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Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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If it wasn't so darned far, I would love to come here more often. The store selection is varied enough to attract all types of shoppers, and the novelty of the ferris wheel, giant fountain, and carousel never wears off.. And I think it's because when it's night time, everything is lit up and glows so dreamlike that you almost forget where you are.
The location couldn't be more perfect for high visability, dead center where the 5 and 405 merge, you can't miss it.
Parking is a PITA but it's not that bad compared to other centers of similar size.
I have noticed that with the current economic situation however, the Spectrum has not really been affected that severely. So that's a good sign, right? That it can definitely endure times like this, which is said to be one of the worst of all time.
This is a great place to go for movies and food and shopping. The huge Edwards theatre has many screens and an IMAX theater. Spectrum is a fun place for people watching. Tonight I saw people dressing snazzy for dates, others dressed casually, kids and adults in costume for Halloween and a guy wearing a wife beater and track pants plus a bandanna. You can't beat that for variety.
In terms of stores, they have the typical Macy's & Nordstrom department stores, Target, a 2-story Barnes and Noble and more. Smaller boutiques like Anthropologie are also there. I think Spectrum is good for deserts with Pinkberry, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Kelly's Coffee and Fudge and more.
For food there's a lot of restaurants also. I like the Veggie Grill and yes, Red Robin. Did you know Red Robin was ranked Zagat's Best burger in the full service chain category? And I do like those fries with a side of ranch.
This is a great outdoor mall for walking. There are plenty of kiosks around with merchandise. The Oasis food court offers free wifi. At least one of the parking structures has a digital display that gives the numbers of parking spaces left on each floor. Irvine Spectrum has come a long way since it first began, when it was primarily known for the movie theater and restaurants.
I've given in....
Hi My name is Ashley and I'm addicted to the Spectrum.
Target
F21
Kaitlyn
Cathy Jean
Widsor
Pinkberry
Cheescake Factory
This is a one stop shop for me and i will never quit it!
Not to mention I just received a gift card that you can use for ANY store in the Spectrum, it's officially game over. Damn you!
this place is part of my life. which is not a good thing.
its the place i love to hate. i always…
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It's a pretty good mall. It's huge and has plenty to of parking. I like that the structures tell you how many spots are available and on what floor. It's a great place to stop by on my way up to LA or back home to SD. I like that they have an Urban Outfitters because most are outside of malls about a few blocks away. They have a nice large Edwards Cinema and a Ferris Wheel that's pretty cool.
You want to know a little more about why I avoid you? I'm not going to knock off any stars because I know it's not your fault Spectrum but why must some idiot drivers insist on taking the first spot available?? Hello, there's a line of cars behind you. Is it really that hard to keep driving into the structure and park on perhaps the 2nd floor? The walk really isn't that far and there are stairs and elevators to make it easier on you. Also, there's usually ample parking on other floors unless it's a weekend or a Friday. Just saying.
Also, is that parking counter in the structures accurate? I wonder about that sometimes.
Irvine Spectrum and I have a love/hate relationship but still waters run deep. I only avoid this… Read more »
My this place has really blossomed over the years. Back in High School I remember driving up Moulton on what was basically a desolate stretch of undeveloped road to watch movies at the Edwards 21. It used to be just the theaters and the food court.
I believe a real success of the Spectrum has been its traffic design, since it really mitigates congestion. Then again it helps to have two freeways conveniently located on both sides. Sure parking isn't always the best but what do you expect when your community revolves around private transportation? Although the parking structure is a bit of an eyesore, it serves a necessary function. Parking can be a real atrocity on busy weekends. However getting quickly in and out of the Spectrum lot is usually smooth as you're not having to fight with motorists looking for parking.
Overall, the diversity of shopping and dining allows for just about anyone to go there. You don't even have to buy anything, its just a nice place to walk around. There really is something for everyone here. Want a somewhat 'classy' dining, there's Javier's, PF Chang's or Cheesecake Factory. Want a quick meal that's affordable but not 'cheap,' and you don't want the foodcourt atmosphere, there's Chipotle or Wahoo's.
The location could not have been better, as it gives the South OC residents an accessible entertainment center. Not only that, the Spectrum caters to the numerous commercial districts surrounding it. An entertainment center without daytime business just isn't sustainable.
