Orange County has many unique options for shopping. You’ll find everything from traditional shopping malls with big box department stores to open air shopping centers that offer goods for every style. Some areas are seeing an uptick in multi-use developments, with shopping on the ground floor and residential living above. Other locations are building residential space adjacent to shopping and dining for walkable convenience. One thing is certain, there’s no shortage of great shopping in OC.
Bella Terra
7777 Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach
An open air shopping center with restaurants, theaters, a variety of stores, and salons. Bella Terra hosts regular events as part of their Kids Club program with regularly scheduled family events, crafts, and story times. They host many other events including live music and celebrations in the Pavillion Plaza. Big name stores in the Bella Terra shopping center include Barnes & Noble, REI, Kohls, Old Navy, Burlington Coat Factory, and Cost Plus World Market. Choose from a variety of restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, Island’s, King’s Fish House, Solita, and the Public House.
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Brea Mall
1065 Brea Mall, Brea, CA 92821
Brea Mall is the go-to retail center in North Orange County with over 180 stores from top brands including Apple, Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Brighton, Coach, H&M, Lululemon, Michael Kors, and more. In addition to shopping therapy, you can indulge at the full service day spa, or enjoy a meal at one of the many casual and full service restaurants. Check the family section of the Brea Mall website to find family events and specials and to sign up for perks. Bonuses? The mall has EV charging stations to power up your car, and a children’s play area to to power down your energetic toddler.
Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
Fashion Island is a premier shopping destination in Orange County. Just steps from the beach, Fashion Island features over 200 shops and restaurants and offers a multitude of services like personal shopping and home delivery. The center opened in 1967 as Newport Center, and has undergone many changes. Fashion Island features unique spots like the World’s Largest Wind Chimes sculpture located near Macy’s, and Butterfly Court where the shopping center hosts special events like fashion shows, live entertainment, and the annual tree lighting ceremony. In 2010, Fashion Island underwent a $100 million renovation to get the updated, high end image you see today. Shoppers will find something for everyone from Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus to Barnes & Noble and Wahoo’s Tacos.
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Irvine Spectrum
670 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine
Irvine Spectrum is a popular shopping and entertainment destination. You’ll see it from the 405 Freeway where the giant Ferris Wheel covered with 52,000 LED lights peeks out over the stores. There’s also a carousel, a splash pad for kids, a kiddie train, an IMAX theater, an interactive motion ride, and so much more. Like other shopping centers, the Spectrum continues to change and grow, providing more choices, more services, and more fun for visitors. The Irvine Improv is a premier comedy club in OC with shows nightly, and shoppers can find goods from a variety of stores including H&M, The Children’s Place, Levi’s, and Motherhood Maternity. Hungry? Find everything from ice cream at Haagen-Dazs to sushi at Kabuki. For food and entertainment in the same spot, check out Dave and Buster’s.
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MainPlace Mall
2800 North Main Street, Santa Ana
Located in Santa Ana, the MainPlace Mall is a local destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. MainPlace is a traditional indoor shopping mall with a movie theater and stores like Macy’s, Journeys, Claire’s, and the Disney Store. Round One Amusement offers bowling, karaoke, billiards, darts, ping pong, and an arcade. Choose something from their menu like burgers or chicken wings, or venture out to one of the other many dining establishments at MainPlace. Choose from quick bites at the food court or try one of the restaurants like Blaze Pizza, Califonia Pizza Kitchen, or Genki Sushi. Additional shopping and dining options are located directly across from MainPlace Mall at the Orange Town & Country Shopping Center where you’ll find Barnes & Noble, Party City, Mother’s Market & Kitchen and more.
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Pacific City
21010 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach
Pacific City is an oceanfront destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment located just steps from the Huntington Beach Pier. The open-air center features leading retail shops and specialty boutiques including H&M, KIN, Linksoul Lab, MAC, Urban Outfitters, and Hurley. There is an Equinox Fitness located at the north end of the center. There are many delicious options here for snacks, dinner, and drinks and many restaurants offer panoramic views of the ocean including Ola Mexican Kitchen, The Bungalow, and Bear Flag Fish Co. Pacific City opened in 2015 and continues to grow and adapt to the community. The center hosts several events and offers live entertainment, movies on the deck, and much more for members of the community to come out and enjoy the laid back vibe and cool ocean breezes of Surf City USA. Pacific City is just a five minute walk from Main Street – Huntington Beach’s popular downtown area, which offers additional shopping, dining, and entertainment. Pacific City is also within walking distance of three world-class oceanfront hotels including the Hyatt Huntington Beach and Pasea.
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
The acclaimed destination for shopping and entertainment, South Coast Plaza offers a whopping 250-plus businesses inside the sprawling shopping center. High end brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, Hermes, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton all make a residence here, but South Coast Plaza also has its fair share of affordable family stores. Vans, the Disney Store, Gap, Foot Locker and other standard mall shops can all be found here as well. South Coast Plaza is home to inspired dining options from top chefs (including Bravo’s Top Chef contender Amar Santana). While Morton’s, AnQi By House of An, and The Capital Grille are South Coast Favorites, new additions like The Hall Global Eatery and Costa Peruvian Cuisine are worth the buzz.
Other Shopping Centers In Orange County
5th & PCH – 5th Street & Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
Anaheim Plaza – N. Euclid and the 5 Freeway
Buena Park Downtown – 8308 On The Mall, Buena Park, CA 90620
Enderle Center (Tustin) – 17350 17th Street, Tustin, CA 92780
Foothill Towne Center (Foothill Ranch) – 26772 Portola Parkway, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
Laguna Hills Mall/Five Lagunas – 24155 Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Main Place (Santa Ana) – 2800 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Metro Center Fullerton – Harbor & Orangethorpe, Fullerton, CA
Orange Town & Country Shopping Center – 791 S. Main Street, Orange, CA 92868
Plaza De LaPaz (Laguna Niguel) – 27241 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
The Block at Orange/The Outlets at Orange – 20 City Blvd W, Orange, CA 92868
The Lab-Anti-Mall & The Camp (Costa Mesa) – 2930 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
The Market Place (Tustin) – 2961 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782
The District (Tustin) – 2437 Park Avenue, Tustin, CA 92782
The Shops at Mission Viejo – 555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Triangle-Square Mall (Costa Mesa) – 1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa 92627
The Village at Orange – 1500 East Village Way, Orange, CA 92865
Westminster Mall – 1025 Westminster Mall,Westminster, CA 92683
Kaleidoscope (Mission Viejo) – 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
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Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, an expert at exploring all that Orange County has to offer, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights.