Orange County may not have invented shopping, but it sure has perfected it. In fact, shopping in The OC has been elevated to an art form. Two of Southern California’s most idyllic shopping destinations, South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island, are located in Orange County and both manage to lure Angelenos down the 405 Freeway and across the county line. And, while there are some shopping areas, such as Laguna Beach and Old Towne Orange, that really have a “downtown” shopping vibe, most Orange County shoppers are bona fide mall rats, which is a good thing considering all the one-stop indoor and outdoor shopping destinations available.
This chapter has been broken down into categories, ranging from malls and lifestyle centers to cities with actual shopping destinations. We’ve also provided a roundup of specialty shops, such as jewelry stores, gourmet markets, and places to prowl for discarded treasures. A list of weekly farmers’ markets, where local growers gather to offer the freshest fruits, vegetables, and seafood, is also included.
As the world continues to homogenize its selection of retailers you will find many of the usual suspects in Orange County. There are several Nordstrom, Macy’s, Sears, JCPenney, and Target stores all within OC’s boundaries. South Coast Plaza is one of two Orange County centers with a Saks Fifth Avenue (the Shops at Mission Viejo is other). Fashion Island has bragging rights to the county’s sole Neiman Marcus, but South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island, just miles apart, each house a Bloomingdale’s (Fashion Island also has a Bloomingdale’s Home Store). Sadly, few independent booksellers or hardware stores have survived the arrival of Barnes & Noble, Borders, Home Depot, or Lowe’s—all have several Orange County locations—but there are a some exceptions to that rule such as Coast Hardware in Laguna Beach, which is an old-fashioned emporium carrying all sorts of wares, and Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island. Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, Anthropologie, Gymboree, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and many other well-known specialty stores are also found in Orange County.
Typical hours for regional malls are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (most department stores remain open until 9:30 p.m.), Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Barnes & Noble, and Borders tend to have more extended hours. Most stores will accept major credit cards (be prepared to show picture I.D.), debit cards, and personal checks, excluding out-of-state checks.
Major supermarkets include Ralph’s, Vons, Vons Pavilions, Albertsons, and Stater Bros. Whole Foods stocks its shelves with mostly organic items, while Bristol Farms and Gelson’s are two upscale markets specializing in grab and go gourmet foods as well as neatly stocked shelves offering pâtés and farm fresh eggs coupled with in-store fromageries, coffee bars, wine cellars, and other Euro-style influences.