This mall is a great departure from the old indoor concepts of the 80's. Then again, an outdoor mall like this could only thrive with OC's great weather year round and suburban sprawl layout.
I'm a true fan of outdoor malls, just so I can soak up some sun while I'm buying things here and there...mostly here, but sometimes there.
This mall is cute, to say the least. Every season they set something up for people to come check out and look at. This summer they have the playhouses, which I believe they are selling, money going to the sponsors who built them. But during the winter, they set up an ice skating rink, which I think is always cute. It's in the plaza next to the ferris wheel.
Oh yeah, this place has a ferris wheel and a merry-go-round. A kid friendly mall, as they have rides, trains, little fountain things they can run through. So parents rejoice, as you can shop while you're kids entertain themselves (although keep an eye out, and be a good parent nevertheless =]).
The shopping here is pretty decent. It's around Fashion Island status, except more on the affordable side, but nowhere near trashy chic. Furthermore, you have a lot more options besides just clothes shopping. You can go here to hang out and grab a coffee, for dinner, for errands at Target, and so forth. And with a movie theatre surrounded with nice dinner places, you can find this place to be a decent date place.
Pretty on the outside, substantial on the inside. Too bad it's not food =( But a solid 4 stars it is.
This is one beautiful mall. And the shops are open late. There are also plenty to eat and you can get to it from many freeways.
The rides alone keep my kids occupied while I get a chance to sneak away and visit a few stores! Shopping is one of my guilty pleasures.
My kids LOVE this mall! I met my husband at UCI in 1994 and whenever we visit his parents, we always make a stop at Irvine Spectrum! We'll try to have family lunches in the area so that we can all ride the ferris wheel. And while my husband and kids (ages 7, 6 and 4) ride the train, I head over to Nordstroms to check out what's on sale.
Last winter they had an ice-skating rink, how much fun is this mall, I wish they had one of these in San Diego!
I've always passed the Irvine Spectrum ... but I never actually went.
However, about a year ago, I got the chance to go, eat at their Red Robin, and go shop around. It's a pretty fun place!
There are SO many stores to choose from: bookstores, clothing stores, etc. ... and when you get bored - there's always the ferris wheel! =) Now who couldn't be pleased with a ferris wheel in the middle of a mall (unless you live in Bloomington, Minnesota, where you lucky-butts have the Mall of America with a whole theme park inside of it)?
Anyways, I really enjoyed myself here. 5 stars! * * * * *
I can't believe I'm reviewing a mall! But recently the bf and I went here to do a little bit of shopping. YES - we drove 30 miles from Long Beach, passed by three other malls to go here.
Why? A plethora of reasons. As much as I truly hate Irvine, this place has it WIRED. Let's start with Target. Target at a mall?! Why, yes. It's large and in charge. Brilliant in the way that anything you want from a shopping experience, check off your list. "Oh, we need laundry detergent while we're out." Check.
H&M. LOVE H&M. Although there is one at the South Crap Plaza, I go to Irvine. Something about the outdoor-ness of it all really helps with the shopping claustrophobia I have at SCP. There isn't a hot mess of rich, white plastic ladies here. It's just normal people that go here.
Forever 21. Yes, there is a Forever 21 at both the Westminster Mall, Cerritos Mall and downtown HB. But who cares, this location just expanded and I can go to Target and H&M at the same time! I win!
And while I'm at it, let me hit up the Veggie Grill / Wahoo's / Red Robin / Corner Bakery/ California Pizza Kitchen!
I also used to work at this mall. TIPS FOR PARKING-----
Park at the top of the structures. It takes an extra minute to get to the third or fourth floor, but then you can park right next to the elevators and save yourself the hassle of fighting for a spot and then walking forever to get to the entrance of the mall. Seriously! DO IT!
Hesistant yet grateful to give thanks to Irvine, but here we go...
THANKS, IRVINE!
The location is fantastic. The parking is OK. I think it is a great place to eat dinner and relax. However, it is a bit hard to shop and actually buy something here. Not that many stores that are good for men. Also, it takes a long walk to go from one end to another. Against my inherently lazy nature.
Easy location, good place. The only thing is the place is gigantic. It takes quite a bit of time to walk from one end to the other. I also like the fact that this place can have both a Nordstorms AND a target at the same place and it suprisingly works.
I will admit this is a nice outdoor mall to walk around and they have a ferris wheel but I am giving it two stars or "Meh! Ive experienced better" Let me explain.
There are 3 anchor dept stores: Nordstrom, Macy's and Target
The Nordstrom is small, very small, Ive actually been to better Nordstroms elsewhere. The selection is lacking and their Cafe has a somewhat odd menu that I am not used to from most Nordstroms. This store is much smaller than Brea, South Coast, Mission Viejo Nordstroms, heck its even smaller than the one in Santa Ana Mall. THIS IS THE SMALLEST NORDSTROM IVE EVER BEEN IN! I guess it just serves the purpose of having a Nordstrom in the heart of South Orange County- the capital of conspicuous consumption and consumerism.
Every neighborhood has a Target so you can skip that.
The Macys is not bad, but what middle class mall doesn't have a macy's?
The selection of Men and Women's clothing stores is ridiculous, too many "Tween" stores and not enough clothing stores for adults to buy work clothes.
There is H&M, Forever 21, Anthropologie and The Closet, but wait a minute: ALL THOSE STORES ARE AT FASHION ISLAND IN NEWPORT BEACH!!
There is NO , I repeat NO Banana Republic, J. Crew, Club Monaco, BCBG or middle-upper middle stores people in their 20's , 30's and 40's can shop at for work clothes.
There are a few staple big chain restaurants such as Yard House, CPK, Cheesecake factory.
There are a lot of odd boutique stores selling stuff you wouldn't normally buy like the Active BIke store and the Cigar Shop.
I knocked this place down 3 stars to 2 stars for the following reasons.
Down 1 star- All the "Department stores" you can go to at Brea Mall, Mission Viejo or South Coast Plaza
Down 1 star: Sure its outdoors, fun to walk around and there is a Ferris wheel but its more of a place for Ned Flanders from "The Simpsons" To take his family after Church service on Sunday to walk around, get an ice cream and take pictures. Its great for families, but I wouldn't really recommend it for couples or singles (Especially if you aren't blonde hair, blue eyed and don't shop at ...GASP..Abercrombie and Fitch! )
Down 1 star: The Parking is an absolute fucking nightmare. I am serious, Its like a maze, you get lost, and the stupid Parking Patrol runs around on their Battery operated Tricycles giving everyone tickets.
-----
The Bottom Line: If you live in the Irvine Metro area, then this place was designed for you. All those association fees and mello roo's you've been paying were designed to give you a place for you and your mercedes driving soccer mom to take the kids to on the weekends to leave your McMansion.
If you live in the area then by all means come here and hang out, but personally I don't think its worth venturing out to from LA county, or even North OC.
This mall isn't bad, but cmon, I would much rather go to Fashion Island in OC for an outdoorsy mall with better shops, parking and atmosphere,
In Los Angeles county I Would much rather go to The Grove.
If there was no Spectrum, there would be no Irvine life.
The Spectrum has a fantastic and dangerous collection of stores and restaurants. From the overpriced movie theater, to the overpriced food at Javiers - it provides a good social playground for kids and adults.
Whether you are there to shop, people watch or eat, the Spectrum offers a good variety to fit almost any taste.
Few of my hot spots:
-Anthropologie
-Target
-Apple Store
-Golden Spoon
-Macy's (pretty decent variety for a smaller store, and sales almost everyday)
-Wahoo's
-Urban Outfitters
-Maki Maki (awesome Happy Hour)
-Dave and Busters (decent Happy hour til 7:00pm during the week, and from 10pm-close. Just don't go on Thursdays = asian night)
-Yardhouse (if you can make it to the Happy hour early get the Nachos)
They did open a Nordstroms (my number one top store ever) but unfortunately it's pretty small and probably one of my least favorite Nordies.
love going to Spectrum! so much to do --- its always a fun place when i take someone special ;D
would suggest to anyone i know to come here....so if you havent been yet, go!
I love coming down her for so many reasons.
First off you get to shop OUTSIDE which is so nice in Southern California. However, it doesn't feel like you are really outside at time due to the way they built the shops and the close proximity of the main pathway which runs from one side to another.
