VIDEO: Hungary’s first Primark store opens to huge crowd

The first Primark store in Hungary opened today, drawing a massive crowd to the Arena shopping centre. Videos of the opening event have also been shared online.

The first Primark store in Hungary opened today

Days before the official opening, groups were already organising shopping trips to be among the first to visit the new Budapest store. The store opened at 10:00 in the morning, but there was already a queue of shoppers waiting outside. To mark the occasion, store employees waved flags to music, creating a festival-like atmosphere, as seen in the videos from the site.

The crowds were particularly dense in the queue outside the store, as the number of shoppers inside was limited for security reasons. According to video reports, the number of people queuing for the opening surged, leading to the erection of a long cordon in front of the store. The video shows that as some people finished shopping, others were allowed into the store in groups.

As reported by VG.hu, Maciej Podwojski, Primark’s manager for Central and Eastern Europe, stated earlier that they anticipate customers from neighbouring countries but are primarily focusing on Hungarian consumers.

The store in Budapest covers 3,100 square metres and was built with an investment of eight million euros (more than three billion forints). The Hungarian investment created 180 jobs.

When asked about plans for another Hungarian store, Primark’s top executive said, “Our heart, soul and mind are focused on the Primark store in the Arena Mall, but we are also listening to customer feedback. Hungary is not a small country; I personally believe it could support another store. We will see what the future brings.”

Primark is a highly popular chain, with many Hungarians previously travelling to Vienna to shop there. Hungary was one of the few countries in the region without a Primark store. In 2019, the company opened its first store in the Central and Eastern European region in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The fashion chain has since opened stores in Slovenia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. Following the Budapest opening, Primark will continue its regional expansion, with new stores set to open in Timisoara, Romania; Prague, Czech Republic; and Bydgoszcz, Poland, over the next year.

PRIMARK in Hungary – Update

According to the latest reports, the length of the queue has reached some 200 metres, so we suggest you visit the shop on another day.

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