Crowd Chaos Forces Early Closure of Xiaomi Store Opening in Rishon Lezion

Approximately 1,500 people gathered at the Gold Mall in Rishon Lezion on August 5 for the grand opening of Xiaomi's new store, organized by the Hamilton Group. The event promised unprecedented deals, including some products priced at just 10 shekels and discounts up to 55% on items like smartphones, robot vacuum cleaners, and TVs. Customers arrived hours early, some bringing food and coolers to secure their spots in line.

About 30 minutes after the sale began, the organizers abruptly shut down the event and turned off the store lights following a recommendation from the mall's security department. The closure was prompted by overcrowding and pushing at the entrance, raising concerns about potential physical harm to those waiting. Despite the shutdown, many frustrated customers remained on site, hoping the event would resume.

Several attendees shared their experiences, including Benjamin Kagan, who waited since noon to buy a vacuum cleaner for his mother, and Meir Duak from Tel Aviv, who took a day off to purchase a smartphone and robot vacuum. Teenagers from Petah Tikva also arrived early to buy discounted gaming monitors. The Hamilton Group had announced the event as a major celebration with exceptional offers, but the unexpected closure left many disappointed.

The Hamilton Group stated that the closure was necessary due to the heavy crowd and safety concerns, emphasizing that it followed the mall security's advice to prevent physical injuries among the waiting customers.