Wow, is it big. The developer says its about 1 million square feet of retail and it feels that way. It’s spread out into different quadrants – kind of like The Market Place in Tustin and Irvine. You definitely need a car to reach different areas. Stores and restaurants are starting to open. There are all the usual big box stores: Lowe’s, Petsmart, Costco, Target plus a new AMC movie complex. The Target, which opens Saturday (7/29), has those cool red balls in front.
Thankfully for coffee they turned to Peet’s instead of Starbucks. And Panera Bread is there with its free WiFi and healthy menu.
The store I’m most excited about: Whole Foods. The new location is 60,000 square feet with a wine and tapas bar, expanded take out food section and eating areas, plus a wider selection of groceries. Mark your calendars for opening day, Aug. 29.
While many of the big box stores can be found all over Orange County, the center is still nice. Hard to find your way into, but nice. If you’re driving north on Jamboree Road it’s virtually impossible to reach without pulling a U-turn if you’ve already passed Barranca Parkway. Driving south on Jamboree from the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway, you exit on Warner Avenue and take this strange, looping route.
A few of the restaurants are worth noting. Still under construction are The Winery – a new venture for J.C. Clow, who used to manage the Morton’s near South Coast Plaza – and JT Schmid’s.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-b-que opened at the end of May. I talked to owner Craig Hoffman this week to see how things are going. He’s a cool guy with an interesting story. See the above entry for more details.
The District at Tustin Legacy
Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway
