H&M Denies Claims That It Plans to Open Tbilisi Branch

TBILISI – Sweden’s multinational retailer H&M has flatly denied reports that the company is planning to open a branch of its clothing stores in Tbilisi.

Local daily OK! Georgia reported that rumors have been swirling that H&M had decided to open a branch in the Georgian capital at its future Galleria Tbilisi Mall.

Several news outlets have posted about the anticipated opening of the H&M shop in Tbilisi. However, later on, all these online articles were deleted.

Hakan Andersson, H&M’s press officer, denied the claims and told GT that the company has no plans to open a store in Georgia.

Georgian Co-Investment Fund, a USD 6 billion equity fund responsible for financing the construction of Galleria Tbilisi, refused to comment specifically on the matter but insisted that they are in negotiations with dozens of international brands.

“Our fund is actively negotiating with several well-known companies. Any information about who we are talking to is always confidential and will only become public only once we’ve come to an official agreement with the other party,” Georgian Co-Investment Fund’s PR Manager Tina Odilavadze said.

Galleria Tbilisi is a future upscale shopping mall currently under construction in the center of the city, on the city’s historical main thoroughfare Rustaveli Avenue.

Designed by Israeli firm Moshe Zur Architects, it will be located on the site of the old Soviet-era department store known as TsUM.

By Natia Liparteliani

Edited by Nicholas Waller