Opening Its US Market Push, Primark Eyes Success at Boston Site
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September 2015 Boston’s hometown VOL. 26 #9 journal of Irish culture. $1.50 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2015 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com Opening its US market push, Primark eyes success at Boston site By Peter F. StevenS BIr StaFF September 10 is the long-awaited big day for Primark and Boston’s Downtown Crossing. The Dublin-based fashion retailer is opening the doors to its first US store in the redeveloped Burnham Building, once the home of Filene’s and the late, lamented Filene’s Basement. Primark’s foray into the American retail market stretches across four floors of the venerable structure. On the first and second floors will be women’s clothing and apparel; men’s clothing will be on the third floor. On the fourth floor is children’s clothing. Shoppers looking for shoes and accessories will find them on each floor. What American customers will find on all four floors Anne Driscoll is a member of the Boston Irish Currach Rowing Club, which will compete in a North is Primark’s array of “in the moment fashion” and American regatta set for Sept. 5 at Carson Beach in South Boston. Kristina Carroll photos home goods at the reason- able prices that has made the chain a huge success Boston’s champion currach rowers in Europe. Retail industry insiders view Primark as akin to Swedish-based H & M, Spanish-based Zara, and Los Angeles-based Forever 21. have fun while winning nationwide In a visit to the Boston site last March, Breege O’Donoghue, a Primark board member and director of By KrIStIna Carroll “Everybody had headed business development and new markets, told the Boston SPeCIal to the rePorter back to Ireland because Globe that “the stores target fashion-conscious millen- The Boston Irish Cur- Regatta set for Sept. 5 the Celtic Tiger was go- nials but also appeal to a much wider demographic.” rach Rowing Club, one ing on.” A Primark press release in March stated that the of seven teams in the along Carson Beach Driscoll decided to give chain planned to open stores “in the USA…located close to areas of high-urban density and that would benefit North American Currach about 15 years ago, and first heard about the club. it another try in 2013, from high levels of existing customer footfall.” With Association, has brought the club has been up and “I had read a story in and was pleased to find the ongoing redevelopment of Downtown Crossing, a centuries-old Irish tra- down over the years,” the Boston Globe in like out that not only had the “customer footfall” should be a given. dition to the waters of he said in an interview. 2003, and had it in mind club started up again, but Primark’s board selected Boston as the ideal site Hough’s Neck in Quincy. “It died out there for a that I wanted to do this. it was also in desperate from which to spread the word throughout the US. While the club has had a while, and we didn’t have And then when I called, need of women rowers. “So Said O’Donoghue to the Globe: “We recognize that shaky history, its founder, a good boat, so I ended up it was probably 2005 or it’s like a fever, it keeps there’s not a high level of awareness about Primark,” Joe McDonagh, says the building one myself three 2006, when I really had coming back,” she said. she said. “We’re a value retailer. Our business is about club is doing better than years ago.” time to devote to it, I “I thought I was all done affordable fashion at great quality and great prices.” ever. “I’ve been involved That was seven or so found out that the team with it, but some young Even as the doors to Primark in Downtown Crossing since I came over here years after Anne Driscoll had disbanded,” she said. (Continued on page 3) are flinging open this month, the chain is already plan- ning seven more stores in the US by the end of 2016, including ones at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, and in the Burlington Mall. The Boston store features 84 fitting rooms and a small army of over 500 manne- quins. A 1,000-square-foot “trend room” at the front of the store will present mannequins clad in the chain’s most popular and trendy fashions. At 77,000 square feet, Primark is smaller than next- door neighbor Macy’s. Still, if the Irish chain’s success in Europe is a predictor, the maiden US store should offer Macy’s a literal run for its money. In a welcome development for the local economy, (Continued on page 6) Honorees for 2015 