It has been the talk of the city for more than seven months but this week the wait will finally be over with the opening of the 277th Primark store.
Bath's fashion conscious shopping fanatics are champing at the bit to get inside the new three-storey clothing store.
The store on Stall Street will include women's, men's and children's clothing, accessories, footwear and homeware.
The store, which has created 320 new jobs, will have 33 changing rooms and 31 tills. The company has spent months refurbishing the store and has created a new lower ground level for shoppers.
Hundreds of shoppers are expected to queue up for hours in an attempt to be the first inside the store when it opens at 10am tomorrow. FRI
Business leaders in the city are hopeful the new Primark will help the city centre raise its profile.
Chief executive of the Bath Business Improvement District (BID), Andrew Cooper, said: "On Thursday prior to opening I am looking forward to a first look at the new Primark store. It is already noticeable the changes that have been made to the exterior of the building and how this major investment will boost the city's retail offer.
"I have been impressed at Primark's willingness to engage with the Bath BID and business community, I am sure the queue to see all the excitement on Friday will be a long one and well worth the wait."
The chain, which launched in Dublin in 1969 under the name Penneys, has 277 stores across nine countries and has recently announced plans for its first State-side store to open in Boston next year.
Primark's latest results show the firm's profits rose by more than a quarter to £298 million in the six months to March, while the company achieved sales worth £2.3 billion – up 14 per cent on last year.
The company, which is owned by Associated British Foods, already has more than 500,000 sq metres of retail space in the UK ,but during 2014 Primark will open three new stores in Bath, Canterbury and Milton Keynes, and expanding stores in Newcastle and Manchester.
Unusually for a high street brand, Primark clothes and accessories are not available online - forcing its loyal customers to head for their nearest store if they want to get their hands on £3 t-shirts or £10 bikinis.
If you will be queuing out tonight or Friday morning to get a glimpse of the new store why not tweet a picture to @BathChron or tweet a selfie with your first purchase at the store.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
