Rodeo Drive Thrives With 12 Stores Set to Open Doors

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Rodeo Drive is on the move, with 12 new stores opening their doors over the next few months, adding 50,000 square feet of retail space.


Among the jewelry stores set to open include De Beers, Graff, Cartier, Mimi So and a redesigned Harry Winston location. “There’s a big interest in jewelry and a lot of these stores haven’t been represented here,” said Gilbert Dembo, president of commercial real estate firm Dembo & Associates.


Other new stores are clothiers Bebe and BCBG Max Azria, accessory specialist Coach, Italian menswear store Canali, watch sellers Omega and Officine Panerai, and designer boutique Roberto Cavalli.


Dembo said rents on Rodeo Drive are about $25 per square feet per month, up $7 per square feet in the last five years, and more than double the $10 per square foot monthly rate on nearby Beverly Drive.


There’s not likely to be a similar outcropping of Rodeo Drive stores in the near future. “Space is very tight on the street,” said Dembo.



Leather Litigation


Score one for Sport Chalet Inc.


The La Canada-based sporting goods retailer has won a battle with animal rights activists who had sought to stop the retailer from selling high-end Adidas soccer cleats clad in kangaroo leather.


The state Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit filed by the group Viva! International Voice for Animals and Los Angeles resident Jerold Friedman.


The court found that a 35-year-old state law banning sales and imports of the leather conflicted with federal law.


The U.S. cooperates with the Australian government on kangaroo conservation programs and allows some imports of kangaroo products.


Craig Levra, chief executive of La Canada Flintridge-based Sport Chalet, said the store doesn’t carry many of the shoes although they have been available throughout the court proceedings. The shoes retail for about $200.


Orly Degani, an attorney for Davis-based Viva! and Friedman, said she will seek a rehearing from the Court of Appeals or appeal the case to the California Supreme Court.



Valley Shoes


L.A. is getting another public company, and this time no public offering is necessary.


Shoe Pavilion Inc., listed on the Nasdaq, is moving its corporate offices to Sherman Oaks from Pinole. The company operates 90 off-price footwear stores in California, Washington and Oregon.


Shoe Pavilion had been headquartered in Pinole since 2003, when it moved from Richmond. Some administrative workers had been in Burbank.


“We were able to bring them down to one central location where we have all of our support administrative staff,” said Neil Watanabe, the company’s chief financial officer. “This move allowed us to get everybody together.”


Watanabe said the corporate offices will be close to most Shoe Pavilion locations, noting that the company also can tap retail and advertising expertise in the area.


The company plans to add 15 to 20 stores next year.



*Staff reporter Rachel Brown can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 224, or by e-mail at

[email protected]

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