H&M Opens in South Bay Galleria

Nearly 300 people lined up outside H&M on Thursday for the store's grand opening at the in North Redondo Beach.

"(The grand opening) was very successful," said H&M District Manager Tim Galantowicz. "Three hundred people—that's a good average."

Megan Ruane of Hawthorne and Lorenzo Baldwin of Compton said they got to the store at 6:30 a.m. to secure the first place in line. The pair said it was a mutual decision to arrive that early.

Ruane said she was planning to shop for Baldwin, who had never been to an H&M store.

The first 100 people in line received free H&M T-shirts, gift cards and scratchers that revealed credits ranging from $10 to $300.

Originally a womenswear store in Sweden, H&M later expanded throughout Europe, according to the company's website. The first U.S. store opened on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and since then the brand has popped up all over the country.

According to Galantowicz, the Redondo Beach location is a "full-concept store."

"We're offering fashion and quality for men, women and kids," he said.

The two-story H&M store is located across from on the south side of the mall. It's open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sundays.