N'Zania Grows in Orange County
Apparel manufacturer N’Zania LLC is expanding its real estate holdings in Orange County to accommodate its growing licensed-goods business. The company recently signed a five-year lease for a 92,000-square-foot office and warehouse building near its current headquarters in Irvine, Calif.
N’Zania has the license for Teletubbies and The Walt Disney Co. apparel, which it sells to retailers such as Hot Topic Inc.
Industry veteran Ivan Spiers heads the company. Known as somewhat of a white knight, Spiers has taken over distressed companies during troubled periods. He bought out the inventory and distribution of sunglass maker Black Flys when it ran into financial problems several years ago. In 2002, he and former Gotcha executive Bruce Friedman bought the now-bankrupt retail clothing chain Mr. Rags from Claire Stores Inc., based in Pembroke Pines, Fla. He has also been an investor in such retail concerns as Beyond the Beach, a small chain of beachwear shops, and Billabong outlet stores.
N’Zania’s new facility is located at 17622 Von Karman Ave., near a 40,000-square-foot warehouse building also owned by the company. Grubb & Ellis, the real estate brokerage that handled the transaction for the building’s owner, said N’Zania is expected to move into the facility in January. The building is being leased through MDD Partners II LP.
—Robert McAllister
