Primark is marking 50 years in Wales, and the Swansea store has been part of the story almost from the beginning.
The retailer opened its first Welsh store in Newport in May 1976, and Swansea followed two years later in November 1978 — making it only the second Primark in Wales.
The Swansea store opened on St Mary’s Square, where it remains today.
To mark the anniversary, the chain has installed commemorative window displays in three of its Welsh stores — in Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport.
The Newport store, on Commercial Street, opened as just the fifth Primark in Great Britain, making Wales one of the first places in the country to welcome the retailer.
It remains on the same site today and, at 15,400 sq ft, is still the smallest Primark in Wales.
Cardiff opened in 1981 and has since moved twice. At 87,000 sq ft it is now the largest Primark in the country.
The retailer now has eight stores in Wales, including one at Trostre Retail Park in Llanelli, which opened in 2017.
Across Wales, Primark covers more than 300,000 sq ft of retail space and employs over 1,100 staff.
The company said 174 of its Welsh colleagues had worked for the retailer for 10 years or more.
Kari Rodgers, UK retail director at Primark, said Welsh high streets had changed enormously over the past five decades.
“The demand for great quality and affordable fashion and essentials is just as strong as it was when we first opened our doors,” she said.
“We’re proud to be part of the community of Wales, providing employment and career opportunities as well as playing an active part in the localities we serve.”
The retailer said its Welsh stores had raised more than £1 million for charity through its carrier bag charge, including donations to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital charity and the Wales Air Ambulance.
Primark was founded in Ireland in 1969 and now has more than 480 stores across 19 countries.
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