UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - A red ribbon cutting kicked off the opening of the first H&M located in Mid-Michigan. More than 200 people lined up outside the store waiting to shop and win prizes.

Megan Eldred of DeWitt Michigan arrived at Meridian Mall around 7:30 am and says her and her friend were of the first 30 people to show up. “We were trying to get the deals, so we decided to get here early and see if the deals would be better today than later in the week.”

In addition to bargain hunting others showed up at Meridian Mall for a good cause. LaToya Patterson a staff member of Gateway Community Service, a homeless and runaway youth center in Lansing says her group arrived at H&M around 8am. “We came out today because we thought it would be a good time to get some clothes for the kids. They all got up early and we got here.”

H&M’s grand opening brought a lot of people out to Meridian Mall and the check out line wrapped around the store. Employees were busy ringing up purchases and expect the rush to continue throughout the weekend.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Swedish clothing retailer H&M will open their first location in Mid-Michigan at Meridian Mall on Thursday June 19th.

The new store will be the eighth H&M location in Michigan. Currently the closest H&M to Meridian Township is 62 miles away located at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor.

H&M will throw a Grand Opening Event on Thursday June 19th and noon. The first 200 shoppers will receive a pass for $10 to $300 off their purchase. Other giveaways include gift bags and coupons. A variety of grand opening activities will last through Sunday June 22nd.