Another cool thing about this location are the fountains. There are a few here and all of them seems different. It's really nice to grab a cold drink and go sit by the water as it splashes you lightly in the breeze.
The shopping here is good overall. They have some of my favorite stores like Apple and Starbucks, and also have some great places to eat. Everything from sushi to chinese to steak... it really can be an entertaining shopping stop.
They have tons of parking and even a couple parking garages that are easy to navigate. Also, it's centrally located right at the 405, 5, and 133. This means that it is easy to get to from all 4 corners of the OC and even beyond.
The place looks pretty cool at night as well with all the lights and people walking around. Be warned though that trying to eat here at night at a restaurant can be a pain. Especially if you want to go to one of the sports bars... good luck lol. Just too many people at night. If you want to shop, do it in the afternoon to miss the crowds.
Movie theater, ferris wheel, fitness club, all types of food and shopping, oh and even a comedy club makes this a fantastic place to visit or frequent. Being that it is Irvine, you may notice many Asian which I am thankful for. :D
Bust out into song, "Beautiful ladyyyyyyy...." :P
i LOVE this mall. i'm usually too broke to be shopping, but i don't care. i love this mall! it's like your one stop shop place. i could totally spend an entire day here because it seriously has EVERYTHING all in one place and i love love love that. i'm so used to going to different malls for different stores...this mall might have this one store, but it won't have that store..yadadadimean?
here at spectrum, it's got all the stores to fulfill my shopping needs. sure, i'm too broke to buy anything, but it's ok, window shopping is great too! there's forever 21 (a staple), urban outfitters, H&M, bebe, hollister, macy's nordstroms, TARGET, wet seal, tilly's...etc etc.
then there's all the food places...great selection of restaurants and places to snack. cheesecake factory, pinkberry, jamba juice, chipotle, yard house..mMm
a perfect day here:
- catch a matinee movie at the theater
- shop for a few hours
- grab a light dinner
- when the mall closes at 9, head to barnes and nobles and read magazines for an hour ..or go straight to dave and busters
- 10pm, go to dave and busters for some happy hour 1/2 off drinks (happy hour = sun-thurs 9-11pm)
- 11pm, go to yard house for happy hour 1/2 off appetizers and cheap drinks. (happy hour = sun-wed 10pm-midnight)
-12:30am, go home drunk, full, happy.
Came here today for the first time, this is an open mall with a lot of common stores that aren't too upscale. The crowd consist of a lot of little high school kids walking around. Family friendly as well.
I went during the day, but at night time this place is a pretty good date spot with the lights all lit up. It's pretty big with a movie theater as well. During winter, this place also has a small but nice ice skating rink where you can take dates on which is pretty nice. It also has a carousel.
This place has a lot of good stores to shop at and plenty of restaurants as well. I would def come back. They also have some street performers occasionally with some nice music.
I had a real bad panic attack here.
Too many people. LAME PEOPLE. STUPID PEOPLE. ARMIES OF GENERIC LOOKING PEOPLE WHO DONT MOVE OUTTA THE FUCKING WAY WHEN A GIRL IS HAVING A PANIC ATTACK!!!
But other than that, the H&M is cool and you can find good sales at Urban Outfitters.
The duck goes: quack quack.
The cow goes: moooo!
The dog goes: bark bark!
The Kione goes: Fuck this place!
I too am amazed at how much the Spectrum has changed since my last visit 10 years ago. Back then, it had restaurants and coffee places for people who worked in the nearby office parks, but it was hardly the shopping nexus it is now. I mean, were South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island not enough, requiring a Nordstrom to be built at the junction of 405 and 5? Really? The Irvine area must have sprouted like a weed since I was last there.
Anyway, Irvine Spectrum 2.0 is a nice alternative to those other two malls if you don't want to visit a mall with its own zip code. It's a little claustrophobic in some of the passageways, which is odd for an outdoor mall, but overall, a nice place to kill an afternoon.
As I waited at Spectrum for the rest of the group to show up so we could carpool down to SD, I figured out the BEST spot for people watching.
Sit between Chipotle and Panda Express.
I saw so many funny things, the hour or so of wait time just breezed by!
