores in the UK and Ireland, two in Glasgow and not a single one in Scotland’s capital, the absence of a Primark in Edinburgh has been the subject of protracted online discussions and petitions such as the one mounted by Bebo-based  ‘Edinburgh Primark Now’.  Meanwhile we’ve all gazed enviously at the hordes on the Glasgow-Edinburgh shuttle with their distinctive Primark bags.  

Rumours

We’ve heard rumours and counter rumours.  The most enthusiastic of us have checked Primark’s own site under ‘Stores Coming Soon’.  Not a peep.  Others have secretely wondered whether Edinburgh is considered just too ‘snooty’ for a Primark!   

We heard a few months ago that after searching for over two years to find a suitable site the clothing giant is in final negotiations to lease the former M & S store at 91 Princess Street which has around 100,000 square feet of retail space set over no less than six floors.  And we heard it would be open for Christmas 2008. We're almost at Christmas 2008 and there appears to be no activity on Princes Street. 

We've now contacted Primark's Head Office and after being told by one employee that 'Of course there's a Primark in Edinburgh' (we assured him that indeed there is not!)  he checked his list of new store openings and sounded somewhat dismayed to discover that there were no immediate plans to open a store in the capital.  When pushed for an answer to just WHEN there might be an Edinburgh Primark we were given another Head Office extension.  On that line was a very gruff lady who assured us there wouldn't be one for 'at least another two years'.
 

LATEST UPDATE - 17th December 2008

OK ladies - this story's got more twists and turns than formula 1.  Primark are now saying that they ARE opening a store in the former M & S store at 91 Princes Street.  This time they say it'll be open for Xmas 2009.  What's that?  You'll believe it when you see it?    

And for those of you who say you’d be quicker going to Primark Dunfermline anyway rather than trying to get anywhere near Princes Street these days we say … you do have a point.