CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The new concourse connecting Nordstrom's with the main portion of Ala Moana is scheduled to open next week. Above, an artist's rendering of the concourse.
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Shoppers’ delight
Stores line the path leading from Ala Moana to Nordstrom
A total of 30 new stores are expected to line a two-level concourse that leads to the long-awaited Nordstrom store at Ala Moana Center, which is slated to open on Friday.
The concourse -- a multi-million dollar retail expansion by mall owner and operator General Growth Properties -- connects the mall to the new Nordstrom, adding another 300,000 square feet of retail space.
Among the new boutiques that will join the lineup are: J. Crew-on-the-Island, Bare Escentuals, Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, Chico's, Design Within Reach, Le Grand Marqet, lululemon athletica, Ponte Vecchio Hotta, Vera Bradley, Vitamin Shoppe and Sunglass Icon.
Those boutiques are expected to open on the same day as Nordstrom.
Several more stores were announced yesterday, including Brighton Collectibles, Club Monaco, Metropark, True Religion Jeans and Anteprima Plastiq, all of which are opening their first Hawaii stores this year.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Malvin Sigue, of Hawaiian Dredging, was busy cleaning the pavement under a billboard promoting True Religion Brand Jeans, one of the new stores.
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Wolford, a European boutique offering luxury hosiery, swimwear and lingerie, is expected to open March 7.
Along with upscale brand names, the new shops cater to various lifestyles.
The new lululemon athletica, for instance, is a Vancouver-based retailer offering high-tech clothing for yoga and sports.
True Religion and Metropark, both from southern California, will offer high-end denim and fashions inspired by music and art.
Anteprima Plastiq, an Italian brand created by Izumi Ogino, opened its first U.S. boutique recently at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, to be followed by the one at Ala Moana Center.
Among the retail stores moving to the new wing from the older part of the mall are Ann Taylor, Williams Sonoma, Max & Co., White House | Black Market and Origins.
Vitamin Shoppe will open along with four more stores fronting Kapiolani Boulevard in the new 800-stall parking structure next to Nordstrom.
With the new concourse, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus now flanking the north and south sides of Ala Moana Center. Macy's anchors the east side of the mall, while Sears anchors the west side.
The grand opening of the new expansion wing as well as Nordstrom is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Ala Moana Center is celebrating with a week-long shopping festival called Shop a Le'a -- Seven Blissful Days of Shopping Euphoria starting Monday.
New arrivals
These stores will be opening at the new Ala Moana retail concourse this year:
March 7
Bare Escentuals*
Blue Hawaii Lifestyle*
Chico's*
Design Within Reach*
Janie & Jack*
J. Crew-on-the-Island*
Le Grand Marqet*
lululemon athletica
Ponte Vecchio Hotta*
Sunglass Icon
Vera Bradley*
Vitamin Shoppe
Wolford*
Spring 2008
Ash & Diamonds*
Kahala
The Kiss*
Metropark*
Miki House*
Philip Rickard Factory Showroom
Summer 2008
Anteprima Plastiq*
Club Monaco*
True Religion Jeans*
Fall 2008
Brighton Collectibles*
* First Hawaii stores
Source: General Growth Properties
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