RETAIL/LEISURE

Consumers Pay Attention to At Ease Men’s Store, Revived by New Owners

Ron and Linda Beale made their names as executives with Macy’s department store in San Francisco, went on to develop a shopping center in the Northern California town of Danville and have now set out to revive a well-known store in Newport Beach.

They bought the At Ease store at Fashion Island last year when it was on the brink of going out of business under its previous owners. After five months and hundreds of thousands of dollars in interior refurbishment, the store reopened last month with an emphasis on high-end men’s casual wear.

“Word-of-mouth has been unbelieveable,” Linda Beale said. “People are coming all the way from Pasadena.”

They say that people are still shopping despite the recession, but are more picky. Customers are buying fewer $700 cashmere sweaters, but Beale says sales of $58 to $75 Hawaiian shirts are booming.