People by the hundreds camped out for the Grand Opening of H&M in the University Mall, on Thursday, for a chance to receive gift cards and to be one of the first to glimpse the new store.
Same Forsey, a junior from Peoria, Ariz., set up a tent in the mall outside of the new store with a group of friends and were one of the first one hundred people in line that received H&M discounts.
“Me and a friend went last night around 10 p.m. and there were several people with tents,” Forsey said. “We each got $10 to use in the store.”
Forsey said he is excited that H&M is the newest addition to the University Mall because it provides affordable styles to students on a college budget.
“I am excited because I am going to be able to look a little more classy for less money,” Forsey said.
Employee Brian Adams, from Kaysville, said the line outside the store was at least 600 people long when they finally cut the ribbon and opened the doors around noon. He said the store is beneficial to the area because it brings a lot of life back into the mall.
“Just the image of H&M is high quality,” Adams said. “Obviously all these people like that.”
Special guest, Allison Holker, from “So You Think You Can Dance,” was a surprise guest at the opening and there was a live DJ inside the store. The line was full of excitement and loud cheers when the ribbon was cut and the shoppers entered the new store.
Nicola Palmer, a business management major from Alberta, Canada, rushed over to the store as soon as she got out of class because she was so excited to have H&M nearby.
“It’s like my absolute favorite store ever,” Draper said. “You get a good deal for what you’re getting.”
Four hours after the grand opening, the store was still packed full of hasty shoppers. Lines for the dressing room were almost out the store and employees were frantically adding stock to the racks.
Many BYU students at the event said they are excited to have H&M so close to campus because it is a high quality store that doesn’t hurt your wallet.
