Fashion Island’s Forever 21 will be a long-forgotten memory

By the spring of 2024, when RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) opens its new four-story, 80,000-square-foot furniture glass hardware factory gallery, Fashion Island’s Forever 21 will be a long-forgotten memory.
RH and Irvine Co. announced on Tuesday that the luxury furniture brand will welcome the company to Newport Beach. The building is expected to be located on the side of the outdoor shopping mall facing the sea. Some existing businesses will be relocated to the center to make room for the new building.
The company declined to specify the cost of renovation and construction, but confirmed that the project meets the permitted uses in the center.
This is the first RH furniture gallery location in Orange County, although Corte Madera has two locations in West Hollywood.
According to the information listed on the company's website, the location of Newport Beach is expected to be larger than the two locations in West Hollywood. The location on Melrose Avenue is a three-story building with an area of 40,000 square feet, and the location on Beverly Avenue is a two-story building with an area of 21,000 square feet.
There are no restaurants at these two locations, as the location of Fashion Island is expected to be included. In addition to the rooftop restaurant and glass-walled bar, the furniture gallery will have an entire floor dedicated to branded furniture.
In addition, according to the announced plan, the gallery will have its own in-house interior design company and studio to provide services.
"RH Newport Beach reflects our vision of creating architectural inspiration and immersive spaces, blurring the boundaries between residential and retail, indoor and outdoor, home and hotel," said Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of RH. Said in a statement. "We are honored to bring this innovative design gallery to Fashion Island in Newport Beach."
According to the RH website, the company describes its furniture gallery as the "next generation", aiming to redefine and reimagine the customer's shopping experience. This will be the 25th such furniture gallery opened by the brand.
“Blurring the boundaries between residential and retail, indoor and outdoor, physical and digital, we have created spaces that are more like homes than stores and inspired a new way of life,” the website reads.
The brand has already opened a store in Fashion Island and is expected to continue to be open to guests.
Tanya Thomas, vice president and general manager of Fashion Island, said in a statement: "RH perfectly captures the inspiring lifestyle experience, attracting discerning guests from Newport Beach and other areas to Fashion Island."
Lilly Nguyen reports on Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the pilot, she worked at the Orange County Registry as a freelance journalist and general assignment intern. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism from California State University Long Beach. (714) 966-4623.