While the first Miami Beach branch of this popular
"Fast Fashion" brand H&Mhas
not yet opened it's doors, the much-anticipated flagship shop is slated
to debut on Lincoln Mall in the space formerly occupied by the New World
Symphony at the Lincoln Theater. Working with building owners to respect
and maintain the historic elements of the landmark property, the brand
hopes to be selling their "disposable fashions" by Fall 2012. Hennes &
Mauritz (H&M) specializes in trendy clothing for men and women that is
"buy now, wear now" and inexpensive enough to encourage frequent visits.
The Lincoln Theater Building was originally designed
by Architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1936 and current renovation
specifications call for maintaining parts of the original lobby and
mezzanine. The 22,000 square foot shop will have a glass wall at the
back of the building - on the side that faces away from the pedestrian
promenade - to open the shopping center to the brand new Frank Gehry-designed
symphony space. H&M will be the first shop to make this gesture to the
new Performing Arts Complex. Extensive renovations are slated to cost
over $10 million.
Lincoln Mall has experienced a rather one-sided
renaissance with most of the new money centered on the west side of the
shopping mall near Alton Road where the Herzog & de Meuron Eleven Eleven
complex has attracted a number of truly upscale retailers like Taschen
Books, Juicy Couture and MAC Cosmetics. The opening of H&M at the east
side of the mall brings the focus back to the Washington Avenue -
tourist-centric - district where few new businesses have invested until
now.
