H&M hopes that the Harborplace location it plans to open in March will help boost customer traffic at the waterfront pavilions in downtown Baltimore by bringing an in-demand and fast-growing apparel brand to the city, executives of the Swedish retailer said Thursday.
H&M, a chain of men's, women's and children's apparel that is opening hundreds of new stores this year, plans a 20,000-square-foot, two-level store in the Light Street pavilion that will have its own entrance from the promenade along the harbor, representatives said during a design presentation to the city's Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel. The retailer has performed best at street level locations in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Chicago and expects similar results in Baltimore.
"It's a destination," said Susan Sernett, a real estate manager for the retailer. "It is very much an in-demand brand, and there is still great excitement when we have come in to each of these (new) locations. We can help drive traffic on a year-round basis."
