Shopping Center Owners Think Hot Topic Is Hot
An International Council of Shopping Centers survey shows that most shopping mall owners would be thrilled to sign leases with pop-culture clothier Hot Topic, lingerie and beauty giant Victoria’s Secret, Swedish private-label store H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch surf retail division Hollister Co., specialty grocery store chain Trader Joe’s and toy store Build-A-Bear Workshop.
These six retailers were given a mall operators’ choice award on May 24 at the organization’s spring convention in Las Vegas. Hot Topic, based in City of Industry, Calif., won for the second year in a row.
Fortunately for the malls, most of these preferred retailers expect to open a number of new stores this year.
H&M plans to open some 140 stores around the world this year.
“It’s like Starbucks,” said Jennifer Uglialoro, manager of public relations for H&M. “You can’t escape H&M in Europe, and our expansion policy will be like that in the United States.”
Hot Topic plans to open an additional 70 stores by the end of the year, said Jerry Cook, the chain’s president.
The Hollister Co. plans to open 85 stores this year in regional malls, said Jeff Sinkey, Abercrombie’s vice president of real estate. —Andrew Asch