1. These two totally metro guys. At first, I thought they were a couple, then I quickly dismissed the notion. Both were smoking FURIOUSLY as they walked past, lost in conversation.
2. A high school aged couple holding hands walked by, the guy literally looking like his skinny jeans were so tight up his ass that he couldn't walk properly. He was TWITCHING as he walked.
3. The totally metro guys, this time, walking past me in the other direction.
4. It being St. Paddy's Day, a family dressed entirely in different shades of NEON green. Their toddler daughter was so swathed in strips of neon green sloth, she looked like a mini Swamp Thing.
5. The totally metro guys, walking past again.. still smoking FURIOUSLY and DESPERATELY lost in conversation.
6. The valet guy... SLEEPING. No joke. IPod stuck in his ears, arms on the table, head in the crook of his arm, SNORING.
Ahhh... I love people watching! And Spectrum is the perfect place to see a variety of people in all shapes, sizes, colors, and... habits!
WHY I LOVE SPECTRUM
1. It's clean
2. It's BIG, so I can walk around forever
3. They actually have…
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I find this place's parking ridiculous! They have these meters to determine parking spot count, but of course none are there! Cops patrol and give tickets out... I thought they cant do that on private property? Not sure...
we drove out from a whirlwind walk. It was so crowded I couldnt stand it...as we left, my hubs car smashed a beer bottle glass.... luckily it didnt do any damage to our car. Talk about ghetto!! If the people who shop here are suppose to be OC ritzy and the elite... why would you down beers in the parking lot? If you do that, can you at least throw it away!?
I hate this place.. only go there for the IMAX and thats it!
My first time at the Spectrum (about a year ago), I got harangued by a gorgeous Jewish lady hawking soap from one of the little kiosks on the main path. Needless to say, her Israeli charm wooed me and I spent $20 on soap. Oh, Yael. You're the best saleslady ever.
I've got to admit, I'm not a big shopper (a guy? not a shopper? what a surprise!) but I still enjoy spending time at the Spectrum. There are so many people to watch, and the atmosphere is much more organic than most malls in so cal. It's more like walking through a bazaar than a shopping center. A lot of the major brand stores you can imagine are here: Old Navy, Chipotle, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Target, Supercuts, Barnes and Noble, Coffee Bean, Dave and Buster's yadda yadda yadda. There are a few non-chain, fun restaurants, too, but I haven't taken the time to eat there, yet. They're more expensive and I am poor.
My favorite times at the Spectrum are saturday evenings, when free music fills the grand atrium. I take my netbook, work on my novel and RELAX. It's a surprisingly calm mall, and I'm extremely grateful for a place that I can escape to, from my lonesome apartment.
A gorgeous mall. The design and layout is incredible. Its so grand that it takes a while to walk through the whole thing. Another plus is that it is very clean.
They offer a bevy of stores that cater to all varieties of people. They have a great movie theater with IMAX. They have a great ferris wheel that I highly recommend you take a date up there with you.
However, this place does get packed. There are tons of kids and soccer moms.
Since it is a south county mall, there is obviously going to be people who think they're better than you. I just tell them to keep their teenage mistresses on a tight leash and to make sure their doctor doesn't botch their botox injections.
I really like this place, it's clean, nice and has just about everything in it that I could ever want.
I'm sold.
and broke now too....Thanks Spectrum
Spectrum is greater than South Coast Plaza.
HANDS DOWN.
This is definitely the hotspot for teens and tweens of the local OC area...
It has everything needed to survive the boring Irvine nights.. from a movie theater as big as a school to 5 million shops to a ferris wheel to a comedy improv club.
Come here for anything you need. Target is even here for groceries. The whole place is decorated in a generic "Indian-muslim-middle eastern" style...that isn't really that great, but it very aesthetically pleasing compared to the sterile qualities of SCP or Fashion Island.
Nice place to people watch, take photos with friends, or just hang out for the day.
Go to the grove if you want some drama.
I'm such a sellout. How can it be that my fave SoCal shopping center is owned by the epitome of the evil corporation, The Irvine Company? If I felt dirty for liking Westminster Mall, I really feel dirty now. But how can it be so bad if it feels so right?
