Harold’s to Close After 4 Years in Crystal Court

COSTA MESA —  Harold’s, a high-priced clothier, will close its store here after Christmas, four years after its opening in Crystal Court.

Anton Segerstrom, general manager of the shopping center across from South Coast Plaza, said the store is leaving because the merchandise of the Oklahoma City-based retailer is not as popular in California as the company had hoped.

“It was a pilot store to test the region,” he said. “It could be just that people dress differently out here.”

Harold’s has 17 stores in Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Maryland, store manager Janie Wehba said.

Segerstrom said the decision to close the store was a mutual one between the mall management and the retailer. Harold’s officials in Oklahoma could not be reached for comment and Wehba refused to elaborate on the reason for the closing.

The retailer sells men’s and women’s clothing that is on the traditional side, using heavy fabrics. A Shetland wool sweater there sells for $150; a denim shirt by Ralph Lauren for $80. Wehba said the store will close the close of business Dec. 26.

Crystal Court has almost 60 shops and restaurants. The court, however, has long fought the image of playing second fiddle to the highly successful South Coast Plaza. Both are owned and operated by the Segerstrom family.

Segerstrom said the Harold’s closing is not related to any problems at Crystal Court. In fact, he said, traffic and sales so far this year at Crystal Court are running about 5% above last year.