Neiman Marcus Debuts at Topanga

The glam quotient of the San Fernando Valley was ratcheted up a few notches when Neiman Marcus debuted at Westfield Topanga on Sept. 5. On an average weekend about 160,000 people flow through the shopping mall. For Neiman’s grand opening weekend, more than 200,000 made the trip. The final piece in the Topanga mall’s renaissance has been four years in the making and is the biggest, shiniest jewel in the crown of the newly defined “luxury collection.” Other high-end retailers in this newly dedicated wing of the mall include Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Cartier and Salvatore Ferragamo. “The fashionistas have been dying to spend their money,” said Felicia Brooks, manager of the Kate Spade store right outside the ground-floor, inside entrance to NM. Foot traffic in her store on the day of NM’s opening was close to quadruple that of any day in the previous five weeks since Kate Spade opened, she said. Shoppers headed to the luxury collection on opening weekend were treated to a variety of treats including complimentary neck massages and nutrition and fitness consultations at a mini-oasis set-up by the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and the California Health & Longevity Institute. “Westfield invited us to be here during the opening weekend because they felt that our brand was in sync with their clientele,” said Aaron Appleby, group sales manager for The Spa at Four Seasons. “They are partnering with other luxury brands and realize that our guests are their shoppers.” A gala on Sept. 4 raised $___ that was split between four Los Angeles area charities: ALS Association, Greater L.A. Chapter; Grossman Burn Foundation; MOCA Projects Council; and the New West Symphony.