H&M Pop-Up Store Opens Friday In Miami Beach
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- International fashion retailer H&M is set to open the doors of its first Miami-area store in the fall but fashion-forward fans are getting a sneak peak with the opening of a pop-up store just off Lincoln Road on Friday.
The doors to the pop-up store opened at noon and the crowd, which started to line up at 9:00 a.m., was intense.
The affordable, popular merchandise, which has made H&M famous, is expected to sell fast to fashionistas looking for popular clothes at great prices.
Hundreds of savvy shoppers scooped up the latest styles from the global brand that now boasts more than 2,500 stores worldwide. There were so many people at Friday's opening, there was a huge line just for the dressing rooms.
"We have 250 designers worldwide that just keep designing and we keep getting shipments every single day with new items so we're actually able to keep up with fashions and actually lead fashion as well," explained Marybeth Schmitt, Communications Director at H&M.
H&M fans didn't let the rain stop them from the bargains or the buys. They stood in line and patiently waited to get their hands on great deals, like bikini tops and bottoms for under 5 bucks a piece.
"I've gone to New York a couple of times and always shop at H&M and I'm really glad it's in Miami now," said an excited shopper named Suzie.
"They didn't have it for the longest time so I was going to move away. Now, it's here so I can stay," said shopper Va DaSilva.
It seems celebrities enjoy a good deal as well. CBS4's Lisa Petrillo found football and reality star Chad Ochocinco and his girlfriend Evelyn Lozado in the store.
"I always say for me everything doesn't have to be expensive and it's definitely very chic," said Ochocinco.
His girlfriend agreed. "I love it and it's trendy said Lozado.
Ochocinco was so excited to be shopping at an H&M in Miami, he wanted to share the news.
"I'm here with Lisa Petrillo at the H&M pop up shop on South Beach and I'm ready to be styling in H&M. What people don't know is, it doesn't have to be expensive to look good," said Ochocinco.
The temporary store is a preview designed to whet the appetite of H&M fans before this fall's opening of a flagship store on Lincoln Road. It's only the second time H&M, the shortened name for the Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz, has launched a pop-up store in a new market.
The pop-up shop is located at 1669 Meridian Avenue and will close in September when the main store opens just around the corner in the historical Lincoln Theater, which is being renovated into retail space.
The pop-up shop merchandise features its summer collection featuring bold neon colors and prints with lots of tropical attitude. There are also plenty of bathing suits, cover-ups, beach towels, and other items perfect for the South Florida lifestyle.
So why is H&M so popular?
It's affordable, stylish, it's become a favorite with celebrities, including first lady Michelle Obama and actresses Drew Barrymore and Michelle Williams. Still, it's not uncommon to find items for $4.95 and there's rarely anything that costs more than $50 — even in limited-edition collections featuring top fashion names like Versace, Stella McCartney, and Jimmy Choo.
The pop-up store, approximately 33-hundred square feet, features mostly women's clothing and accessories but the flagship stores will have more than 10 times the amount of selling space and will include a complete men's collections plus children and maternity items.
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