Button-Down At Ease Store Buttoned Up in Santa Ana

At Ease--a Newport Beach-based retailer known for its pricey, preppy look--has closed its stores in Santa Ana and Westwood.

But the specialty chain’s traditional, button-down clothing is still selling well in Newport Beach’s Fashion Island and the Pasadena store, a company manager said. And At Ease plans to open a San Francisco store within a week.

At Ease began in Newport Beach 20 years ago by Al Douglass. The retailer became popular for its racks of wide-wale corduroy pants, saddle shoes, tweedy sport coats and Polo and madras shirts. Its women’s apparel is also tailored and conservative.

Several years ago, Douglass sold At Ease to a group of investors, including Allan B. Gilman, former chairman of Abraham & Straus, the Brooklyn-based department store chain. Gilman has since bought out some of the other investors and is now majority owner.

The 10,000-square-foot store at MainPlace/Santa Ana had been open just 10 months when it closed Sept. 6. Ted Flood, manager of the At Ease store in Newport Beach, said the Santa Ana site was “non-productive” because it never developed enough traffic.

“The store was on the very end of the second floor, in an alcove almost by itself,” Flood said.

He added that stores that were supposed to open nearby never did.

Judy Bijlani, a mall representative, said that she does not know why the store closed but that it was not because of slow traffic at MainPlace.

The Westwood store closed in March after its 10-year lease expired, Flood said. Retail industry experts blamed skyrocketing lease rates in West Los Angeles.