Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
One of Seef Mall's anchor stores, Debenhams, which has been clearly signposted from the highway, is pulling out of the popular mall and setting-up shop in the new Bahrain City Centre complex.
The UK-based departmental store, which is popular for its stylish ready to wear fashions and a wide range of cosmetic brands, had staff packing its inventory and closing shop last week.
Members of staff have been working furiously behind the scenes to get the new store off the ground which should be ready for business today.
"Apart from the regular brands at Debenhams we are introducing new names like Principals, Warehouse, Claire's and Shoe Studio.
"Debenhams is spread on a leased space on two floors and has the latest shop fittings and designs from the UK. It will look like our Avenue Store in Kuwait and will also have a Starbucks inside for our customers," said Ruben Little, store manager of Debenhams in Dahran, Saudi Arabia, who was in Bahrain to lend a helping hand with the big move.
The Debenhams Middle East franchise is owned by the Kuwait-based Al Shaya Group which boasts an international franchaise portfolio of about 40 brands and has a strong presence in 13 countries including the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
It is now introducing the chic high street brand H&M, which it is also responsible for in this part of the world, to excited shoppers in Bahrain.
In fact a giant H&M will replace the two-storey Debenhams store in Seef in the months to come.
"We are very excited about introducing H&M to our shoppers," said Hassan Kamran, leasing and marketing manager at Seef properties. "It is a very well established brand and we think it will pull in more customers to the mall.
"It is good business for us to introduce a new retailer after some years - so contrary to having a negative impact on business I'm sure we will be busier than ever.
"H&M will have a complete range of clothing and accessories at its outlet in Seef which will not be the case in any other mall."
Owned by the multi-billion dollar Swedish Persson family, H&M's first store opened in 1947 in the Swedish city of Vasteras.
Since then the brand that conquered the 'cheap chic' market has grown from strength to strength. It is now a global powerhouse with 1,500 stores in 28 countries.
Last year it made £1.6 billion profit on sales of £7.8 billion.
When it opened its first store in Hong Kong in 2007 customers camped outside for 48 hours. It has collaborated on clothing collections with world famous designers and international celebrities such as Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Madonna.
An H&M store will also open in Bahrain City Centre, as reported earlier in GulfWeekly.
