The multitiered Mercantile building in South Coast...

The multitiered Mercantile building in South Coast Village was made to order for the wall-to-wall merchandise offered for sale at Le Bon Marche (“The Best of Everything” Bazaar.)

Presented by the Museum Council of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, the three-day event that ended Sunday offered new and used merchandise that included antiques, celebrity-worn clothing and donated items.

Restaurants in South Coast Plaza and Village donated the international fare--curries, sausages, pastas--that was offered on preview night. Domaine M. Marion of Los Gatos contributed a special reserve Chardonnay and Joe Hart and his Dixieland Band provided the entertainment.

Event chairmen Jane Connell and Eugenie Fisher joined council chairman Sandra Beigel in raising $40,000 for programs and exhibitions at the museum.

Connell attributed much of the success of the event to another charity organization, Concept 7, and to one individual, Julio Dubois.

“They are the only ones who made this work. When was there a big pickup, they picked it up, stored it in their warehouse and then brought it here. All the donated items that were not sold will go to them.”

Le Bon Marche was the fund-raiser of the Museum Council in 1961. It came back by popular demand, following six years of The Antique Show.