The race for space—retail space, that is—continues as H&M is claiming even more square footage in the DC region. Next month, the Swedish outfitter is opening a new storefront at the Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda. The massive new location will open its doors Thursday, September 14 at noon, welcoming area residents to over 24,000 square feet of shoes, apparel, and accessories. The new H&M location joins 15 other H&M locations across the state of Maryland.
H&M is inviting everyone in on the celebrations: The first 500 shoppers will receive gift cards valued between $10 and $300, while customers who participate in the company’s popular garment recycling program can also enter to win a gift card ranging in value from $50 to $500 dollars on opening day.
H&M and its sister brands have recently been expanding in the greater DMV area. Since 2016, H&M has opened 20,000-plus-square-foot stores in five major malls in Maryland: White Marsh, Francis Scott Key, Valley Mall (Hagerstown), Prince Georges, and the Centre at Salisbury. They also opened two mall locations in Virginia in Patrick Henry Mall and Valley Mall (Harrisonburg).
In January, H&M announced intentions to reign in expansion plans company-wide, citing shifts in the industry towards online markets. The move reads as prudently cautious at a time when other big box retailers are shuttering locations and reinventing their sales strategies. Nevertheless, the news to slow expansion came just before rolling out flagship locations for two of the company’s sister brands & Other Stories and Cos in Georgetown.
In coming to Pike & Rose, H&M joins other major retailers including REI, Lucky Brand, and Gap. Outdoors outfitter L.L.Bean is also slated to arrive at Pike & Rose this fall.
Hayley is an Associate Editor at Washingtonian Weddings. Previously she was the the Style Editor at The Local Palate, a Southern food culture magazine based out of Charleston, South Carolina. You can follow her on instagram @wandertaste.
