More opening at South Coast Plaza

Paul Clinton

South Coast Plaza earlier this month unveiled a new slate of shops

that includes Brooks Brothers, the country’s oldest clothing

retailer.

South Coast Plaza, which sees almost $1 billion a year in sales

and can lay claim to the distinction of being the nation’s top mall,

also announced three other new leases and set timelines for a handful

of other new store openings.

Plaza owner C.J. Segerstrom & Sons said it has also brought in

Italian clothier MAX & Co., women’s apparel specialist Vertigo and

young-women’s apparel seller Marina Rinaldi.

“These new retailers greatly enhance our position as Southern

California’s premiere shopping destination,” said Debra Gunn Downing,

the plaza’s marketing director. “We’re proud to offer our shoppers

the opportunity to experience these Orange County and Southern

California exclusives for the first time.”

Brooks Brothers returns to Orange County after closing its Fashion

Island store in January 2000. It will be the retailer’s only location

here.

The retailer has signed a lease and is now negotiating with the

shopping center for a storefront.

Brooks Brothers will fit well with other high-end men’s clothiers

at the plaza such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani and the two

Hugo Boss stores, said Tony Cherbak, a retail specialist at Deloitte

& Touche’s Costa Mesa office.

“That’s one of their strong points,” Cherbak said. “South Coast

Plaza has been very diligent at getting the best group of tenants.”

This fall, the center will welcome Roberto Cavalli, which sells

couture men’s and women’s clothing.

The plaza’s Robinsons-May wing is seeing two additions -- MAX &

Co., which opened Aug. 1, and Vertigo, set to open later this month.

Along with Marina Rinaldi, which has also set an August opening, the

stores are the only ones of their kind in Orange County.

A previously announced women’s clothier geared toward larger

woman, Eileen Fisher, is set to open this month.

In September, the plaza will welcome jeweler Temple St. Clair, a

venture launched by Tiffany & Co., and Sony Style, which will

showcase that company’s electronics gear.