Primark opens 80,000 sq ft upsized store at Metrocentre

Primark has opened the doors to its upsized store at Metrocentre in Gateshead – its 13th largest in the UK.

The clothing and homeware retailer has added 14,100 sq ft on the ground floor – bringing the total trading area to 80,000 sq ft across two floors. Accounting for non-trading space, the store extends to a total of 100,000 sq ft.

The store’s departments have been rearranged and upgraded with new fixtures and fittings as the retailer looks to create a seamless shopping experience. Self-checkout tills, alongside manned tills, have also been introduced to improve the customer experience.

Primark’s expansion looks to underpin the retailer as a significant anchor within Metrocentre, which has recently seen investment from other leading retailers such as Zara, Footasylum, and EE, all of which have upsized.

Ben Cox, director at scheme asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “Primark is a firm favourite across the retail market as well as within Metrocentre, and this enhanced space really delivers for our visitors. Having been part of the destination for nearly 20 years, this investment highlights Primark’s commitment as an established brand that has had enduring success at Metrocentre. This year alone several of our international powerhouse brands have upsized here, a sign of the shared confidence we have with our tenants that they can grow and evolve with us, and ultimately perform.”

Conor Walsh, director of sales for the North East and South West at Primark, said: “The North East is an important region for Primark as we continue to invest in our UK store estate. The extension to the Metrocentre store precedes the new store opening in Teesside Park next week and forms part of our overall £100 million investment this year. We’re so excited to open our doors today as a bigger and better Primark Gateshead Metrocentre store and welcome our customers in to shop more of what they love.”

This news follows a series of leasing-led announcements at Metrocentre in recent weeks. The destination has welcomed a new store for GO Outdoors and introduced the likes of ProCook and The Escapologist on the Green and Yellow malls respectively.