Michael Kors Takes Over Los Angeles’ Iconic Canter's Deli to Celebrate His Return to Rodeo Drive

For Michael Kors, when it comes to style codes, Los Angeles is the epitome of high-low. “You know, it’s a city where people wear diamonds with denim, sneakers with cashmere, and go out for a hamburger in a gown,” he says. So, when it came to planning a bash to celebrate his new 1,500-square-foot Michael Kors Collection store on Rodeo Drive? “Old school, new school always makes the best party…so we merged Spago and Cantor’s Deli,” he told Vogue last night as he greeted guests at the landmark 24-hour deli. “It’s two iconic situations in one room.”

As friends including Oliva Wilde, Kerry Washington, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union, Marisa Tomei, Alexandra Shipp, Mindy Kaling, and more filtered into the venue, they sipped Champagne and warmed up to a set by DJ Kitty Ca$h while take-out orders of pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup continued around them. Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s storied celebrity haunt, meanwhile offered guests canapés including its signature smoked salmon pizza, chicken livers on toast, and spicy big-eye tuna cones.

“It's 20 years ago that we opened our first store on Rodeo Drive,” said Kors, for whom L.A. has always been a second home. “Then, when the pandemic came, we closed, but I’m a big believer in resilience and resurgence, so I’m happy to have this new store open. You know, there's really no street in the world, like Rodeo Drive. The mix of people is amazing, and for me, it’s always been one of the most special places in the world to shop, so we’re thrilled to be back.”

As the crowd took their seats for dinner (also courtesy of Spago), Kors made a toast. “Tonight is really just a love letter to the city and a love letter to all the women who bring it to life,” he said. “So many people here have been part of my journey. Some of you are wearing Michael Kors clothes that are older than some of our guests!”

After dinner, the party moved next door to the neighboring Kibitz Room, the iconic dive bar attached to the deli, where a desert station offered black and white cookies, chocolate rugelach and meringues, cream puffs, Spago's basque cheesecake, Meyer lemon icebox pie and Sacher torte. As the celebration continued late into the night, Kors said, “For those of you who remember this place, it’s not going get as messy as it used to, but we’re going to have some fun.”