H&M Is Down to One Store on Midtown's Fifth Avenue (Updated)

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"Consolidation" isn't a word that seems to be a part of H&M's vocabulary. Case in point: When Herald Square opened last month, the fast fashion brand indicated that they had zero plans to shutter the smaller store on 34th Street that's visible from the flagship's front doors. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the store on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street has closed, as a helpful tipster pointed out to us on Twitter.

It's the second store that they've closed on this stretch of the shopping avenue this year, with the 51st Street store making way for Forever 21 back in January. That leaves them with just one store on Fifth Avenue, the 48th Street flagship—that is, if we aren't counting the one in Flatiron that was renovated last year.

505 Fifth Avenue is a pretty big space that they're exiting, across from a newly expanded Zara and one block south from a Joe Fresh that's also on its way out—is it time to start venturing guesses as to what'll be swapped in?

Update: Crain's New York reports that H&M is "rebranding the space and will continue its lease with different merchandise," according to a company spokeswoman. Does that mean & Other Stories or Cos will make the journey uptown?