9570 Wilshire Boulevard
| Company type | Commercial building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills , United States |
| Products | Department store retail space |
9570 Wilshire Boulevard is a structure situated in the Golden Triangle commercial area of Beverly Hills, California. Initially, it served as the location for a Barneys New York department store from 1994 until 2020. Since 2024, it has been occupied by a Saks Fifth Avenue store, which relocated from the neighboring site at 9600 Wilshire Boulevard. This venue is recognized as the company's secondary flagship store, following its primary flagship in New York City.
Architecture
The building was conceived in the Italianate style by architects Jeffrey Hutchison and Peter Marino.[1] Several design elements introduced in this Beverly Hills location—such as marble mosaic floors, expansive staircases, and skylights—later became signature features for the brand’s subsequent stores.[2] During the 2013–2014 refurbishment, Steven Harris and Lucien Rees-Roberts blended the original architectural style with contemporary design influences.[3] The iconic spiral staircase and skylight were preserved through the renovation carried out between 2022 and 2024 ahead of Saks Fifth Avenue’s occupancy.[4] The $52 million upgrade was managed by design firm CallisonRTKL, incorporating stylistic components that connect with the design language of the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store located in Midtown Manhattan.[5]
1994–2020: Barneys New York
The property at 9570 Wilshire Boulevard was initially composed of two parking areas and a pair of office buildings, which housed tenants such as American Savings and Progressive Savings. In 1989, the New York City-based retailer Barneys New York declared its acquisition of the site. The company aimed to launch a comprehensive department store in Beverly Hills by 1993; however, the store's opening was postponed until March 5, 1994. Following financial difficulties, Barneys filed for bankruptcy in 1996 and entered into a leaseback arrangement with Isetan. This deal involved selling the Beverly Hills, Chicago, and New York City locations to Isetan, who then leased them back to Barneys to maintain operations. In 2001, Isetan sold these three flagship stores to Ashkenazy Acquisition for $175 million, with the Beverly Hills location valued at approximately $34 million.
Barneys encountered another bankruptcy filing in August 2019, with plans for the Beverly Hills store to be among five remaining outlets. Nonetheless, liquidation sales commenced at these final locations by November of that year. Ultimately, the Beverly Hills store ceased operations permanently on February 23, 2020. Before its closure, it was regarded as one of the company's most prosperous branches.
2022–present: Saks Fifth Avenue
The Saks Fifth Avenue department store located at the neighboring 9600 Wilshire Boulevard first opened its doors in 1938 and was regarded by the company as a secondary flagship, following the primary flagship store in New York City. By 2016, executives at Hudson's Bay Company had become increasingly dissatisfied with the slow pace of development in the surrounding area. The company initially intended to continue operations within the existing store until the Barneys building was vacated in 2020. The success of the licensed Barneys-at-Saks fifth-floor concept in the New York City flagship during 2021 demonstrated clear brand synergy.
In June 2022, HBC revealed plans to move the current Saks location into the empty Barneys building and convert the original store into a mixed-use complex. The Barneys site was especially appealing due to its closer proximity to Rodeo Drive—just one block nearer than the original location—which is anticipated by Saks leadership to increase foot traffic.
The original store ceased operations on February 1, 2024, with the relocated Saks opening a week later on February 8. Meanwhile, the separate men's store at 9634 Wilshire Boulevard, housed since 1995 in the former I. Magnin building, remained open throughout this transition. Positioned at opposite ends of the street, the women’s and men’s stores are designed to serve as anchors for the entire development project.
References
External links
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