Swedish fashion retailer H&M plans to build its fourth South Carolina store in Spartanburg.
Site plans filed with the city showed the H&M store will occupy more than 21,000 square feet near the food court in WestGate Mall.
The space includes a row of vacant storefronts across from American Eagle Outfitters between Sbarro and the Verizon store, as well as a space near the entrance at the food court.
A spokeswoman for H&M could not be reached for comment Monday.
Stacey Keating, director of public relations for CBL & Associates Properties, which owns WestGate Mall, said she could not confirm the addition of H&M, but said construction on a “new-to-market apparel retailer” is expected to begin in mid-July.
“We look forward to announcing that tenant in the coming months,” Keating said.
H&M operates stores in South Carolina in Myrtle Beach and two in Charleston. The closest stores to the Upstate are in Asheville, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., and Commerce, Ga.
The company said earlier this year that it plans to open 425 new stores by the end of its 2015/2016 fiscal year.
H&M stores typically feature fashion apparel and accessories for women, men, teens and children at affordable prices, as well as online shopping at hm.com.
The opening of a destination retailer such as H&M would be another shot in the arm for WestGate Mall and shopping on Spartanburg’s west side.
Teresa Murray, assistant general manager of WestGate Mall for CBL, said Big Air Trampoline, an indoor trampoline park, will soon move into a space at Westgate Crossing, a shopping center also owned by CBL, beside WestGate Mall.
“We’re very excited about it,” Murray said. “I think it’s going to do well for us. It will keep a lot of people from having to drive to Charlotte or Greenville.”
