| Malls • Burbank Empire Center |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 49 & 50 |
| Address: | 1727 N Victory Pl Burbank, CA 91502 |
Shopping
The Burbank Empire Center is for serious shoppers. There is no leisurely window-shopping, no frivolous detours to mall staples like Claire’s Accessories or Brookstone, no movie theater. The Empire Center is all about the essentials—life’s most basic necessities, from super-sized televisions at Best Buy to supersized packs of legal pads at Staples to super-sized bags of Cheetos at Target. The center is home only to big-box retailers and national chains, and it expertly straddles the line between high end (The Great Indoors) and discount (Marshalls) with an emphasis on stores geared toward folks in the mood for nesting (Lowe’s Home Improvement, Linens ‘n Things, and the aforementioned Great Indoors). The absence of diversions makes the Burbank Empire Center an ideal place for holiday shopping—the roomy parking lot is easily navigated and there is a store that suits everyone on your list, from athlete (Sportmart) to crafter (Michaels) to toy-addicted kid (Target). And this utilitarian shopping center features an equally utilitarian hotel, the Marriott Courtyard, should your Empire experience prove to be too exhausting to make the drive home. There is the new Ulta Beauty Store. It’s a larger Sephora that has high-end and lower-end products. You can get any makeup product, and they have a beauty salon.
Food
Fuel up for a grueling day of paint-matching and window-treatment ordering at Hometown Buffet or Outback Steakhouse. Or perhaps even the Krispy Kreme. The Great Indoors has a Starbucks inside the store when shopping for shower curtains wears you down. A freestanding Starbucks located in a cluster of restaurants bordering Empire Drive features extra room for the laptop-wagging set. Options for a mid-shopping respite run from the lighter fare of Jamba Juice, Subway, Sbarro, Wendy’s and Panda Express, to the more substantial Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden and Hometown Buffet (where the line begins forming about 10:30 a.m. and wraps around the building by noon, so plan accordingly).
Drawbacks
True to its name, the place is empire-sized. The Great Indoors and Lowe’s are at opposite ends of the mall, which can be inconvenient for those on intensive home-improvement missions. The long walk can be especially rough on hot summer days when the heat is shimmering off the parking lot. The Burbank Empire Center is also adjacent to a very busy, very big Costco, which means the intersection of Burbank Boulevard, Victory Place, and Victory Boulevard can tie itself into quite a knot. The good news is that there are long left-turn arrows to ease you through.
How to Get There
From the 5 in either direction, exit at Burbank Boulevard. Head west on Burbank Boulevard to Victory Place and turn right. The Empire Center is about a mile down on your left. Just look for the signs shaped like airplanes and stores the size of airplane hangars. The Great Indoors is at the southern end of the mall; Target and Lowe’s are at the northern end. In case you can’t smell your way to them, the donuts are to be found on the east side of the mall where the stand-alone stores are located. The bus lines that stop at the mall are BurbankBus Empire Route and Downtown Route stop at Empire Center as well as Metro Bus 94, 165, and Metro Rapid 794.
| Malls • Beverly Center |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 2 |
| Address: | 8500 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048 |
| Phone: | 310-854-0070 |
| Website: | www.beverlycenter.com |
Shopping
Like a well-dressed phoenix rising from the ashes, the Beverly Center opened in 1982 to replace Kiddyland, a modest amusement park featuring a ferris wheel and pony rides. With its highly recognizable exterior escalators and plethora of bored housewives carrying pint-sized pets, this shopping stronghold is but an evolved version of Kiddyland. Despite the younger, scrappier Grove opening in 2002 and soaking up much of its limelight, the Beverly Center forges on and continues to be one of LA’s premier shopping destinations. When it was announced that H&M was coming to town, shopping centers lobbied for the honors the way most cities lobby to host the Olympics. The Beverly Center is now home to one of the still-rare LA locations of the famous discount retailer. Who needs gold medals when you can buy babydoll dresses for $19.99?
Today’s Beverly Center is something of a study in contrasts. Stores such as D&G, Louis Vuitton, Diesel, Dior, A/X Armani Exchange, Ben Sherman, and a brightly lit Bloomingdale’s cater to 21st-century America’s love affair with labels; but there’s a distinct middle-of-the-road factor at the Beverly Center, embodied by the presence (persistence?) of GNC, Macy’s, Brookstone, Sunglass Hut, and the rest of the chain gang. The scales may have been tipped on the luxe side with the closing of that staple of malls from coast to coast, the Gap. Shops like Forever 21, Claire’s, and Steve Madden and eateries like the Grand Lux Café remind us all that the survival of the mall as a species depends on its ability to attract teenage girls and out-of-towners.