The spectrum knows its demographic well, and I fall for it hook, line, and sinker, every single time. They go after 25-35 ladies. Guilty. All the things a 25-35 year old lady loves. Anthropologie, lululemon, Apple Store, and Sur la Table. All the stores in the center are very well organized and carry the newest items. Even the Target! Oh! The Target, the apple of eye. Best Target in OC.
And, guess what? A surprising lack of teenagers. Of course they're there, but not in hordes like at The Block or at Bella Terra. Lack of teenagers at a mall? It's an anomaly. Sure, lots and lots of kids. But kids in strollers I can deal with. Plus, I've got estrogen running through my veins - I can't resist a cute baby. Speaking of estrogen, you can't go 100 yards in this mall without passing something chocolate. Gourmet chocolate stores, cupcakes, crepes? My hormones are happy.
Automatic (-2) stars because its a mall.... Im not much of a mall go-er but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do....
Things I Love about this place : ITS OUTDOORS!
Things I like: The variety in stores, and the size of the place, although sometimes I complain that its to big.....Parking is ok earlier in the day...
Things I do not fancy: Parking later in the day, massive crowds sometimes, teeny boopers running around with $500 dollar purses and credit cards falling out of their ass.....
Eh- I would recommend it though if you're in need of some mall time.
If you live in South Orange County, the Spectrum will always have a special place in your heart. Only the kids that are "too cool" for everything think that the Spectrum is lame. But it's not lame. It's like The Block without the gangbangers. It's like South Coast Plaza without the overwhelming cologne smell. It's like Fashion Island without the pretention. It's like The Grove without the paparazzi. Basically, it's retail heaven on Earth.
The Forever 21? The cleanest, the most well stocked. The Anthropologie? Peaceful. The Target? Oozing with all the good stuff that the other Targets run out of. The Urban Outfitters? Bigger and less douchey than the one at The Lab. The Nordstrom? Quiet and boutique-y.
There's no downside. Yeah, it's kind of corporate, but you're only a short distance away from some great restaurants-- Fukada is just on the other side of the 405.
It's especially perfect on weekday afternoons-- the teens are still at school (the closest HS is at least five miles away), the little tikes are on their play dates, and everyone else is still at work. You have the whole place to yourself, and it's perfect.
Great place to visit. Conveniently located near the 405/5.
Pros - Lots of new shops, places to eat, shopping. They have Yard House, Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin, PF Changs..and the Improv. Some of the eateries are open pretty late for the area, and have a decent nightlife.
Nordstrom, Macys, Target.
Great location in south county. Relatively new parking structures with digital space meters.
Decent turnover of stores. Better stuff than the Laguna mall down south.
Cons - Don't come here looking for Ross. This is more upscale.
It's also outdoors. In the searing heat, pouring rain, or freezing cold I head I prefer indoor places unless I am coming just for 1 thing. I won't be browsing the shops during any adverse weather.
Their food court SUCKS.
There is no REAL fine dining yet. No ultra high end steakhouse. I'm waiting for the new winery place to open, but I still have my doubts.
The best parking areas were removed for pricey Valet.
The place is starting to attract a gangbanger element. I saw a fight almost break out in the movie "Gran Torino" the other night, and my date wanted to leave.
ohhhhhhhh, you. Spectrum. You guiltiest of all my guilty pleasures. Like making out with my best friend's husband or a hot dog wrapped in bacon you are soooo baaaad and yet so good. An homage to rampant consumerism, owned by an evil empire... yet your Ferris Wheel, your lovely outdoor walkways, and all the shopping delights you hold make me happy.
When I come to SoCal I always make sure I do a tour through the Spectrum Center to shop. Enormous, clean and tons of parking. It is the ANTITHESIS of all things NYC and I love it.
And, yes, afterward I go to the Yard House. It's so wrong and yet sooooo right...........
If some of you youngin's knew the spectrum in its state in '95, you wouldnt recognize it. Back in the days when all it was, was a movie theater, a food court, a barnes&noble book store, a music store and an arcade, nobody throught it would become the monstocity it is today.
Its a big-ass ourtdoor mall in Orange County. A haven for rich kids and mall rats and nobody else inbetween because there's no real hangout spots. There's D&B, but the novelty wares off fast if you're not in good company.
