Windsor Fashions and Forever 21 to Open in Irvine
Los Angeles-based Windsor Fashions and Forever 21 have signed leases to open at the Paseo Shops, the new 180,000- square-foot wing of the Irvine Spectrum Center in Southern California scheduled to open in the fall. They join anchor Robinsons-May, which is opening a 140,000-square-foot store, a smaller footprint compared to its other locations and the company’s first free-standing unit built in 50 years.
That new tenant mix is attracting blue-chip names in the industry. Urban Outfitters, which has a store at the Lab in nearby Costa Mesa, also plans to open an 11,000-square-foot store at the center by the holidays.
“We have a great deal of confidence in the leasing plan and the Irvine Co. seems committed to bringing in more like-minded retail,” said Wade McDevitt, a real estate consultant for Philadelphiabased Urban Outfitters, who added that plans are in the works to open more stores in California. “We’re bullish on California as a whole and we view Orange County as a market that continues to grow and fill out.”
Windsor Fashions will open a 5,600-square-foot store by Nov. 14. Forever 21, which also plans to open at nearby Fashion Island in Newport Beach, will open a 9,000- square-foot store. It’s the first foray for the retailer into the southern part of Orange County. The company already has a store in the northern part of the county in Brea.
“It’s a good partnership for us—customers can shop our stores and then wear our clothes at the entertainment venues of the center,” said Larry Meyer, Forever 21’s chief financial officer.
Irvine Co. officials declined to comment on the mall’s developments. According to recent reported estimates, the center brings in $98 million in yearly sales. —Nola Sarkisian-Miller
