H&M plans to open Ridgmar mall store in the fall

Two months after unveiling plans for a store in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square, H&M, the popular retailer of “fashion-forward” clothing, said Tuesday that it will also open a store in Ridgmar mall on the city’s far west side.

The nearly 21,000-square-foot store, set for the second level across from Macy’s, will feature clothing for the entire family. H&M, based in Sweden, did not provide an opening date but said in a news release that the store will debut this fall.

The announcement comes as the owners of Ridgmar mall prepare to embark on a multimillion-dollar interior makeover of the shopping center and Cinemark plans to remodel the Rave theater next door.

The mall, owned by GK Development in Barrington, Ill., is at the northeast corner of Interstate 30 and Green Oaks Road. It is anchored by Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney and Sears, and it features about 125 other stores. Neiman Marcus, the Dallas-based luxury department store, will move from Ridgmar to the Edwards Ranch development in February 2017.

Work is expected to begin in a few months, and all the stores will remain open during construction.

“It’s an exciting time for Ridgmar mall,” said Garo Kholamian, president of GK Development. “When we acquired Ridgmar mall in 2013, we recognized the upside opportunity to refresh the shopping center. Now we’re forging ahead with a plan to revitalize one of Fort Worth’s premier shopping destinations with the ultimate goal of enhancing the shopper experience and ensuring our competitive position.”

Renovations will include new color schemes and decorative lighting. The makeover will allow natural light from skylights to be more diffused and will open up the corridors and courtyards. Work will begin near the children’s play area, between the food court and Macy’s, and the courtyard between the food court and Sears, on the upper and lower levels.

The Rave theater is updating its auditoriums with oversize plush recliners that have cup holders and footrests. Other amenities include updated finishes inside the theaters, enhanced concessions and reserved seating. The work is expected to be completed by midsummer.

H&M plans to spend about $827,720 remodeling its space in the mall, with work estimated for completion around Sept. 1, permit filings show.

In February, H&M said it will open a 31,000-square-foot store in the former Barnes & Noble location at Third and Commerce streets downtown. H&M hasn’t announced an opening date for the Sundance store, but it is expected to open in time for the holidays.

H&M has six stores in Dallas-Fort Worth, including one at Grapevine Mills mall, its only other Tarrant County-area store. It operates 13 in Texas.

H&M opened its first U.S. store in New York in 2000.

This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 11:09 AM with the headline "H&M plans to open Ridgmar mall store in the fall."