PRIMARK'S flagship Belfast store, which was almost destroyed in a huge fire, is to reopen in November.
The new five-floor renovated shop will be significantly larger than the old store, featuring 88,200 sq ft of retail space.
It will also include a new fifth floor home department featuring a range of accessories, bedding and small furniture for the first time.
It will also feature a Disney café and nail and beauty studio for customers.
Primark’s existing premises on Castle Street will merge with the restored Bank Buildings site to create the new larger store.
As part of this, the smaller Primark location at Fountain House at Donegall Place will close in the days before the Bank Buildings re-opening, so all employees can transfer.
The reopening comes four years after the iconic Bank Buildings, located at Royal Avenue and Castle Street, was was extensively damaged in a fire in August 2018.
In the aftermath, a £30 million refurbishment programme got under way to save the building, which was built in 1899.
In June, it was announced that three companies are to face prosecution as a result of investigations carried out into the fire.
Paul Marchant, Primark CEO, thanked the people of Belfast "for their ongoing support and patience whilst we undertook the extensive re-building works at our iconic Bank Buildings site".
"We have put our heart and soul into retaining, conserving and restoring this much-loved historical building," he said.
"We are nearly there with this re-development, and we cannot wait to finally re-open the doors and welcome our customers and our colleagues back into our Bank Buildings store."
Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of the Belfast Chamber, said it was "really positive news for Belfast and will provide our city centre with a much needed boost".
"It is a massive vote of confidence in Belfast that Primark is investing so much and coming back bigger and better and I am sure it will greatly assist Belfast in its ongoing recovery and regeneration," he said.
Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of Retail NI, said: "Without a doubt this reopening will be a much-needed boost for the city centre and its traders."
Belfast Mayor Tina Black said: "This has been a long and complex restoration project, and local traders and shoppers have shown great patience and resilience.
"We hope the opening of Primark’s extended flagship store will provide a major boost to businesses, particularly in the run-up to the busy Christmas season," she said.
