Our History-2026 – South Coast Plaza

1967

On March 15, South Coast Plaza opens with 70 stores anchored by May Company and Sears. Situated on acres of what used to be the Segerstrom family’s farmland, the center designed by Victor Gruen Associates was just the beginning of what would become one of the most important retail and cultural destinations in America.

1973

The center expands with a new wing featuring Bullock’s and 60 more stores. Anchoring this expansion is the stained-glass dome over Jewel Court, created by artist Marion Sampler.

1977

I. Magnin, the exclusive luxury department store that originated in San Francisco, opens at South Coast Plaza.

1978

Paris-based Courrèges debuts at the center, the first international freestanding designer boutique in Orange County.

New York-based brands Mark Cross and Halston also open boutiques here. Marc Cross flew in with six models to open the doors of his first boutique on the West Coast.

The South Coast Repertory theater troupe opens across from South Coast Plaza on land donated by the Segerstrom family. This marks the beginning of the cultural campus known today as Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Also by 1978, Nordstrom opens its first store outside the Pacific Northwest. It is still one of the highest-grossing stores in the retailer’s entire chain.

1979

Iconic New York department store Saks Fifth Avenue opens at South Coast Plaza.

1982

French designer Yves Saint Laurent unveils a Rive Gauche boutique at South Coast Plaza.

1986

South Coast Plaza expands with a freestanding building across Bear Street named Crystal Court, featuring 60 stores, J.W. Robinson’s and The Broadway.

Orange County Performing Arts Center opens across from South Coast Plaza on five acres of land donated by the Segerstrom family.

Nordstrom expands to 235,000-square-feet, the company’s largest store.

1988

A new chapter of South Coast Plaza begins when Tiffany & Co. opens its only Orange County location, setting the stage for more international fine jewelry brands to follow.

1992

South Coast Plaza celebrates its 25th anniversary. Planet Hollywood opens its second U.S. location with over 200 celebrities including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.

1997

Hermès becomes the latest French luxury house to open its only Orange County location at South Coast Plaza.

2000

The Bridge of Gardens and Garden Terrace, designed by renowned landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, opens, connecting South Coast Plaza with Crystal Court.

Crate & Barrel and the nation’s first Macy’s Home Store open, expanding the center’s curation to home and furniture.

2002

South Coast Plaza celebrates its 35th anniversary and surpasses $1 billion in annual sales.

2006

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, designed by architect Cesar Pelli, debuts at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

South Coast Plaza completes a $35 million interior renovation project featuring new travertine flooring, teak seating and two new glass observation elevators.

2007

Bloomingdale’s brings its 300,000-square-foot Southern California flagship store to South Coast Plaza.

2008

The Penthouse, South Coast Plaza’s new luxury level, debuts adjacent to Nordstrom on Level 3 with Oscar de la Renta, Christian Louboutin, Marché Moderne and CANALI as the first tenants.

Rolex, Harry Winston and Piaget also open freestanding boutiques, growing the center’s jewelry and watch collection.

2010

Louis Vuitton opens a private VIP atelier, underscoring South Coast Plaza as a luxury destination known for its personalized service.

2011

Orange County Performing Arts Center is renamed Segerstrom Center for the Arts to honor its 25th anniversary and the Segerstrom family’s ongoing commitment to the arts.

Cartier expands to nearly 6,000-square-feet, becoming the second-largest Cartier boutique in the U.S.

2012

Luxury watchmakers Vacheron Constantin, IWC Schaffhausen and Jaeger-LeCoultre open.

Diane von Furstenberg hosts a party to celebrate the opening of her new freestanding boutique.

Parisian luxury shoe designer Roger Vivier opens its first West Coast flagship boutique.

South Coast Plaza marks its 45th anniversary.

2013

French perfumer Diptyque opens its first Southern California boutique.

Italian menswear brand Brioni opens its only Orange County location.

Berluti, the French design house known for bespoke men’s shoes, opens its first West Coast boutique.

2014

Din Tai Fung, the Taiwanese restaurant group famous for its dumplings, opens its third U.S. location.

Uniqlo, the Japan-based retailer, opens its first Southern California location.

2015

Several Orange County-exclusive boutiques open, including Charlottle Olympia, Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler, Sweden-based COS and Céline, whose founder Céline Vipiana visited for the opening.

Chanel opens an expanded boutique designed by Peter Marino.

German luxury timepiece company A. Lange & Söhne and Spanish-based Massimo Dutti debut their first West Coast boutiques.

2016

Les Parfums Louis Vuitton opens its exclusive U.S. location and Italian designer brand Weekend Max Mara debuts its first freestanding store in North America.

The Webster, a Miami-based multi-brand boutique, opens its first location on the West Coast.

Water Grill unveils its Orange County restaurant and Vaca, the Spanish-inspired restaurant by “Top Chef” finalist Amar Santana, opens.

2017

South Coast Plaza celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark the milestone, Assouline publishes a collectible retrospective book including never-before-seen photographs illustrating the center’s evolution.

The collection of international designer boutiques grows with Stella McCartney, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior Homme, Gianvito Rossi and Aquazzura.

2018

Louis Vuitton opens an expanded Peter Marino-designed boutique, which features the largest single-level retail floor in the Americas for the brand, the first permanent home for the Objets Normades furniture collection, the first in-store workshop and resident artisan studio in the U.S.

British luxury brand Alexander McQueen opens its only Orange County boutique.

Terrace by Mix Mix, a restaurant by award-winning chef Ross Pangilinan, debuts.

Orange County Museum of Art opens a temporary location at South Coast Plaza Village.

2019

Knife Pleat, a contemporary French restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Tony Esnault and restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi, debuts in The Penthouse.

Marugame Udon opens its exclusive Orange County restaurant.

Paris-based Moynat opens its exclusive West Coast boutique.

2020

Tiffany & Co. unveils an expanded boutique, doubling its previous footprint.

Thom Browne opens its first West Coast boutique.

Monique Lhuillier opens its exclusive Orange County boutique, the largest showroom for the fashion house.

Céline debuts an expanded boutique.

2021

South Coast Plaza achieves record annual sales of more than $2 billion.

Baccarat, an Orange County exclusive, debuts an expanded boutique at The Penthouse.

Audemars Piguet and Fendi Men, both Orange County exclusives, open.

Knife Pleat receives a Michelin star.

2022

Orange County Museum of Art relocates to its permanent home at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Hermès opens an expanded and redesigned Orange County-exclusive boutique.

Italian fine jeweler Buccellati debuts an exclusive Orange County boutique.

2023

Balenciaga opens its largest boutique in the Americas, along with a Balmain flagship and Byredo.

Fine jewelers Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels and David Yurman unveil new flagships.

2024

Bvlgari, Cartier, Harry Winston and Gucci debut newly designed and expanded flagships, part of the largest collection of luxury timepieces and jewelry under one roof in North America.

Lanvin and Italian sportswear brand Palm Angels open.

2025

Manolo Blahnik and Alaïa choose South Coast Plaza for their first West Coast boutiques.

2026

Fueguia 1833 Patagonia, the Argentinian fragrance house, introduces its first West Coast boutique at South Coast Plaza.

Los Angeles contemporary brand Staud and Swedish bedmaker Hästens debut their first Orange County locations.

This summer and early fall, jewelers Jessica McCormack, Messika and Maria Tash will open boutiques along with Parisian leather goods brand Polène.

OUR HISTORY