Macy’s to become downtown LA flagship at The Bloc

Los Angeles - The Ratkovich Company, with partners National Real Estate Advisors and Blue Vista Capital, announced that Macy's at The Bloc will receive a major upgrade to become a downtown Los Angeles flagship store. The partners will also bring San Francisco-based men's emporium Wingtip to The Bloc, along with a new retail gallery concept conceived in collaboration between CNTRLgroup and Otto Design Group.



The Bloc is a cornerstone property in the heart of downtown Los Angeles designed to become a premier urban destination for the city.

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"Each of these three retailers represents exactly the types of shopping experiences we envisioned for The Bloc," said Wayne Ratkovich, president and CEO of The Ratkovich Company. "These partners give Angelenos a taste of the modern, lifestyle-oriented brands they can look forward to at The Bloc, all presented in a fresh and relevant way.”



Macy's will transform its 250,000-sq.-ft. store with refreshed decor and visual presentations in every department. The retailer will add a new furniture department to serve the needs of the expanding downtown residential community and enhance its cosmetics, housewares and textiles offering. Shoppers will have direct access to Macy's via entrances on all four levels, including a direct connection to the new nine-screen, 800-seat Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Macy's remains open through construction; all renovations will be completed in time for the grand opening of The Bloc in October 2015.



"Macy's remains committed to delivering the fashion brands and unparalleled customer service experience our customers expect from us," said Michael Ellmann, district VP, Macy's. "Visitors to our new store will be 'wowed' by our new and expanded home offering and reinvented cosmetics department, and we look forward to creating new experiences with them at The Bloc."



Wingtip, hailed as a one-stop shop for the modern gentleman, will open its first Los Angeles location in October 2015. Wingtip is a men's haven, offering custom and ready to wear clothing, leather goods, cigars and cigar accessories, rare single malt scotches, fly fishing gear and barware. Wingtip will also bring to L.A. its members-only social club to the office tower's upper floors. The Club at Wingtip will be open to men and women and feature a private bar, themed event space and meeting rooms, wine storage and smoking rooms, plus other member benefits, all with 180 degree views of downtown L.A.



The yet-unnamed retail gallery will host a variety of fashion and lifestyle-oriented events within the gallery itself and around The Bloc's public square.



At completion, The Bloc will bring Angelenos together in a vibrant, open-air, truly urban center. Acquired by The Ratkovich Company with partners National Real Estate Advisors and Blue Vista Capital in June 2013, The Bloc inhabits a full city block and is undergoing $180 million in renovations to provide a curated experience of unique boutiques, premier retailers and restaurant.



Originally built in 1973 by architect Charles Luckman, the development will be the single largest mixed-use property in Los Angeles where consumers can work, sleep, shop and eat. It is anchored by Macy's, the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, and a 750,000-sq.-ft. luxury office tower. The Bloc will be LEED certified; construction began in the first quarter of 2014 and is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter of 2015.