I Went to Primark in the US and Saw Why It’s Expanding Here

This store opened in July and is located in Tysons Corner Center, a major shopping mall in Northern Virginia.

The selection of suitcases reminded me of the product selection you might find at a T.J. Maxx or Ross, even though those off-price retailers source their inventory differently.

Many of the products appeared to be Primark’s own brands, such as “PS.” Shoppers have been buying store brands lately to save money after years of inflation and persistently high prices.

I bought some shorts at a Primark in the UK a couple of years ago and wanted to see whether I could find a similar pair here in the US.

This display was an homage to Inter Miami, the soccer team that Messi plays for.

These shirts were “on-trend must-haves,” according to the sign above them.

While I couldn’t find the same pair of shorts from my UK trip, I did try on a pair of these $24 shorts that came with a belt.

It seems like Primark is trying to get into more than clothes with its store brands.

The tank tops came in a variety of colors.

I visited Primark in early April, when the retailer was running specials on many warmer clothes, such as these long-sleeve shirts and hoodies.

This very simple “New York City” hoodie would likely have been overlooked even at a souvenir shop in Times Square.

Men’s jeans were available in multiple colors and sizes. They were also clearly organized by cut, which made it easy to shop.

The clothing prices at Primark varied a bit: Those shorts were $24 a pair with a belt, while one pair of jeans I tried on retailed for $12. Another pair of jeans was marked down to $10 from $20.

Two of the three items — the shorts and the discounted pair of jeans — fit well.

Only the self-checkouts were open when I visited late on a Thursday morning.

Most of the dozen or so kiosks at this Primark had “Closed” signs attached to their screens. It wasn’t clear whether they had technical issues or if store management was worried about customers stealing things at self-checkout.

The kiosks only accepted card payments. While I later spotted an open checkout upstairs staffed by a person, it seemed like a tough environment if you wanted or needed to pay with cash.

To leave the checkout area, I had to scan my receipt. Once I did, a gate opened, letting me back into the store.

I remembered this scanner from the Primark I visited in the UK. Scanning your receipt at self-checkout seems more common in the UK than in the US, though a few American stores have adopted the tech.

I also wondered how effective this scanner and gate are at limiting or catching theft. The gate led me back onto the sales floor, not directly to a store exit, meaning someone could slip items they hadn’t paid for into a bag from the checkout.

I ended up buying a pair of shorts and a pair of jeans that were on clearance. In total, I spent about $36.

Given the similarities with Primark, I ducked in to see what this Old Navy store was like.

The Old Navy store seemed to have a similar selection of things I typically buy, such as men’s shorts and button-down shirts.

The selection of men’s jeans at Old Navy wasn’t quite as wide and organized as what I found at Primark, though. I also didn’t see significant makeup and luggage selections like I did at Primark.

It’s usually easy to shop at just one or two stores for your weekly grocery haul.

But sticking to just one store for all your clothes can be more difficult. I’ve filled my wardrobe with stuff from Costco, J. Crew, Macy’s, Target, and Zara, not to mention a few secondhand sources.

I liked the fit of the shorts and jeans I bought, so if they hold up well, I’ll likely be back to Primark for more at some point. But affordable clothing is a competitive part of retail, and Primark will have to work hard to keep my attention.