Iconic Retailer Elyse Walker to Open Massive Second Shop in Newport Beach

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Last year, we revealed that Elyse Walker was eyeing potential locations for a second store. Although our first suggestion was somewhere on Abbot Kinney, we're not mad at the Pacific Palisades-based retailer's pick: the highly-anticipated Lido Marina Village project in Newport Beach.

"When I went to Newport, I describe it as kind of like when you met your boyfriend or your husband to be," Walker tells WWD. "This is a community. This is like the Palisades. This is a place that I want to hang out."

Elyse Walker's sophomore boutique will be hanging out by this August when LMV's restoration is complete, and the space will cover a whopping 12,000 square feet. Big-name designers including Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Ann Demeulemeester, Stella McCartney, Gianvito Rossi, Manolo Blahnik, Zimmermann, and Self-Portrait have already signed on to be in the store, which may feature a 500-square-foot cafe and "mini salon."

Walker was smart to jump on the LMV train now, as the project has already landed an impressive roster of tenants that will include Apolis (an outlet!) inside Alchemy Works, Steven Alan, Jenni Kayne, Bailey44, and Clare V. All will be revealed this year.