For those in the East Bay, Neiman Marcus opens up a whole new outlet for necessary mid-week retail therapy. In between dropping off the kids or instead of eating lunch, you can pop over and pick up whatever you needed, a solace scarf, some pick me up pumps or a last minute home gift aka a Jo Malone candle. Most importantly, shopping in Walnut Creek means free parking and negligible traffic.
The store is bright, shiny and oh so new, just like everything inside. The silvery fins that adorn the outside of the building are a part of the outdoor space art project as required by the city. As the wind breezes through them, they appear wave and water like, ever so welcoming. There are two entrances – one near Broadway street the other towards the shopping centre.
Once inside, you can’t help but be struck by the openness of the design. Rain etched glass creates dividers that provide privacy and outline spaces but nonetheless keep that incredible natural light flowing throughout. Furthermore the store houses at least thirteen works of art made by local artisans, for example the flowing lines near Jil Sander or tile-like mosaics near the children’s corner. A circular cosmetics section entices all to sample the products. Next to cosmetics is fine jewelry where there are sparkling cases full of Ippolita, Roberto Coin, David Yurman and all of your favorite time keepers like Chanel.
There’s 3 special in-boutique spaces for accessories: Chanel, Balenciaga and Gucci. Pro Tip: since it’s still fully stocked, now is the time to come to get the always sold out Chanel classic flap in beige. Nonetheless favorites like Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Nancy Gonzalez, Judith Leiber and many others have floor space as well.
The men’s section offers Tom Ford shirting and ties, Brioni, Zegna and your classic Italian labels as well as contemporary weekend favorites like Theory. There’s an open men’s shoe department with everything from TOMS to Prada dress shoes. The dressing rooms for men are large enough to fit an entourage of helpers aka wives or girlfriends and cheekily have it outfitted to resemble a sleek leather wallpapered bachelor pad avec flat screen tvs and all to help ease the men into an afternoon of shopping.
The shoe section is a place where women come to rest their soles and souls. Walnut Creek carries the holy trinity of Manolo, Louboutin and Chanel but also fashion forward Charlotte Olympias, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino (rock star studded heels!) and Miu Miu to classic weekend warriors like glittery TOMS and Tory Burch flats. Unique to Walnut Creek is Brunello Cucinelli shoes which are not available in San Francisco.
Upstairs through the twinkling butterfly decorated skylit escalators are women’s fine apparel and dresses, CUSP, childrens’ wear, gifts and the NM Café. Some of the brands in fine apparel are Herve Leger, Alexander McQueen, and Missoni. The three in-store boutiques for women’s wear are Jil Sander, Stella McCartney and ofcourse Chanel. Inside CUSP is a wonderful selection of chic denim and contemporary favorites like Theory, Rag & Bone, Rachel Zoe, and Milly. Also on the second floor right by the NM Café is a special event space so in case you wanted to throw a fashionable sweet 16 (the dressing rooms in CUSP are adorable!) or a ladies’ luncheon for your organization.
Take advantage of Neiman Marcus’ 7th store in California (we now out number them in the original home state of Texas!) with its airy open space and easy accessibility. Now with the App you can have your dedicated sales associate snap some pictures of those to die for Chanel flats and you can simply pick them up right before you pick up your children.
Neiman Marcus
Broadway Plaza Shopping Center
1000 South Main Street
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
More pictures below:
