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International retailer H&M opens at Southern Park Mall
By Kalea Hall
BOARDMAN
Brittany Ciresi made sure she was in line Thursday and ready for the noon opening of the H&M store at Southern Park Mall.
“It’s about time this town got a store like this,” the 19-year-old Struthers resident said.
Ciresi and her friend Courtney Mountford, 20, also of Struthers, were No. 100 and No. 101 in line for the opening that was loud, fun and entertaining.
Staff from the Sweden-based international retailer danced outside and pumped up the more than 200 customers eagerly awaiting the noon ribbon- cutting.
The celebration livened the Sears concourse of the mall where shoppers flocked to watch the dancing and listen to the DJ’s music.
“Welcome to the new H&M,” a loudspeaker announced when the staff cut the red ribbon and opened the store.
H&M, Hennes & Maurtiz AB, started in 1947 in Sweden. Today there are more than 360 stores in the U.S. and about 3,300 H&M stores in 57 markets worldwide.
The approximately 19,000-square-foot Southern Park Mall location offers collections for women, men, young women, young men and kids and separate sections for accessories, lingerie, maternity and a plus-size line.
Mountford and Ciresi both think the store offers quality clothing at a decent price point.
“It has upcoming trends, and it’s new and refreshing,” Mountford said.
The retailer announced it would come to Southern Park in January of this year. Another location is slated to open in the fall at Eastwood Mall on Youngstown- Warren Road in Niles.
“H&M is always looking to open in locations where we feel there is a demand from customers,” a H&M spokesperson said Thursday.
On Thursday, the first 200 customers in line received an H&M fashion pass valued from $10 to $300.
Zach Exley, 22, of Hubbard made sure he was at the mall doors when it opened to be the first in line. In the end, he got the $300 pass.
He planned to use up the pass completely Thursday.
“The clothes are different and really affordable compared to others,” he said.