Topanga Nordstrom undergoes makeover

The finishing touches are being put on a new 200,000-squarefoot Nordstrom specialty store soon to open at the Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga Plaza.

The new store, which is being relocated from one side of the mall to the other, signals the arrival of the first high-end fashion department store in the San Fernando Valley, according to Nordstrom public relations specialist Kendall Bingham.

"Customers aren't going to have to drive to the Beverly Center or to South Coast Plaza to find the big name fashion designers," Bingham said. "It's very exciting."

Nordstrom, which has been at the Topanga Boulevard location since 1984, has decided to offer more upscale fashion selections in response to customer demand, Bingham said.

The relocated Nordstrom will have a strong designer offering with Via C, Collectors and Couture departments, as well as Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel in-store boutiques. It also will have a designer shoe and active footwear department for women.

Other features of the new store, which is scheduled to open Oct. 6, include Caf Bistro, an instore restaurant, an espresso bar and a full-service spa.

According to Bingham, the entire mall is undergoing an upscale renovation, so Nordstrom naturally wanted to get on board.

"Westfield is making big improvements to the mall and we wanted to be a part of that," Bingham said. "Plus, it's what our customers asked for and that means a great deal to us."

There are 29 Nordstrom stores operating in California, with six in the Los Angeles area, including the Glendale Galleria and The Grove in Los Angeles.

When asked about the timeline for the long-anticipated new store at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, Bingham said she expects that store to open some time in 2008.

"It's definitely still on our schedule," Bingham said.

-Kyle Jorrey