Global fashion retailer H&M will open its second Hawaii store at a massive regional mall being built in Kapolei.
The Swedish-based clothing chain, also known as Hennes & Mauritz, opened its first location in the islands earlier this year at the Waikiki Business Plaza. Sources familiar with the company said it plans to open another store at Ala Moana Center.
An H&M spokeswoman previously said the retailer was looking to open more stores around the state if the company could find suitable spaces. A typical store employs about 80 people.
DeBartolo Development is building the Kapolei mall, known as Ka Makana Alii, a 1.4 million-square-foot center breaking ground later this year at the intersection of Kapolei and Kualakai parkways. The first phase of the complex, including H&M, is scheduled to open in 2016.
"H&M will provide easy access to contemporary fashion for area families, who will enjoy the convenience of having such a sought-after brand just minutes away," Edward Kobel, DeBartolo president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
H&M, Europe’s second-largest clothing retailer, has been aggressively opening new stores on the mainland since 2000, and had 269 stores in 33 states at the end of last year.
Worldwide, H&M has roughly 2,800 stores in 48 markets from Chile to Russia. Sales revenue last year totaled about $22 billion.
H&M was founded in Sweden in 1947, and sells fashion apparel and accessories for men, women and children from independent suppliers as well as 140 in-house designers.
