MILLENNIUM MEANS MOOLAH FOR BLOOMIES.

Byline: - Barbara De Witt

It's further away than Christmas - this year or next - but the countdown to the millennium has officially begun.

Today, marking the 500th day until the year 2000, Bloomingdale's is opening its Mark of the Millennium shops inside all 23 Bloomingdale's stores across the country.

According to Valli Zale, manager of the Bloomingdale's store at Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, the shop-within-a-shop will receive new merchandise each month to keep the excitement level high as the M-date draws near.

In a special retail partnership with Ken Walker, president of 01-01-00 Products, Bloomingdale's Millennium shops will feature merchandise in a black-and-white color combination with the 01-01-00 logo by more than 45 designers, including Adrienne Vittadini knitwear, Nicole Miller and Ferragamo ties, Crunch athletic styles and Josie Natori sportswear.

On display today will be T-shirts, caps, mugs and countdown clocks. In October, shoppers will find backpacks, duffel bags, wallets and pet dishes, said Zale, who added that Christmas gift ideas with the countdown logo will be accented with touches of red and silver.

After making their debut at Bloomingdale's, 01-01-00 products will be offered at J.C. Penney, Sears and Macy's, but each store will have its own version of 01-01-00 merchandise.

Macy's spokeswoman Merle Goldstone said Macy's will have a millennium shop with the 01-01-00 logo on boxer shorts, jackets and digital watches, as well as other novelties by the end of October.

Items are priced from $6 to $250.

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Photo: (1--2) Show your millennium consciousness with a T-shirt or umbrella featuring the 01-10-00 logo from Bloomingdale's new Millennium shop, opening today. Most items shown are $20 each.