Over the next few months, at least seven new retail establishments will be opening in Malibu-some locally owned, some national chains and some from far away.
By Jimy Tallal / Special to The Malibu Times
Several stores are set to arrive in Malibu in the next few months, including a new Mexican restaurant that may provide competition to La Salsa and Howdy’s.
RFK, a national retail leasing firm, announced in a press release in early February the successful negotiation of two leases at Malibu Village on Cross Creek Road. Chipotle Mexican Grill is expected to open in June and occupy a 2,050 square foot space. Beauty and cosmetics store Sephora is expected to open there in May in a 3,885 square foot space.
Robert Cohen, President of RFK’s Southern California office, said, “With high traffic and an increasing tourism trade, coupled with the close proximity to Pepperdine University, Malibu Village provided the most ideal space for the expansion of these two recognizable brands.”
Meanwhile, across the street at Malibu Country Mart, the leasing agent for Koss Financial, Justin Sperling, also reports two newly signed leases.
Malibu businessman Larry Sands has a “fabulous, extremely interesting concept” for a retail endeavor he named Silver Threads, Sperling said. The store will be modeled after a retail store that Sands opened in Miami last year, called V.A.U.L.T. In the past, Sands has launched the Optical Shop of Aspen chain and the Oliver Peoples Eyewear collection.
Silver Threads will specialize in high-end timepieces, jewelry, eyewear, binoculars, writing instruments, cameras and knives. Sands takes over the space this week.
In addition, the owners of Traditional Jewelers at Malibu Country Mart are taking over the 400-square-foot space that used to be occupied by Malibu Rock Star jewelry, with a new luxury watch store named Traditional Malibu. They are currently in the process of remodeling the space.
Leasing agent Carie Boyce, who works for Blatteis & Schnur to represent the Malibu Lumber Yard (MLY), reported that three new tenants have signed leases there. In early March, Lorna Jane, a women’s athletic apparel store that is “the Australian version of lululemon,” according to Boyce, will open. In April, girl’s and women’s surf and casual apparel store Quicksilver will be opening.
The Malibu Lumber Yard’s one remaining restaurant space has now been leased by James Perse. Perse is a clothing designer and owner of a retail store already in MLY.
“The restaurant is described as ‘casual white tablecloth’ using the second floor’s outdoor deck with a view,” Boyce said. “It’s expected to open later this year.”
MLY is also in the middle of discussions with a couple of British retailers who are considering the location for their first stores in the U.S.
Mailboxes Business & Shipping Center (MBSC) is moving from 22627 Pacific Coast Highway to the site of the former China Den restaurant in the retail area “The Sand” at 23337 Pacific Coast Highway.
“We’ll be fully re-opened on February 22 with all of our services; but our mailboxes have never skipped a beat!” co-owner Nareida Heath said.
Heath also reports that she and her partner are negotiating with the City of Malibu to open MBSC 2 in the space next to the Super Care Drugstore.
Tony Dorn, the leasing agent for Trancas Country Market, which is currently undergoing a complete renovation, reports that he is currently in the negotiating stages with potential lessors now, but said it would be “premature to announce anything.”