Primark added two states to its U.S. map in six days, then stalled in Augusta.
The value retailer opened its first Minnesota store on Sept. 3 at Mall of America in Bloomington, close to 35,000 square feet stocked with Minnesota Vikings gear through the chain's NFL partnership. That store was its 46th in the country and put Primark in 15 states.
Georgia came five days later. Doors opened at 11 a.m. on Sept. 8 at Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville, northeast of Atlanta, with more than 26,000 square feet of selling space and Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Hawks apparel starting at $16. That made 47 U.S. stores.
Number 48 was supposed to arrive Sept. 10 at Augusta Mall, a 28,000-square-foot store in the space where Sears used to stand. Primark called it off the day before and said it would share a new date later. The company has not given one.
"There are many moving pieces that go into getting a store open to the public, and we're working hard to make sure everything is perfect for our Augusta customers!" Primark said when asked what went wrong.
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The delay interrupts a fast stretch. Primark opened its first Indiana store in July at Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, then a second greater Orlando location on Aug. 20 at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. Announcing both Georgia stores on Aug. 31, Kevin Tulip, president of Primark US, said the chain was "excited for a busy week in Georgia as it opens not one but two new stores in the state."
Price does the selling. Women's denim starts at $12 and men's T-shirts at $5, the formula that carried a company founded in Ireland in 1969 to more than 480 stores across 19 countries.
Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, said in April that it plans to separate its foods business from its retail business. Augusta now decides whether the American count reaches 48 before the holiday season.