Christmas came early for Dallasites on Wednesday, with the much anticipated opening of H&M in Northpark Center. The Stockholm-based fast-fast fashion chain, Hennes & Mauritz, opened a preview store in the space formally occupied by Express. Bargainista’s across North Texas were thrilled when H&M announced that it would make its Texas debut at NorthPark in "the second half of 2011." By 8:45 Wednesday morning a small crowd was already waiting behind the rope line set up outside the store. 

The 4,500-square-foot shop is actually the company's first-ever "preview store" says H&M sales project manager Luca Michelangeli. "It's a teaser," he explains, a way to educate customers and whet appetites. The current store will be open through April, after which fans will have to endure a five month wait before the permanent, two-story mega-store opens in October in a yet-to-be-announced NorthPark location.

The new H&M store is located at NorthPark Center. 8687 North Central Expressway 214-265-6870. Holiday hours are: 9 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sundays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To stay posted on all the latest DFW events, click subscribe at the top of the page. You can also follow me and submit your events for possible coverage on Facebook or Twitter.