Mercedes-Benz USA, part of Germany’s DaimlerChrysler AG, plans to open its first U.S. Classic Center to service older Mercedes in Irvine this summer.
The automaker is redoing a 27,626-square-foot building at 9 Whatney off the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway. The center, which is set to mimic the company’s original service center in Germany, plans to buy and sell vintage cars as well as fix and renovate them.
Mercedes also plans to sell accessories and collectibles at the center.
“It will look like a mini dealership,” said Maryalice Ritzmann, spokeswoman for Montvale, N.J.-based Mercedes-Benz USA.
Mercedes has wanted to open a classic center in the U.S. for some time, according to Ritzmann.
“It took awhile to get the idea approved within the company,” she said.
Southern California was picked for its car culture and number of classic Mercedes. Those are defined as cars out of production for 15 years or more. Mercedes opted for Orange County for the ease of access, she said.
Mike Kunz is set to move from the East Coast to manage the center. Kunz’s only hurdle at this point is finding a house, Ritzmann said.
Kunz has been pointing out houses on the Internet to his colleagues “and then we see the prices and we all reel back,” she said. “That’s a big challenge.”
Hollister at Fashion Island
Trendy teen favorite Hollister is opening at Fashion Island in February.
Hollister, part of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., joins a slew of other teen fashion stores at the Newport Beach shopping center. They include Huntington Beach-based Quiksilver Inc., Los Angeles-based Forever 21 and Anaheim’s Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.
The biggest threat in Hollister’s arrival could be to Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc. Hollister is opening next to the struggling retailer at Fashion Island.
Hollister is sure to snag some sales from what has to be one of Wet Seal’s more profitable stores. The seller of clothes for girls and women has been doggedly working to avoid bankruptcy by closing weaker stores.
PacSun is Hollister’s closest rival in terms of clothing. Hollister is more popular with girls, while guys gravitate toward PacSun. But PacSun is aiming to boost sales of clothes for girls.
Hollister doesn’t have any other OC stores planned now, according to Jennifer Nilsson-Weiskott, a spokeswoman for Abercrombie & Fitch. Hollister has stores at The Block at Orange and the Irvine Spectrum Center.
Speaking of Fashion Island
On a recent nippy but sunny afternoon at the shopping center, holiday decorations had given way to other red trappings,big sale signs.
The Childrens Place called its after-holiday blowout a “Monster Sale.”
The hustle of Christmas was gone, but the mall still was lively.
Some of the other entertainment: seniors doing calisthenics, couples side by side, each person talking on a wireless phone, fashionistas shopping, doggies in their new Christmas outfits (Fashion Island is doggie-friendly) and cart owners passing time by reading.
The line was out the door at Auntie Anne’s, where moms waited to buy a pretzel and perhaps a few minutes of quiet. The moms were out in force, pushing fancy strollers with one, two, even four kids. That prompted an outburst from one guy.
“Look at this,” he said. “It’s like Disneyland,” referring to the kids dancing in the water fountains, resting on the benches, asleep in their strollers and running around screaming as kids do. This while he waited in line at Starbucks.
Fashion Island has a new “people space” in front of Pottery Barn, where there are two big white canopies above outdoor couches, chairs and coffee tables,the same sort of setup that owner The Irvine Company has at some of its neighborhood centers.
Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble is expanding at Fashion Island as Select Comfort mattress store moves to another spot.
Workout Rollout
Just in time for your New Year’s resolution, Los Angeles health club chain Bodies In Motion has opened at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
Chief Executive Bruce Gordon helped usher in the martial arts workout trend. The club also is known for its funky fitness classes, including Cardio Swing, Jock Ballet, Afro-Brazilian Groove, Latin Funk and Hard Core. This is Bodies first OC gym.
Tsunami Relief
Retailers have been getting into the South Asia fundraising effort. They include Irvine-based Diedrich Coffee Inc., which is selling “Tsunami Relief” coffee beans.
