It's finally official. NorthPark Center is getting Texas' first H&M store.
The Swedish fast-fashion retailer plans to open a 24,000-square-foot store at NorthPark in the second half of 2011.
Hennes & Mauritz and NorthPark won't say exactly where the store will go inside the mall.
Speculation that Europe's No. 2 fashion retailer was heading to Dallas escalated in September when it started running television commercials here. The retailer still wouldn't confirm its intentions, saying the campaign was running in several markets with no stores.
It's likely that NorthPark won't be the only store H&M opens in Dallas over the next few years. It has about 200 stores in the U.S., including 10 in both Manhattan and Chicago, five in Atlanta and three in St. Louis.
The cheap-chic fashion apparel chain operates 2,000 stores in 37 countries and had sales last year of $14 billion.
H&M, California-based Forever 21, Spain's Zara and Mango chains and Japan's Uniqlo have been grabbing market share over the last 10 years from department stores and mall-based teen retailers with lower prices and more frequent shipments of new merchandise.
Some department stores have decided to partner with those retailers. Plano-based J.C. Penney Co. is opening Mango shops inside its women's apparel departments, and Sears Holding Co. has an agreement with Forever 21 to open departments in some of its stores.
H&M landed in the U.S. in New York City in 2000 to shoppers lining up outside to be first to experience the store that sells women's and men's apparel. Larger stores also include children's clothing.
In Dallas, it could be moving into the space vacated in January by upscale furniture retailer Robb & Stucky. That two-level furniture store opened in 2006 as part of NorthPark's $225 million expansion.
Known for its low prices, H&M isn't exactly the upscale coup that NorthPark brags about scoring, as it does with its recent Gucci opening. But it battles with Galleria Dallas and a plethora of regional malls and shopping centers in the market to secure the first-in-the market stores, especially if the concept has the cool factor associated with H&M.
Forever 21 has several stores in the Dallas market, including a large store at NorthPark. Zara's only Dallas store is located at the Galleria.
"Our goal has always been to consistently provide the finest selection of retail in every category and at every price point," NorthPark said in a statement. "We look forward to offering this world-renowned retailer to the Dallas consumer who seeks fashion and quality at the best value."
