Frantic searches to set up shop in tony parts of L.A.

intermix.jpgWith consumer spending on the rise, especially among affluent shoppers, it's little wonder that merchants are starting to compete for the most desirable locations. Stores along Beverly Drive and in portions of West Hollywood are being snapped up. As you might guess, prices are ludicrous: One space at the corner of Beverly Drive and
Brighton Way is said to be leasing for $180 a square foot. That compares with $25 a square foot, give or take, at some of the larger Socal malls. From the WSJ:

With the economic recovery still tentative, it's more important than ever for retailers to find sweet spots--great "50-yard line" locations, as Intermix co-founder Khajak Keledjian puts it. Stores want a magical blend of address and aesthetics that will make them magnets for stylish shoppers. Finding such gems requires perfect timing--as well as research, gut instinct and shoe leather. The race is accelerating in Beverly Hills and the adjacent West Hollywood neighborhood, where CĂ©line, Isabel Marant, Theory and Rachel Zoe have recently pounced on new locations. Scoop, a boutique chain with 16 stores nationwide, is planning to open a store in Brentwood next month and is seeking a space on Beverly Drive.

[CUT]

Zeroing in on a perfect address is less science than romance, and each retailer chooses differently. Haro Keledjian rejected one Los Angeles-area store space because the corner gave him a feeling of "bad feng shui." He rejected another because a nearby store happened to be holding a sale when he was in the neighborhood. He feels corner locations are more visible than stores in the middle of the block, and he prefers independent, walkable streets to malls.

Photo: WSJ


More by Mark Lacter:
American-US Air settlement with DOJ includes small tweak at LAX
Socal housing market going nowhere fast
Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Another rugged quarter for Tribune Co. papers
How does Stanford compete with the big boys?
Those awful infographics that promise to explain and only distort
Best to low-ball today's employment report
Further fallout from airport shootings
Crazy opening for Twitter*
Should Twitter be valued at $18 billion?
Recent Retail stories:
Sears store and warehouse in Boyle Heights sold
Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Holiday shopping: On your marks, get set... spend!
Ron Burkle buying most of Fresh & Easy chain
More than a third of all electric car sales come from L.A., S.F.

New at LA Observed
On the Media Page
Go to Media

On the Politics Page
Go to Politics
Arts and culture

Sign up for daily email from LA Observed

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


Advertisement
Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Mark Lacter, business writer and editor was 59
The multi-talented Mark Lacter
LA Observed on Twitter and Facebook