It's a bit weird that Primark have reinvented themselves to do well when the rest of the High street are failing.
Back in the day, Penneys was like Debenhams in Ireland, a general department store which opened 46 years ago - but even then the emphasis was on "bargains". When they expanded outside the Republic, they found that the Yanks had the name "Penneys" registered, so had to change to Primark.
Under that name, they have expanded throughout Europe - the second biggest store is in Madrid, truly a European phenomenon! But, like many such things, it is no longer an independent, but part of the monster ABF group....