Eclectic Shock : Surprise, There’s Something Different About This Place Smack Dab in the Sameness of Surburbia
Retailers who hope to please most of the people in suburban malls most of the time too often risk boring their shoppers. Some savvy merchants in Irvine, however, seem to realize that suburbanites appreciate diversity.
The Irvine Marketplace, sandwiched between UC Irvine and raw, rolling hills leading to the ocean, is loaded with design, art, entertainment and unusual merchandise at incredible bargain prices. From the 17-cent cookie to the $15-per-item clothing store, the center is an oasis in a sea of sameness.
“I’m desperate for something that isn’t generic!” says resident Anita Rasmussen, who frequents the center.
Most of the mall’s first level is dedicated to stores not seen in any mall, and the smaller second level is devoted to offices.
A center courtyard with bistro-style tables is ideal for leisurely al fresco lunches purchased in the takeout or eat-in dining establishments. And, unlike many bedroom-community shopping areas, this one has a night life, thanks to the Improv and Edwards Cinemas. Metropolis, a trendy dance, supper, sushi and billiards club, is open until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. To keep up with a late-night crowd, a handful of the accessory and clothing stores stay open until 10 p.m. on weekdays--an unheard of shopping hour in most suburbs.
Best of all here are the prices. At The Collection, where the merchandise is first-rate and up-to-date, nothing is more than $15. That goes for the denim midriff with poet’s sleeves, the matching snap-front jacket and the vintage man-style jacket with lace trim.
Fleet Feet, an athletic apparel and accessory store, offers a frequent-buyer program. Shoppers can earn 10 points for every $10 they spend in the shop. At 250 points they’re eligible for a $50 gift certificate, and the maximum of 1,000 points entitles them a heart rate monitor. The store carries Danskin aerobic apparel, Hind cycling gear and athletic shoes for several sports.
The latest fashion offerings for men and women are found at Soho International, one of the few shops behind the Orange Curtain to carry the grunge staples: Flannel shirts with the sleeves ripped off cost $15 and knit caps in stripes and solids go for $10 and up. Funky vests made of men’s ties sell for $39, far less than some in other area boutiques. More elegant is a short, emerald-green velvet hooded cape for $89.
At Swept Away, a funky boutique featuring earthy knit basics, feminine dresses and art-to-wear items, simple Ts with unusual pebble textures in spice colors go for $22. Mule flats adorned with tiny blooms at the toes are $54.
Elements, a showcase of hard-to-find items, could as easily be on Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue as in Irvine. French ribbon, ideal for braiding hair or securing ponytails, comes in a spectrum of colors for $1.25 to $5 a yard. Festive flannel robes in whimsical prints by Charles Goodnight are $55.50. Equally charming are the baby clothes by Julie Dart of Newport Beach. The line, Palm Avenue Originals, features plaid-trimmed dresses and accessories ranging from $17 to $31.50. Dart also designs $72 to $225 leather bags, some with cowhide trim.
Unusual earring stands made from antique French molds, including one for $65 in the shape of a feather, mingle with several fragrance, aromatherapy and bath lines, like Mottura, Applied Chemistry and Antonia’s Flowers.
The Bead Shop, a popular stop for crafty types, offers tools and materials for making necklaces and earrings plus long tables where individuals or even a group of birthday partiers can assemble their own goodies. Beads range in price from a penny for a plastic bead to up to $20 for a sterling silver one. The store also stocks trinkets such as Tibetan snuff boxes, Koran boxes from Saudi Arabia and African trader beads.
While it lacks the convenience and meat-and-potatoes offerings of department stores, the Irvine Marketplace is daring enough to fill a much-needed niche, leaving the boring basics to the generic giants.
Eat, Party and Shop
The Irvine Marketplace, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine.
Particulars: Multipurpose destination for shoppers seeking unusual apparel, accessories and entertainment, including live theater, art exhibits, comedy and the fraternal support of alternative club culture. Al fresco courtyard is a gathering place for the lunch crowd as well as for afternoon cappuccino -sippers.
Distinctive characteristics: One of the most youth-driven and hassle-free centers around. Shops are rarely crowded, clerks are helpful and sincerely friendly. Metropolis club’s line starts forming about 8 p.m. on weekends, but shoppers are rarely troubled by gridlock. Says Diane Brenesot of Irvine: “It’s easy to get in and out--that’s it’s most attractive quality.”