Food
There are a few higher-end chains like The Capital Grille and Obika Mozzarella Bar where those who like uniformity in dining can lay down some serious cash. The eighth floor Food Court features all of the usual suspects (Auntie Anne’s, Sbarro’s, Panda Express, Starbucks, and the like). Patio seating is plentiful, non-smoking, and features an almost panoramic eastern view of the city. Street-level options include mall mainstays like CPK, PF Chang’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Drawbacks
This is a fairly popular mall in a busy part of town; it’s bordered by another mall (the Beverly Connection) and a huge medical center (Cedars-Sinai). That’s why it’s a good idea to enter from the San Vicente (westernmost and least congested) side of the building. Although traffic flows well inside the mall, traffic in the parking lot does not. Stay cool—the good stuff’s waiting upstairs. Don’t be too intimidated by its size, because although it has eight levels, in classic LA style, five are parking. If it’s women’s clothes you’re after, be advised that the Beverly Center best serves those under the age of 30 and smaller than a size 10. Strangely there is no mall access to Bed, Bath and Beyond or the Macy’s Men’s Department—enter from the street or the valet parking area.
How to Get There—Driving
From the 10 in either direction, exit at La Cienega Boulevard. Head north on La Cienega for approximately 2.25 miles, and you’ll see the behemoth just ahead on your left. Cross 3rd Street and turn left into the mall at the next signal. From the 101 in either direction, exit Highland Boulevard and head south on Highland for approximately two miles until you hit Beverly Boulevard. Turn right onto Beverly, and head west about two miles to La Cienega Boulevard. Make a left onto La Cienega Boulevard, and an immediate right into the mall. The bus lines to Beverly Center are LADOT DASH Fairfax, Metro Bus 14, 16/316, 30/330, 105, 218, Metro Rapid 705, and West Hollywood CityLine.
| Malls • Westfield Century City |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 20 |
| Address: | 10250 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90067 |
| Phone: | 310-277-3898 |
| Website: | www.westfield.com/centurycity |
Shopping
What was once a neighborhood shopping center (albeit an outsize one—everything in this part of town is huge) is now a big, shiny temple of consumerism that people actually make a point of driving to from other, distant parts of town. Locals go too, for groceries from Gelson’s. Westfield is a big corporation, and they decided to make this outpost pretty high end, the Macy’s anchor nothwithstanding; other shops include Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Brooks Brothers, and Bloomingdale’s for those in search of the department store experience. For the big spender in training, H&M, Hollister, and True Religion fit the bill. Though most of the stores are big chains, the occasional local purveyor shows up, too. The non-clothing stores speak to a certain aesthetic, too: one salon is dedicated to shaving beards, another to shaping brows.
If your idea of relaxation doesn’t include hair removal, check out the 15-screen movie theatre, where the seats are designed to feel like easy chairs and some screening allow cocktails. The crowd mirrors the mall outside, with plenty of privileged teeny boppers and latter-day ladies who lunch, but it’s still quieter than among the crowds outside.
Food
As with the shops, the restaurants here are pretty high end, for a mall. Sure, there’s a Panda Express, a pizza joint, a Wetzel’s Pretzels: typical stuff scattered throughout the premises. Those are perfectly fine for a quick bite with no surprises and the end of an arduous day of shopping. For a more civilized meal, check out Breadbar, a bakery and bistro with real, actual gourmet cred. You might get lucky and go when they have a visiting chef in the kitchen. If size matters, Gulfstream and RockSugar take the “huge, calorie-laden platter” restaurant concept up a notch or two.
Drawbacks
There are two key points to remember about the horrific parking situation here: one, if driving into the mall via the official main entrance, you might get confused and think this is a valet-only situation. It’s not. Two, remember to pre-pay before you leave. The first three hours of self-parking are free; after that the garage gets pretty pricey. The movie theater, Pink Taco, Gulfstream, and RockSugar validate, but that’ll just bring the price down, it doesn’t cover it entirely. And don’t be afraid to walk a bit, the whole parking situation calms down farther away from the mall entrances.
How to Get There
From the 405 in either direction, exit Santa Monica Boulevard and head east past Sepulveda. Make a slight jog right onto Little Santa Monica Boulevard, and follow it approximately one-and-a-half miles to the mall. The entrance is on your right just past Century Park. From Olympic Boulevard in either direction, head north on Avenue of the Stars to Constellation. Turn left on Constellation and look for the parking entrance 150 yards down on your right.
| Malls • Del Amo Fashion Center |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 32 |
| Address: | 525 Carson Street Torrance, CA 90503 |
| Phone: | 310-542-8525 |
| Website: | www.simon.com/mall/del-amo-fashion-center |
Shopping
First, the Del Amo Fashion Center is massive. It is a huge sprawling building that has 3,000,000 sq ft of prime retail shopping space. It was first built in 1971 and for a while in the 1980s was the largest mall in America, before Mall of America was built. Over the years large sections of the mall have been added piece by piece which has led to the mall twisting and turning like a maze. It’s easy to get lost in this mall, and don’t forget where you park your car, otherwise you’ll have to trek all the way back to the other end. What it lacks in design it makes up in spades in sheer volume of stores. There are ten jewelry stores, over a dozen shoe stores and five optometric businesses. This doesn’t even count the chain stores, restaurants and stores that can only be found in Del Amo Mall. A word of warning, a section of the mall stretches over Carson Street and the only way to cross from the Sears side to the newer side of the mall is to go to the second floor of the middle Macy’s (there are two). Once there you’ll have to walk through that second floor to get to the other stores.
