By Business & Finance 
Announcing a number of initiatives today, Primark, which trades as Penneys, unveiled plans to open a 54,000 sq ft of selling space store in Liffey Valley, which will create 280 jobs and is expected to open in winter 2016.
A further 36 jobs will be created in 2015 as part of a major investment in Primark head office on Parnell Street/Jervis Street, Dublin 1.
Commenting, CEO of Primark, Paul Marchant said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of a key Penneys store in Liffey Valley in addition to an exciting new investment in our Head Office. Combined, these initiatives will create 316 jobs in Ireland, which demonstrate our belief in the growth prospects of the Irish economy.”
In light of investments underway, the decision was taken to close one of Penneys older and smaller stores in Naas. The closure of the 6,100 sq ft of selling space store is scheduled for 25th April 2015. All 22 Naas employees will be offered relocation opportunities at Penneys in Newbridge in addition to other stores in the national and international network.
Primark also announced its intention to dispose of the former Superquinn site in Naas which was originally acquired in August 2008.
Primark currently has 287 stores across nine countries. Earlier this year, Primark announced its expansion into the US with the signing of a lease for some 70,000 sq ft of selling space at Downtown Crossing in the heart of in Boston, Massachusetts. Primark has also signed the leases of seven stores from the US company Sears (Holding Corporation). The stores will form part of the new Primark estate in the north east of the USA.
