Crystal Court Sparkles in ‘Quiet’ Tryout Week

A lot of people apparently just can’t wait to shop.

South Coast Plaza’s new Crystal Court annex was supposed to enjoy a quiet, unofficial tryout week before the formal grand openings Friday of the Broadway and J.W. Robinson’s department stores.

The crowds dropped off Tuesday, but shoppers packed both ends of the 685,000-square-foot, $100-million annex Monday as the two major stores--and two small boutique shops--opened for their initial dry runs.

Broadway officials claimed that 50,000 to 60,000 shoppers--about four times more than expected--made their way through the peach-colored marble and ceramic tile aisles, drawn by a comparatively scanty promotion campaign.

At the other end of the three-story mall, shoppers estimated in the “ten thousands” poured into Robinson’s sneak preview, evidently lured by its competitor’s advertising mailers. “Once the Broadway got people to that side, we had the door open and the lights on and in they walked,” said Steven Regur, a J.W. Robinson’s vice president.

Two smaller stores in between--the North Face, an outdoor equipment specialty shop, and El Portal, a luxury leather goods store--reported brisk business as well, even though the vast central court remained empty of people much of the day.