I dont shop there as often as i used to because theres so many of the SAME EXACT stores closer to my house. Anthropologie, H&M, etc..etc.. But even if the spectrum was the closest shopping center to where I live, I still dont think that id shop there. Like a previous reviewer said, the place is run amok with emo kids and trust fund terrors. Its not like they're gonna angst you to death (although...?) but they're so annoying...
"Oh life is so painful, my parents only gave me a mercedes C class! i hate you mom and dad! lets go!"
I dont know where their stock of teenage employees comes from but last shopping ttrip was pretty disappointing. Generally, most kids who work here dont really need to (or at least act like it) so they're less likely to come to your every beck and call.
Dude, seriously? Four and five stars all the way down? C'mon people. This is an outdoor mall, nothing special. All chain restaurants and chain stores, nothing unique. I guess if you grew up in Orange County or the Inland Empire and are used to doing all your business / culinary transactions in a strip mall, this might be a refreshing change of pace.
But seriously, of all the places in the world I could be, this is not one of them. Just to get in, buy one thing at one shop, and get out is going to cost you 45 minutes. This is more a factor of sheer sprawl and not lack of parking.
I have never seen one person here that was not some OC stereotype. Even I become a stereotype when I'm here.
Pro: If you live in Irvine, it's close, has nice stores and restaurants, and it's not as overrun with hoodlums.
Con: .. instead it's overrun with trendy emo teens in expensive clothes who are for the most part harmless but annoying. One time I was watching Kill bill 2, and the kid was texting for the first 10 minutes and I had to yell at him to stop. Then he got all emotional and started to glare at me and make a big deal out of fiddling with his phone.
This place is really over-rated. It is over-run with wierd teenagers, most of the stores are not very interesting if you are a young adult and they are over priced. The ferris wheel is lame, I went there last night and it took forever for them to load everyone on then it only spun 3 times before they let us off. On the plus side though, they have a Sees Candy store and a big cinema.
Used to live across the street from this place and I rarely go!! How strange, I think I go more often before and after I live in the Village. In fact I think I went there twice last week!! Human mind just work in pretty strange ways.
Couple of reasons why I love going there:
- Fun: Movie Theater
- Food: Cheesecake Factory, Funnel Cakes, Crepes, Chipotle & Pinkberry
- Shopping: Forever 21, Apple store, L'Occitane, Anthropologie, Lululemon, B&N and last but not least.. TARGET!!
Oh yeah, now I recall I did shop here often back then.. but only @ Target. I love the plaza b/c the setting is well design, pretty and nice for walk too. It's not comparable w/ South Coast Plaza, but it's a very nice out door mall. Where the shop, food and entertainment united in one.
I've been coming to this place even before it was the "Irvine Spectrum". This place has turned into an amazing outdoor mall. This is my second favorite place to shop, South Coast Plaza is my other one. This place is basically an outdoor South Coast Plaza. Come here to shop, eat, see a movie, go to a bar/club, etc etc. I love this place!!
P.S. - Just like South Coast Plaza, this place turns into a mosh pit over the holidays. Beware.
I only cross the county line to go to work...but for shopping, the Irvine Spectrum is my favorite place to shop simply because I can bring my dog. I didn't know about their mall policy at first and was bringing my doggie there, and sweating more profusely each time I went because I was carrying her all over the place and she was growing. Then the nice people at the Apple store enlightened me and said it was mall policy for the stores to allow dogs.
From then on, I was like 'hellz yeah!'. One less reason not to hate malls!
And they've got every place I need when I absolutely have to go to a mall...Nordstrom for my shoe fix, Urban Outfitters for my general run-up-the-credit-card fix, H & M for my it's-cheap-why-not fix, a 2-story Barnes & Noble for my rack-up-mags-for-tear-sheets fix, and an Apple store for my don't-even-think-about-it tease (ha, threw you off there!).
I'm simple. I don't need much in the way of shopping but to allow my pooch to accompany me in the agony of it all is allure enough for me to cross the line and duck behind the Orange Curtain for a quick....fix...
Irvine, CA
Category: Department Stores
Costa Mesa, CA
Category: Shopping Centers
Costa Mesa, CA
Category: Sporting Goods
Newport Beach, CA
Category: Shopping Centers
Anaheim, CA
Category: Skating Rinks
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