H&M may open store in Forest Hills, Queens

A rendering of the retail building at 71-53 Austin Street
A rendering of the retail building at 71-53 Austin Street

Trendy clothier H&M might be coming to the Queens neighborhood of Forest Hills. The Swedish retailing giant is looking at taking space in a two-story, 12,000-square-foot building at 71-53 Austin Street, the former site of the Alexandra boutique.

A chain pharmacy such as CVS is also being considered as a possible tenant, sources familiar with the discussions told DNAinfo. The building is slated to be completed in about four months.

The owner of the building – identified in city records only as “71-53 Austin Street LLC” – declined to comment, DNAinfo said. A spokesperson for H&M told the website that it was the company’s policy to “not comment on rumors.”

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Some residents, such as Leslie Brown, president of the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce, told the website she was concerned that H&M’s presence may lead to spikes in the area’s retail rents.

H&M recently announced it will move its flagship store to the Herald Center, where it will take 63,000 square feet over four floors. [DNAinfo]  – Hiten Samtani