Controversial Neiman Marcus opens in Walnut Creek
Updated at 09:26 AM todayWALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) — The first Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek opens to shoppers this morning, after an epic battle that ended at the polls.
Walnut Creek’s mayor said the negativity surrounding the store is gone and those who have opposed it have accepted it and they are pulling for its success. A mall competitor helped fund a campaign to try and stop Neiman Marcus from coming to Walnut Creek. Opponents were concerned about parking and congestion and they had concerns that the store would not deliver on its projected tax revenue.
“It was a struggle. I think what really happened was we realized the nature of the struggle we had no idea, at least I had no idea, that two retail shopping center magnets really battling it out over property in Walnut Creek. When we finally realized what was happening, the community really got behind the effort and we had a vote on this particular building. It was really unusual to have people vote on a single building. So over 71 percent of the people said yes to Neiman Marcus and yes to what this will mean to Walnut Creek,” said Walnut Creek Mayor Bob Simmons.
The mayor said that Neiman met the city’s parking requirements. He is looking into possibly adding another parking garage in the busy downtown. Only three percent of downtown Walnut Creek is unoccupied.
The new store is expected to bring in about $600,000 in tax revenue for the city.
The doors open at 10 a.m..
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