The Camp on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa has two new stores and a farmer’s market.
BlankStyle opened in June next to Humanitaire. BlankStyle sells men’s and women’s logo-less T-shirts, shorts and pants, and accessories such as wallets and hats. You might expect the $50 prices found at other boutiques, but nope. T-shirts go for about $20.
Commissary men’s clothing store also opened at The Camp. Owner Andrew Lee is known for his “invisible:man” design.
Lee, who recently moved to Newport Beach, also has a San Diego store. Commissary sells high-end, street-themed clothing, jeans, shoes and skateboards.
The Camp kicked off its Sunday afternoon farmer’s market July 30.
The market sells local and organic produce. The farmer’s market also features local art, live music and face paintings. Camp restaurants such as Native Foods will be participating.
Lab Holdings LLC recently held a “I am for lease” art show to market its 1,200-square-foot Bristol Square building that is,what else,available for lease. Lab Holdings is looking at a handful of tenant possibilities, including retail, office or food.
Lab Holdings, which promotes the Bristol Street area as the SoBeCa District,South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts,plans to launch www.sobecaliving.com, a teaser site to promote live and work residences set to pop up there.
The area behind the Camp has been approved for a mix of housing and commercial buildings.
Coming to the Island
Word is that Chip and Pepper is coming to Fashion Island next to the Original Penguin.
Twins Chip and Pepper Foster design pricey beaded and embroidered jeans. Chip and Pepper, based in Los Angeles, started in 2003. It has about nine stores worldwide.
I discovered Chip and Pepper’s planned opening after the Eddie Money show at Fashion Island.
Speaking of the concert It was my first time at the Wednesday concert series and I was surprised at how packed it was. Probably about 5,000 concert-goers.
As I mentioned last week, Gerald Ishibashi of Stonebridge Productions produces the shows. His daughter Brianna Ishibashi helps out.
People make an evening of the concerts. They spread out picnic blankets on the lawn, set up chairs, and eat and drink.
After the shows,Eddie Money’s ended at about 8:30 p.m.,there’s not much time for shopping, but people flood the stores and restaurants anyway.
A who’s who in OC shows up at the concerts, which have a VIP area. I ran into OC drumming legend Frank DeVito and his wife, and even got to say “hi” to Money himself.
Money is the quintessential showman, cracking jokes and plugging the mall, Neiman Marcus,where he says his wife spends too much money,and the Island Hotel Newport Beach, where he stayed.
Money said he loves performing in Orange County.
“They’re all nice down here,it’s not like Beverly Hills,” he said.
Money ended the night with “Shakin'” and, might I add, his band rocked.
Italian Luxury
Salvatore Ferragamo, an Italian luxury boutique for women, men and children, has opened its redesigned store at South Coast Plaza.
The store expanded into a 5,700-square-foot space.
All the goods are made in Italy. Salvatore Ferragamo made his mark as a shoe designer. His first store opened in 1927. Massimo Ferragamo is chairman of Ferragamo USA Inc.
Saleen on Sale
Irvine-based specialty automaker Saleen Inc. has opened a store at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
The Saleen Store sells clothing, accessories and parts on one side while the other has interactive technical displays, such as a driving simulator.
The store also sells Red Bull drinks, ice cream, oxygen and other goodies at its N2O Bar.
Steve Saleen is founder and president of the Irvine-based company. Saleen also heads the design team.
Saleen has a 150,000-square-foot headquarters in Irvine, which houses design, engineering and other offices. The company modifies Ford Mustangs, among other autos.
The company, which has been modifying autos for two decades, recently opened a 180,000-square-foot plant in Troy, Mich., and another plant in Canada.
Crevier Celebrates
Crevier BMW in Santa Ana is marking its 35th anniversary.
Brothers Bob and Bill Crevier opened the dealership in 1972 on the corner of First Street and Broadway in Santa Ana. It sold 80 cars that year.
Now it sells 5,500 a year and has about $300 million in annual sales.
Don Crevier, Bob’s son, started working at the dealership in 1974 and now heads Crevier BMW. Crevier BMW is involved in several local charities, including the Dare program, Human Options and OC Youth Foundation.
Crevier BMW has come a long way. It’s in the process of a $35 million expansion, which will add 250,000 square feet to its complex.
