California Apparel News

Recently, it was announced that Japanese fast-fashion emporium Uniqlo will open five locations across Southern California later this year. However, they will not be the only high-marquee stores scheduled to open in Southern California in the next few months. What follows is a list of mall store openings to watch out for.

Fashion Valley, San Diego

Hip U.K. retailers Topshop and Topman are scheduled to open this fall in adjoining 17,500-square-foot stores on the lower level of Fashion Valley, near JCPenney.

Also opening later this year in Fashion Valley will be Urban Outfitters’ sister store, Free People. It will open a 3,800-square-foot shop at the San Diego mall this summer.

Victoria’s Secret’s sister store, Pink, is scheduled to open a 3,800-square-foot shop in Fashion Valley this summer.

Glendale Galleria, Glendale, Calif.

High-profile leather-goods shop Coach expanded its store at the Glendale Galleria and added a men’s department this month. The newly expanded store will be located on the mall’s second level by Macy’s.

The Armani fashion house is scheduled to open an Armani Jeans boutique at the Galleria in July 2014. It will be located near Bloomingdale’s.

Uniqlo, the highly anticipated Japanese retailer, is scheduled to open at the Glendale Galleria on Sept. 26. Uniqlo locations are also scheduled to open at the Northridge Fashion Center on Sept. 26, Beverly Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 10 and Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos, Calif., in spring 2015.

Moreno Valley Mall, Moreno Valley, Calif.

The Irvine, Calif.–headquartered Tilly’s will be opening an emporium to sell popular action-sports brands such as Volcom, Vans, and RVCA at Moreno Valley Mall. It is scheduled to open in July in a 7,148- square-foot space located on the lower level near Macy’s and Harkins Theatres.

A contemporary retailer offering affordable prices, Mix & Match Fashion opened its first mall shop at Moreno Valley Mall earlier this month. Mix & Match moved into a 1,578-square-foot space and offers trendy fashions with an emphasis on clothes for going out.

Plaza West Covina, West Covina, Calif.

Intended to be the new “temple” for basketball fanatics, House of Hoops is Foot Locker’s newest concept store, and it opened on May 10. The store, which provides elite athletic apparel and footwear, occupies 6,008 square feet and is located on the upper level of the mall’s Macy’s Court. House of Hoops offers tons of athletic shoes and clothing, including basketball and casual shoes, sneakers, running shoes, new releases, and exclusive styles from Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.

The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo , Calif.

Sperry Top-Sider, the maker of the popular boat shoe, is opening its own stores. It will open a 1,783-square-foot boutique at The Shops at Mission Viejo. The Sperry Top-Sider store will offer a full range of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and footwear.

A Lululemon Athletica is scheduled to open a 3,700-square-foot shop at The Shops at Mission Viejo on May 16.

Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, Calif.

The DVF brand will open a boutique at this beachside retail center, and it will offer the brand’s full collection of ready-to-wear and accessories, including shoes, handbags, small leather goods, scarves and fine jewelry. It also will offer luggage, eyewear and home furnishings. The 2,222-square-foot store is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014.

South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, Calif.

South Coast Plaza has recently celebrated renovations of its Valentino and its Max Mara stores. On Sept. 5, a Uniqlo emporium is scheduled to open at the retail center.

Westminster Mall, Westminster, Calif.

In April, Windsor Fashions opened a 5,771-square-foot shop. It offers contemporary fashions, but its focus will be special-occasion dresses for proms, weddings and going out.

Westfield Valencia Town Center, Valencia Calif.

Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) is scheduled move into this retail center more than 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles in fall 2014. The 23,000-square-foot store will offer H&M clothes for women, men, juniors and young men. It also will offer “store-in-store” sections for accessories, lingerie, sports apparel and plus sizes.

H&M is scheduled to open a similar store in Westfield Fashion Square Mall in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks this fall.

Also later this year, H&M’s sister-store concept, COS, is scheduled to open a Los Angeles–area store by the end of the year, according to a COS representative. COS recently introduced its American online store at www.cosstores.com. COS is described as high-end design and good quality at an affordable price, according to a company statement. COS has been doing business in Europe, Asia and the Middle East since 2007.