Gap is in the midst of an international brand refresh under Dickson, who previously helped revitalize Mattel’s Barbie franchise
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete met last week with City Manager David White and a real estate adviser for Gap Inc. to discuss the potential return of the retail brand’s stores to downtown Santa Monica, the local official detailed in a Facebook post.
Negrete, who shared details of the meeting Friday in a Facebook post, said the conversation centered on revitalizing the city’s retail core and attracting recognizable brands back to the Third Street Promenade area.
The mayor called the discussion “a full-circle moment,” noting her own background in fashion and retail. “I grew up on our Third Street Promenade, worked my first retail jobs right here,” she wrote. “I’ve seen the highs and the struggles of retail, and I know firsthand how deeply the local shopping experience defines the character of our city.”
Gap Inc.’s chief executive, Richard Dickson, recently told The Times of London that the company is focused on rediscovering “the optimism, authenticity, and American style that made it iconic in the first place.” Negrete said that same sense of renewal aligns with Santa Monica’s own downtown recovery efforts.
Santa Monica once had a Gap store at 1355 Third Street Promenade. The company continues to operate a Gap, babyGap, GapKids and GapBody location at 1931 Wilshire Boulevard, open daily for in-store shopping and pickup.
Gap is in the midst of an international brand refresh under Dickson, who previously helped revitalize Mattel’s Barbie franchise. His turnaround strategy, recently profiled by The Times, includes redesigned stores and a renewed focus on fashion credibility and inclusiveness.
Negrete said she left the meeting “inspired, proud, and hopeful” about Santa Monica’s retail future.
