De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa - Cutting Remarks

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Rob Bates

De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa
June 20, 2008

The people at the De Beers retail chain just confirmed to me they will opening up new stores in Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa, California ... I am also reliably told that they will have a few more announcements of store openings this year ...

What's interesting is that both Naples and Costa Mesa are off-the-beaten-track locations, and could be a sign that the De Beers retail chain, which up to now has opened in major cities, will be a more extensive project than anyone realizes.

It's also striking that, in this mediocre U.S. retail climate, the De Beers chain is going full speed ahead. This seems to be a reflection of 1) a sense that the chain has turned the corner, and 2) the fact that its deep-pocketed co-owners are determined to make this venture work. (And it's also probably a pretty good time to negotiate leases.)

The chain has also officially announced its new store in San Francisco -- click link for a picture.

Posted by Rob Bates on June 20, 2008 | Comments (4)

June 20, 2008
In response to: De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa
Homer commented:

Hey, Rob, I haven't looked it up, but I'm willing to bet that the Costa Mesa location is in South Coast Plaza, which is one of the most high-end malls in Southern California, and services all those wealthy women in Newport Beach. There's a big Tiffany's there, among other high-end jewelers. Seems like a natural spot to me.

June 23, 2008
In response to: De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa
Hedda Schupak commented:

Homer beat me to it! Costa Mesa, home of South Coast Plaza, is definitely NOT off the beaten track, at least not to us "retail goddesses." (Take the Bristol St. exit off the 405, head inland about 500 feet...)

June 23, 2008
In response to: De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa
John Harris commented:

From the OC Register (the local paper)... "South Coast Plaza lands another diamond giant Monday, June 2nd, 2008 by HANG NGUYEN South Coast Plaza recently inked a lease with De Beers, the giant miner and marketer of diamonds that also has retail stores. The Costa Mesa De Beers boutique is scheduled to open this fall. This will be De Beers’ first store in Orange County and seventh in the U.S."

July 7, 2008
In response to: De Beers Coming to Naples, Florida and Costa Mesa
richard kalina commented:

Naples, Fl. is another hot, high-end retail jewelry location. Don't think of it as a "off the beaten path" location. Also, with fond rememberences of a good friend and super-fine retail jeweler , Marion Halfacre also called his retail home the South Coast Plaza. Both locations are currently serviced by many luxury, high-end jewelers and this will simply cut another slice from their pie. How many slices can you cut before there isn't enough for all to feed on? This also raises the question of suppliers becoming competitors? This can't bode well for the independent retail jeweler!