H&M coming to GR-area this year

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - At least three large retailers are looking to soon open their doors in the Grand Rapids area.

H&M has already secured a location in a Grand Rapids-area mall and will be opening its doors this year, according to Mike Murray of Colliers International, a commercial real estate agency.

All of the H&M stores in Michigan are currently in and around the Detroit area, according to its website.

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market are also actively looking to secure locations in metro Grand Rapids, Murray said. The retailers are focusing their searches at the east end of 28th Street and the Beltline and Knapp area. Their stores are expected to open in 2014.

Murray said that retailers' interest in the Grand Rapids area is growing, and that as retailers see competitors move in, they are more enticed to open a store in the area.

"We are working with retailers and restaurants that we can't announce yet that are starting in the Grand Rapids, West Michigan area with their first location and moving east," said Murray. "Usually they would start in the Detroit market and just spend years there feeling out Detroit and work their way west."

Developers say with those announcements -- and the new Cabela's store opening in Grandville later this month -- it's an exciting time for Grand Rapids.

"Now that we are though the downturn in the economy things are kind of coming back. The retailers are looking to where they can grow and where there is some money to tap into for new customers," said Murray.

Realtors say everything from ArtPrize to many local industries is causing retailers to come.

"As one new retailer comes, it pops up on the radar of another retailer because they have similiar customers," Murry explained.

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H&M

Trader Joe's

Whole Foods Market