Salisbury finally gets its Primark store!
The retailer's opened its latest store in the Old George Mall
After years of waiting, the social media posts and online articles asking when Salisbury will get a Primark can stop, as the store opened its doors to customers for the first time today (Wednesday 13th September).
Hundreds joined the queue, with the first in line having taken annual leave from work to join the line at 8.00am in order to be first through the doors.
The shop's based in the former BHS unit in the Old George Mall, which has been empty for the last seven years.
Outside in the queue, anticipation was building and we spoke to those in line to find out how Primark’s arrival would benefit the high street in Salisbury.
One woman said: “Everyone travels elsewhere to go to Primark, so it will be good to have it in the city centre.”
Another woman said it would bring a lot of people back to the high street as well as tourists, as people in Salisbury used to have to travel to Southampton. She said that this increased footfall would allow other stores to benefit too.
Dan Collins, Business Manager at Salisbury BID echoed these sentiments, saying they want Salisbury to become a retail destination.
“Next month, we’ve got Bradbeers opening in the old Debenhams building, so now there’s a reason for, not just residents of Salisbury, but people from all surrounding areas to shop here,” he said.
Dan added that it feels like Salisbury is on the up: “The amount of inward investment in Salisbury is staggering compared to other areas.”
Over 100 jobs have been created in the city through the arrival of Primark, with over a quarter of them made up of people returning to work.
A woman in the queue said it’s ‘amazing’ that so many jobs had been created for people, adding that Primark’s arrival was all ‘positive’ for the city.
And with the government encouraging businesses in Wiltshire to sign the age-friendly employer pledge, Dan said it’s ‘massive’ for people to be able to return to work in Salisbury.
Salisbury has been known to have 100% employment.
“Having those people that intend to get back to work at an older age would be amazing and I think businesses in Salisbury would be really keen to embrace that.”
Dan added that it would really help with the current cost-of-living crisis.