Saks Fifth Avenue, the only luxury department store in the market, will expand its presence at The Gardens by expanding its 50,000-square-foot store to 77,000 square feet. In addition to expanding its square footage, their existing store will be completely remodeled. Saks Fifth Avenue’s two-story, 27,000-square-foot expansion, scheduled to open in November 2009, will double the size of its men’s department and offer all customers a wider array of contemporary apparel, shoes, handbags, jewelry and other accessories for both women and men.

“The planned expansion of our Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert store is consistent with our strategy of focusing our resources on existing stores in order to enhance our sales productivity. Palm Desert is a great market for us, and we are eager to increase our presence there. With a 77,000 square foot showcase store, we will be able to enhance our distinctive roster of designer collections and service offerings to better serve our many loyal customers in the area,” commented Steve Sadove, chairman and chief executive officer of Saks.

Louis Vuitton’s debut in Coachella Valley will take shape in a 3,100-square-foot store opening across from Tiffany & Co.  The world-renown French luxury retailer will offer its iconic handbags, shoes, belts, scarves, ties and other textiles, accessories and more for both women and men. The arrival of Louis Vuitton will complement the other luxury retailers that have recently opened at The Gardens including Cole Haan, Coach and Tiffany & Co. The Gardens Louis Vuitton store will be the only location where the brand is sold within 120 miles, with Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Costa Mesa as the nearest locations.

“We believe that The Gardens is the ideal location in the Desert for Louis Vuitton to present its exclusive line of fashion,” said John Slavinsky, senior vice president, Louis Vuitton.

“Louis Vuitton’s opening at The Gardens on El Paseo, plus the eagerly awaited Saks Fifth Avenue expansion, as well as other recent luxury tenant store openings along El Paseo are indicative of the tremendous interest of luxury retailers in locating in the Palm Desert market,” Karen Land, director of leasing for Davis Street Land Company commented.

The 200,000-square-foot lifestyle center opened in 1998 and also includes upscale specialty stores such as Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama Tropical Café and Emporium, Cole Haan, Coach, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, L’Occitane and Oilily.

El Paseo Village and The Gardens on El Paseo are owned, leased and managed by Davis Street Land Company.  Davis Street Land Company is a privately-held real estate company focused on the ownership and development of upscale specialty and lifestyle centers. The principals of the company are responsible for the development and ownership of unique retail properties such as Renaissance Place in Highland Park, Illinois, The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee, and Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis, Missouri.  The first phase of Davis Street’s The Meadows at Lake St. Louis will debut in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri in late August.  For more, key www.dslandco.com.