Boston Irish Honors announced The Boston Irish Currach Rowing Club trains in the the waters of Hough’s Neck in Quincy. A form of sculling, the currach is a wider boat that seats only four people. It is widely used in western Ireland. Page 3 Our experienced residential team is hard at work making sure you get the very best rate on the loan that’s just right for you. If you are looking to purchase or refinance your home, trust EBSB to put you in the mortgage program that fits you best. From ARM’s to Fixed rates including MassHousing programs, let us do the hard work so you can enjoy your home. WE KNOW Call one of our Mortgage Specialists today at 978.977.7100 or visit ebsb.com. MORTGAGES NMLS # 457291 Member FDIC. Member DIF. Page 2 September 2015 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR bostonirish.com Dot’s Fenton enters Irish nanny cleared NE’s Basketball Hall in baby death case By lauren dezenSKI enced tremendous success Defense raps prosecution rePorter StaFF in the classroom and on One of the most deco- the basketball court,” Ti- aSSoCIated PreSS rated players in UMass tus said. “I always enjoyed A lawyer for an Irish Boston basketball history watching Eileen play. She nanny who was accused will be inducted into the displayed skill and pas- of killing a one-year-old New England Basketball sion, which allowed her to girl in her care and served Hall of Fame in August. lift everyone around her. more than two years in Eileen Fenton, the only This induction is such a prison only to have a women’s player in the well-deserved honor.” murder charge against her dropped on Mon., Aug. 31, school’s history to have Fenton said the nomina- Aisling McCarthy her number retired, will tion came as a complete called the prosecution a “complete disgrace” and a In prison 28 months be honored in a ceremony surprise and called it an awaiting trial on Aug. 8 at the DCU honor. “UMass is a big “rush to judgment.” Center in Worcester. The piece of my success and Melinda Thompson said 90 days. Dorchester native and I’m so thankful,” she said. 37-year-old Aisling Brady She had been in prison current resident still holds “When I was playing the McCarthy “can’t stop cry- from the time of her 2013 three school records, in- game, I never thought of it ing out of joy” but still faces arrest until May, when cluding the single-season in terms of records, it was uncertainty because feder- she was released on bail scoring mark of 490 points just pure love of the game. al immigration authorities and ordered to wear a GPS in 1989-90. She graduated I’m a city kid. I was fortu- want to detain her. monitor while awaiting an from UMass Boston in nate enough to be exposed “It was a tragedy that October trial. 1991. She is the daugh- to great athletes, parks, a child died, but, quite Monday’s announce- ter of Willie and Mamie and accessible sports.” frankly, the way this ment by prosecutors came Fenton, who are originally Fenton said there was prosecution was handled after a state medical from Carna, Co. Galway. a spot for her to play bas- was a complete disgrace,” examiner reversed an ear- Fenton was nominated ketball every night of the Thompson said hours lier decision declaring the by her coach, Charlie week in the neighborhood, after Middlesex District death a homicide caused Titus, and by Suffolk whether it was the Little eileen Fenton on the court for UMass Boston during Attorney Marian Ryan by shaken baby syndrome. University’s Jim Nelson. House, the Boys and Girls her Hall of Fame career. UMass Boston photo dropped a first-degree McCarthy had insisted “Eileen was a pioneer in Club, or Ryan Playground. murder charge against she was innocent, and our sports program in our Even today, the Savin I would have been a dif- an attorney for MassDOT, McCarthy, who remains her lawyers vigorously early years. She played Hill resident plays basket- ferent person” without was inducted into the at an undisclosed location. challenged the medical a key role in making the ball every Tuesday night playing basketball, Fen- UMass Boston Hall of Thompson said McCar- examiner’s findings that women’s sports programs with a women’s league at ton said. “I do appreciate Fame in 2003. DShe said thy hopes to rebuild her Rehma died of complica- matter on this campus. An Hemenway Park. “It’s a the value that sports have she does not plan to bring life and her credibility and tions of blunt-force head outstanding student and competitive league and added to my life in terms her basketball sneakers hasn’t ruled out legal ac- injuries.