When the iconic retail store Barneys New York closed its doors on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills five years ago, a collective sigh of despair was heard from its loyal customers. But anticipation is growing among shopping fans for the opening of an all-new Saks Fifth Ave women's store in the iconic Barneys building.

The premiere is scheduled for February 8th. An industry source who has received a preview says: “I’m excited about the life it will bring to Saks. The location is better. You cross the street at the corner, walk a block and you're on Rodeo Drive.” The source adds, “Everyone is raving about the beautiful design. They even retained the old centerpiece of Barneys – the infamous spiral staircase that connected all the floors!” One would think that Barneys fans will feel a lot of nostalgia just climbing the stairs!

Expect some changes to the current locations of departments – such as beauty – but rest assured that the major designer boutiques, and there are many, will have their unique storefronts. “It will be like Rodeo Drive under one roof,” says another source.

The icing on the cake: The new Saks Fifth Avenue women's store in Beverly Hills will also introduce an expanded and exclusive Fifth Avenue Club dedicated to personal shopping and styling, accessible via a dedicated elevator and featuring beautiful private suites. In this new space, Saks' dedicated team of stylists will schedule appointments just in time for stars to shop their Oscars ensembles.

Independent VIP stylist based in Los Angeles Jill Bronsteinwho often works with Saks personal shoppers, muses about the new store: “I would love to see them bring together the best established designers with the up-and-coming designers, using the same creative flair that the Barneys store had. “

Raquel Allegra was one of those up-and-coming designers at Barneys at the time. Allegra, a favorite designer in the hot fashion industry, will showcase her clothing at the new Saks store. “I started my career 17 years ago as a sales associate at Barneys,” says Allegra. “This building is sacred ground. So many great memories. I’m excited to be included in their next chapter.”

And what will become of the old Saks store? Future plans for the site – owned by StreetWorks Development, the real estate arm of Saks parent company HBC – include building a boutique hotel with a restaurant on par with the popular Parisian restaurant L'Avenue (the one Satellite restaurant opened at Saks in NYC in 2019). The men's Saks store will remain where it is. There is a plan for a 4-acre project surrounding the hotel that would include retail and office space, residential condominiums, a social club and a spa. Wow. But that will take a while. You have to get their permits first, and this is Beverly Hills after all.