South Coast Plaza Gets a Flurry of New High-End Stores

Friday, May 30, 2008

Luxury shopping center South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif., announced that Spanish design house Balenciaga and diamond jeweler De Beers will open new stores at the mall this fall.

Balenciaga will move into the space currently held by menswear store Bernini Platinum, which is located on the shopping center’s second level between the Jewel Court and the Carousel Court. De Beers will take the space now occupied by jewelry and gift store Ice Accessories on the second level near the Carousel Court.

Meanwhile, AG Adriano Goldschmied held a grand-opening party May 29 at its recently opened South Coast Plaza location. The debut party celebrated the final step in the chain’s 2008 expansion plans. The 2,600-square-foot store, which had a soft opening on April 11, offers a similar look and services as other AG Adriano Goldschmied stores. A tailor alters pants at an 18-karat-gold sewing machine in the window of the South Coast Plaza store, which is located in the center’s Crate & Barrel wing on the third floor. Price points range from $48 for knit tops to $995 for the store’s most expensive leather outerwear.

The label, owned by South Gate, Calif.–based Koos Manufacturing Inc., plans to open more stores in 2009. However, no details on those openings were given by the label’s general merchandising manager, Robert Rosenfeld.

Other AG Adriano Goldschmied stores opened this year include one on April 30 in Orlando, Fla., and another in Aventura, Fla., on May 3. There are now 15 AG Adriano Goldschmied boutiques in the United States. —A.A.