After COVID-19 stalled the debut of a new luxury wing, Westfield Valley Fair is coming back better than ever before.
The Bloomingdale’s entryway
Westfield Valley Fair was ready. In early March, the shopping center had completed the first phase of a $1.1 billion renovation, including a new luxury wing, full of natural light, skylights, new flooring, even repainted handrails, all to say, “This is an upscale place.” A place where you can dart from Bloomingdale’s to Bvlgari and fill your arms with neatly packaged goods.
Then, of course, COVID-19 hit, and California effectively shut down. Valley Fair, now the largest mall in the state, reopened in June before shutting its doors again.
Madeline tote, Jimmy Choo
“The good news is… in June… we saw that there was pent-up demand for the luxury goods,” says Colin Shaughnessy, executive vice president of leasing. “In some cases, luxury stores did more business in June this year than they had done a year ago, proving to us that the luxury market is very strong right now. And further, just giving us more indications that when we reopen Valley Fair, the new collection will be successful from day one.”
Longchamp is one of several retailers outfitting the mall’s shoppers with luxe accessories.
During this off-period, Valley Fair has started an open-air market of 17 retailers and restaurants, and new luxury brands are setting up shop in Valley Fair so the reopening will have even more of a wow factor. The luxury wing will house more than 45 brands as opposed to the original 28. Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Golden Goose, AESOP and Versace are among the new shops, and the jewelry and timepice outlets include Breitling, IWC Schaffhausen, Rolex, Tiffany & Co. and Jaeger-LeCoultre. For dining options, choose among Shake Shack, Lady M, Bamboo Sushi, the area’s first Eataly and 21 others. Plus, Lucid Motors is opening an electric car dealership on-site.
Lion head 18K ring with chrome diopside, Gucci
Earrings in platinum and 18K yellow gold with fancy vivid yellow and white diamonds from the 2020 High Jewelry Collection Extraordinary Tiffany, Tiffany & Co.
Barocco patchwork prink silk shirt dress, Barocco mosaic print silk shirt, Barocco mosaic print silk shorts, all Versace
“I think the first thing you’re going to realize is that it’s an impeccable merchandising plan, second to none in Northern California, and we’ll rival anything that you can find on the West Coast,” Shaughnessy says. “I think that’s going to be really exciting for the luxury consumer in the Silicon Valley because it’s going to put everything that they would have had to travel to Southern California or New York for at their fingertips.” Santa Clara, westfield.com/valleyfair
Photography by: Courtesy of Westfield Valley Fair
