LAGUNA NIGUEL : First Store Opens at Marketplace

The first store in the Marketplace at Laguna Niguel--a Mervyn’s department store--opened Thursday.

According to store manager Jacki Ebel, business was brisk at the 77,000-square-foot store, which is the first of three major stores planned for the center. Although job fairs for prospective Mervyn’s salespeople in June were only lightly attended, Ebel said the store is fully staffed.

The 525,000-square-foot center at Alicia Parkway and Pacific Park Drive is expected to bring in roughly $1 million a year in sales tax revenue to the city, said City Manager Tim Casey.

An 80,000-square-foot Vons Superstore is expected to open in the Marketplace by the end of the year.

The other major store will be a 130,000-square-foot Wal-Mart, the first in Orange County. It is expected to open early next year.