50 Years of Fashion Island
Fashion Island®
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Fashion Island turns 50 this fall, celebrating decades of success and prosperity as one of the country’s premier shopping destinations.
Initially named Newport Town Center when it opened in 1967, original tenants included department store anchors Buffums, The Broadway, Robinson’s and JC Penney, along with 52 specialty retailers and restaurants such as Bob Burns and The Velvet Turtle.
The open-air, coastal shopping resort now features more than 150 boutiques and restaurants—many exclusive to Orange County and the West Coast—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Today, Fashion Island continues to dominate as one of Southern California’s top-tier retail centers, with annual sales approaching $800 million.
“Fashion Island continues to build on its legacy as a major retail force in Orange County with an unmatched coastal shopping experience,” said Dave Moore, president of Irvine Company Retail Properties. “We look forward to another successful 50 years.”
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Fashion Island will kick off 50 Days of Fashion Island, beginning July 29. Select retailers will launch exclusive in-store events and promotions. On September 9, the official day of Fashion Island’s 50th anniversary, Newport Beach’s iconic shopping center will host a special event as a way to express appreciation to loyal customers who have contributed to Fashion Island’s continued progress and growth over the years.
The Irvine Company has cultivated a diverse collection of some of the most sought-after brands, from Orange County’s only Neiman Marcus to the first-ever freestanding store for global beauty brand Urban Decay. Recent notable openings include AG and Robert Talbott – both exclusive to Orange County, along with the first-ever Lincoln Experience Center, the first U.S. location of Rodd & Gunn and the first West Coast storefront for Ray-Ban. Additionally, Fashion Island is now currently home to the largest Anthropologie in Southern California.
Fashion Island has been refined through the years with multiple major reinvestments and expansions, including a $100-million renovation in 2009.
Fashion Island attracts nearly 16 million visitors a year – discerning shoppers come from both local Southern California and abroad. Whether it’s to shop for coveted designers such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Tom Ford at Neiman Marcus, to popular contemporary brands such as Vince, Joie and Trina Turk or dining at acclaimed restaurants such as Sushi Roku or FIG & OLIVE, Fashion Island offers a shopping and dining experience like no other.
About Fashion Island
As Orange County’s premier coastal shopping experience, Fashion Island features exclusive specialty boutiques, world-class department stores and a diverse assortment of restaurants and cafes. With nearly 16 million visitors a year, Fashion Island offers a sophisticated yet relaxed, resort-like atmosphere that is distinctively Southern California, with pristine views of the Pacific Ocean.
Owned by Irvine Company, Fashion Island is home to Orange County’s only Neiman Marcus, as well as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Home Store and Macy’s – in addition to AG, Alice + Olivia, Rodd & Gunn, Nespresso, American Tea Room, Urban Decay, NIKE, SoulCycle, Trina Turk, Vince, Joie and Halston Heritage. Fashion Island also features acclaimed restaurants such as Sushi Roku, FIG & OLIVE, Red O, CUCINA enoteca, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Lemonade, True Food Kitchen and R+D Kitchen. For more information, please visit FashionIsland.com.
