Oct. 28--Dillard's new Northland store is a whopping 210,000 square feet on three levels -- offering more lines, more upscale items and a more upscale decor.

Customers can get their first look at the Zona Rosa store at a soft opening at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The grand opening is set for Nov. 6.

"It will be a bit more on the upper end throughout the store," said Joan Stoner, the store's manager.

Lines include Faberge and Waterford in the better china/crystal/silver area; Hebi and Michael Arm in the collectibles; Donald J. Pliner, Bruno Magli, Ugg and Michael Kors in shoes; and Ed Hardy in the clothing departments.

An enhanced cosmetics area will include smaller, harder-to-find brands such as Fekkai, Korres, Bloom, Michael Marcus and Fusion. The lingerie area will include a line of Spanx and a "bra spa" with fitting specialists, private seating area and large fitting rooms.

The store, at 7350 N.W. 87th Terrace, will have about 200 full- and part-time employees.

Earlier this year, Dillard's converted its Metro North Shopping Center store -- which is about five miles east of the Zona Rosa store -- to a clearance center. That building now is under contract to Steiner + Associates, the owner and developer of Zona Rosa.

"It was part of the consideration for allowing Dillard's to make a move over to Zona Rosa. It helped facilitate the move," said David Zoba, Steiner's chief operating officer.

The contract to buy the two-story, 160,000-square-foot building, which is owned by a Dillard's subsidiary, is expected to close in a few weeks. The price was not disclosed. When reached Monday, Dillard's officials could not confirm the sale.

Dillard's also recently converted its Ward Parkway Center store to a clearance center. Stoner said the Metro North clearance store will be consolidated into that south Kansas City store.

The retail chain, founded in 1938, has 332 stores in 33 states.

The new Dillard's will be the first store to open in Zona Rosa's second phase. The nearly 500,000-square-foot addition -- north of the existing center and south of Missouri 152 --will include another 200,000 square feet of retail space, 35,000 square feet of offices and nearly 50 residential units.

Other stores in Zona Rosa's second phase include Coldwater Creek, Chico's, The Cookie Factory Bakery, Gymboree, Pretzelmaker, Select Comfort, Sephora and Topsy's Popcorn.

To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send e-mail to jsmith@kcstar.com.

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