Spa at South Coast closes for bankruptcy

**CORRECTION: “Spa at South Coast closes for bankruptcy,” apparently led many readers to believe that the Spa and Fitness Club by South Coast Plaza had closed. The spa in question was Georgette Klinger.

Georgette Klinger, a spa that has resided at South Coast Plaza for 11 years, closed abruptly Wednesday morning.

The spa, located on the second floor by Saks Fifth Avenue, displayed a sign outside declaring that the business had closed permanently and apologizing for the inconvenience. Debra Gunn Downing, the shopping center’s executive director of marketing, said the spa had gone bankrupt, although she didn’t know whether the bankruptcy applied to Klinger’s entire corporation or just the Costa Mesa location.

Klinger was a top attraction since opening its only California store at South Coast in 1996, she said.

“Georgette Klinger has always been a very strong brand name in quality products and services,” Downing said. “It was a very popular spa destination.”

The website for Klinger, which operates 10 locations nationwide, featured a terse message Wednesday declaring “Georgette Klinger is currently in the process of moving its inventory warehouse location due to an unexpected circumstance,” along with a note that the company had a new website under construction.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley said her mother-in-law stopped by Klinger for a facial Tuesday and heard that the spa would be closing the following day. Foley, an employment lawyer, said she was concerned about the store’s employees as well as customers who had put in orders.

“She [my mother-in-law] had previously bought a series of facials and they told her, ‘You can get store credit and buy products or talk to your credit card company,’” Foley said. “Also, all the employees were notified that day, the week before Christmas. I think it’s really sad.”

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.