Monday, January 30, 2012

Will 2012 be the year H&M opens in Charlotte?

H&M, the fast-fashion retailer with a fervent fan base, posted its full-year earnings late last week, and said it plans to open a total of 275 new stores across the world this year.

The company has a total of about 2,500 stores, two of which are in North Carolina. The first is in Raleigh, while a second store in Winston-Salem opened late last year.

Charlotte has yet to have an H&M opening, however. The Stockholm-based store has reportedly inquired about a local location in the past, but hasn't found the right fit.

In its earnings report, H&M said it plans to open the greatest number of new stores this year in China, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. H&M will also open its first stores in Bulgaria, Latvia, Malaysia, Thailand and Mexico (no word about Charlotte in the list of new markets).

The Facebook group "Bring H&M to Charlotte" is still drawing fresh posts, proving that hope never dies. Charlotte had to wait years for its first Whole Foods, as they spread across the state, but that store will open in the SouthPark area this year. So with 275 new H&M stores being built this year, do you think one of them will be in Charlotte?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's no place like Charlotte, there's no place like Charlotte, there's no place like Charlotte . . . .

Anonymous said...

not really news

Anonymous said...

I hope so! H&M is a fantastic store.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't hold out hope. They actually just announced a bunch of new stores recently. Including Miami, Houston, Salt Lake City and a second store in Denver. There was no mention of Charlotte at all. At this point I'd say its the local malls themselves, heavily influenced by the Belk corporation, that is keeping them out of Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

H&M? Holman & Moody is open in Charlotte

Anonymous said...

Old Borders at Northlake is empty. H&M would be perfect there.

Anonymous said...

H&M is so over rated.. cheap clothes with no style.. I gave up on the one here in Raleigh.. just not my style..

Anonymous said...

I heard they might be coming to Midtown?

Anonymous said...

H&M is over rated. You get what you pay for... cheaply made clothes.

Anonymous said...

It would be great to have a store here so I wouldn't have to stock up any time I go to SF, NYC or Europe.

Anonymous said...

It's getting harder and harder to find something at H&M anyway. It's either too Plain Jane or way too over the top, nothing in between. I'd take Forever 21 over H&M any day.

Brendan said...

I was rather disappointed in the store that opened in Raleigh. I don't see why everyone wanted the store so much.

Anonymous said...

I know this store for a long time !!! It has been in Germany for years and we always look around there. It would be great sth. from "home" to be in Charlotte :-)

Sarah said...

They should take the old Home Depot Design Center space at Midtown. I cannot fathom how they would go to Winston-Salem before Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Thankfully, not too many places are like Charlotte. The world would be an incredibly bland place.

Anonymous said...

dude, charlotte rocks. i love it here and i'm from NYC. you'll always have sad people who will never be happy...you should go live in guam for awhile...

Anonymous said...

H&M is dragging their asses, their expansion strategy makes no sense, never has. At this point, I really don't care. UK based ASOS.com is better than then, they have on-line shopping with free shipping to the U.S. So I'm good with or without H&M.

Anonymous said...

Great Idea! Old Borders location in Northlake Mall would be great!

Anonymous said...

Old Ross bldg on S. Blvd is a good spot.