Primark will open its first store in Castelo Branco on Wednesday, 2 September, bringing one of Europe's best-known fashion retailers to the city and creating more than 30 new jobs.
The new store, located in Forum Castelo Branco, will open its doors at 10:00 and cover more than 929 square metres of retail space.
The opening gives shoppers across Beira Baixa another major retail option without having to travel outside the region and forms part of a wider €45 million investment by Primark in expanding its presence across Portugal.
First Primark Store in Castelo Branco
The Castelo Branco store will be Primark's 14th location in Portugal and the first to open as part of the company's latest Portuguese expansion programme.
Customers will find the retailer's usual ranges for women, men and children, alongside beauty, lifestyle and home products. The store will open with Primark's new autumn/winter collection already available.
The new location will also feature self-checkout tills alongside traditional staffed checkouts.
More Than 30 New Jobs
The arrival of Primark also represents a boost for local employment, with more than 30 positions associated with the Castelo Branco store.
Primark has been recruiting for both retail and management positions as it expands its Portuguese network.
For Castelo Branco, the arrival of another major international retailer further strengthens the city's position as an important commercial centre serving not only the municipality but communities throughout Beira Baixa and neighbouring areas.
Part of a €45 Million Expansion in Portugal
The Castelo Branco opening is part of a much larger expansion by Primark in Portugal.
In May, the company announced plans to invest more than €45 million in four additional stores and an expansion of its existing Forum Coimbra location.
Alongside Castelo Branco, new stores are planned for Setúbal, Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto. Primark expects the programme to increase its Portuguese network to 18 stores by summer 2027 and create more than 300 new jobs nationally.
The Setúbal store will follow shortly after Castelo Branco, opening on 10 September.
Covilhã Store Still to Come
Castelo Branco will not be the only new Primark serving the region.
A Primark store in Covilhã has already been announced separately as part of the company's previous €40 million Portuguese expansion programme.
The Covilhã store is planned for City Center Covilhã and remains listed by Primark among its Portuguese locations, although an opening date has not yet been confirmed.
Once open, the two stores will give residents at both ends of the Beira Baixa region much easier access to the retailer.
What the Opening Means for Beira Baixa
For local shoppers, the immediate attraction is straightforward: a trip to Primark will no longer require travelling to cities such as Viseu, Coimbra or further afield.
But the opening also represents continued investment by major national and international retailers in the region.
Castelo Branco already acts as an important shopping and services centre for a large surrounding rural area. Adding a retailer with Primark's national profile could potentially attract additional visitors into the city and provide increased footfall for other businesses.
The arrival comes at a time when other recent indicators have pointed towards change across the region, including population growth and new investment in infrastructure and services.
Opening Date and Time
Primark Castelo Branco
Opening: Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Time: 10:00
Location: Forum Castelo Branco
Retail area: More than 929 m²
Employment: More than 30 new jobs
Sources
-
https://www.beirabaixatv.pt/primark-abre-em-castelo-branco-a-2-de-setembro
-
https://corporate.primark.com/en-gb/a/news/corporate-news/primark-continues-ambitious-growth-in-portugal-with-plan-to-invest-over-45-million-euro
-
https://www.diariodigitalcastelobranco.pt/noticia/72450/primark-abre-nova-loja-no-forum-castelo-branco-a-2-de-setembro
-
https://www.reconquista.pt/articles/castelo-branco-primark-abre-no-inicio-de-setembro
-
https://careers.primark.com/pt-pt/localiza%C3%A7%C3%A3o/emprego-portugal/19055/2264397/2/1