Primark and Everyman Cinema in Bury St Edmunds: Everything we know so far as work to transform former Debenhams at arc Shopping Centre ‘progressing well’
Work is ‘progressing well’ on transforming a flagship town shop for a cinema and a much-anticipated Primark.
Workmen have been busy at the former Debenhams at the arc Shopping Centre, in Bury St Edmunds, for months ahead of the fast-fashion retailer moving into the ground and first floors this year.
A 228 seat Everyman Cinema is also due to open in the basement.
Shoppers have been able to glimpse development on the new entrance doors for the store after a piece of hoarding was removed.
Allan Hassell, centre manager at the arc, said landlord works were progressing well but there were no opening dates as of yet for Primark or the cinema.
A Primark spokesperson said works were under way and they were excited to open the new store in Bury St Edmunds.
When announced last November, Primark said the new shop would create about 90 jobs. Details on vacancies and how to apply will be released in the coming months on careers.primark.com.
It followed calls within the town for the retailer to open a branch, with thousands joining the Primark for Bury St Edmunds Facebook group.
At the time, Philippa Nibbs, Primark UK Director of Sales for London and the South East, said: “We know people in Bury St Edmunds have been calling for a local Primark for a while now, so we’re delighted to finally be able to confirm our plans for the town.”
Initial plans for the Everyman Cinema included five screens - one with 104 seats, another with 74 and two with 48 as well as a private hire screen with 32 seats.
However, it was later reduced to three screens – one with 94 seats, another with 74 and the other with 60, bringing the total capacity to 228 seats.
In April, Everyman was given the green light to show films and sell alcohol until midnight.
West Suffolk Council granted the chain permission to serve customers from 8am to midnight most days.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the latest time customers can watch films or buy alcohol will extend to 1am.
Andrew Woods, solicitor for Everyman Media, said he hoped the cinema could be a welcome addition to Bury.
In response to residents' worries about noise, Mr Woods said: “We have no problems with noise or customers leaving the premises whatsoever in all our other premises, partly because people are paying a higher price to come to our cinemas.”
Everyman Media runs 38 cinemas and 130 screens in the UK.
Primark operates a network of 422 stores in 16 countries in Europe and the US.
Debenhams, the arc's flagship store, shut in May 2021 when the struggling firm disappeared from the high street following a multi-million pound takeover of the brand which excluded its shops.
It opened at the launch of the shopping centre 14-years-ago.
The Primark company was founded by Arthur Ryan in 1969 as Penneys in Dublin.
The first UK store launched in Derby in 1973.
