Mall Expansions Keep Building Momentum
For those of you who are sick of all the shopping center construction in Orange County, take a deep breath: It’s not over yet.
In South County, the Shops at Mission Viejo mall has embarked on the second phase of its renovation, building a food court and two restaurants--P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and California Cafe Bar & Grill--on the mall’s second level.
The 50,000-square-foot food court will include a Rubio’s Baja Grill, Panda Express and--needless to say--a McDonald’s. The food court will open Oct. 20. The restaurants will be ready by Christmas. On the lower level, beneath the food court construction, an Old Navy store will open this fall.
Foot traffic has increased dramatically since the mall completed its massive renovation last September, spokeswoman Judy Bullockus said, but she doesn’t have firm numbers.
“We didn’t have people-counters before, so I don’t have actual data,” she said. “But it’s safe to say that it’s tripled.”
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