The most recent mall addition is an outdoor section. It has all the newest stores, Anthropologie, Forever 21, H&M along with the new restaurants like Ra Sushi, P.F. Changs, and the Lazy Dog Café. Wild Buffalo Wings is a local sports haunt, they get all the games and pay for the fights. If you’re looking to watch a sport they’ll have it on their massive TV screens. AMC Del Amo 18 boasts 18 screens and has all the newest movies in 3D. The self-serve booths are your best bet to miss the line, but watch out Fridays and Saturdays, most of the local high school population likes to hang out there.
Food
The food court is centrally located and features Mexican, Mediterranean, and Pacific Rim cuisines in addition to fast-food offerings like Chick-fil-A and Hot Dog on a Stick. The area is clean, brightly lit, and well attended. To break up a long expedition, consider going outside the mall. Black Angus (3405 W Carson St, 310-370-1523) and Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ (21420 Hawthorne Blvd, 310-370-7427), both adjacent to the mall, offer a chance to protein-load on pretty decent fare in relatively quiet surroundings.
Drawbacks
The upside to the Del Amo Mall (lots of stores) is also its downfall (lots of stores). Besides the fact that you need your own GPS tracker to find where you’re going, you need to hike on a mini expedition trek to get there. Del Amo is best approached with very comfortable shoes, an open mind, and an extra cup of coffee—from Starbucks. Shoppers seeking a smaller venue should consider the Galleria at South Bay as an alternate venue.
How to Get There
From the 405 S, exit Redondo Beach, head south on Prairie Avenue, and take Prairie approximately three miles. Turn right on Carson to enter the parking lot. From the 405 N, exit Artesia Boulevard and head west on Artesia to Prairie Avenue. Make a left at Prairie and continue on Prairie approximately three miles. Turn right on Carson to enter the parking lot. From the 110 in either direction, exit Carson and proceed west three miles on Carson to the Del Amo Fashion Center. All of the Torrance Buses stop at or near Del Amo mall as well as Metro Bus 344 and Beach Cities Transit 104.
| Malls • South Bay Galleria |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 30 |
| Address: | 1815 Hawthorne Blvd Redondo Beach, CA 90278 |
| Phone: | 310-371-7546 |
| Website: | www.southbaygalleria.com |
Shopping
All the malls bearing the name “Galleria” base their design (in theory at least) on the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele in Milan, a four-story shopping center with a glass arcade roof that floods the space with natural light. Well, it’s not Milan or even close, but you can see the glass structure effect at the South Bay Galleria. You are much better off heading a few miles north to Century City for much more enjoyable shopping, dining, and movie-going experience. Department stores include Macy’s and Nordstrom, and have poorer selections when compared to their other Southern California locations. The mall has three stories of standard mall fare including Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Bebe. In the past few years they’ve been trying to update not the mall, but it’s surroundings. The two story Target is one of the better Targets in the area and comes with lots of parking. Between the mall and the Ralph’s grocery store they bulldozed the run down theatre and put in a new shopping center. It has a Nordstrom Rack, an Ulta, a Sprouts Farmer’s Market (which has the best produce prices in town) as well as best liquor store ever Total Wine. Imagine a liquor store as big as a grocery store with rock bottom prices.
Food
The Galleria’s food court, however, is excellent compared to much of the competition. Take the express escalator from the main floor and grab a table overlooking the fountain in center court. There’s a nice range of food options from Great Khan’s Mongolian BBQ to Stone Oven Grill. The area is clean and well tended. If you want to eat your meal in a quieter, less ricochet-prone setting, try California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) or Red Robin downstairs. For all you Internet surfers, bring your laptops—the food court has free WiFi.
Drawbacks
As with practically everywhere, weekend parking is a big hassle and not worth it. It’s five dollars to valet. (Valets are near CPK on the east side and adjacent to Nordstrom on the west.) Hot tip: check with the guest services booth just inside the Galleria, as they often have free valet passes stashed behind the counter.
How to Get There
From the 405 S, exit Hawthorne Boulevard and head south one mile. The mall entrance will be on your right.
From the 405 N, exit Redondo Boulevard and head west on Artesia approximately three-quarters of a mile to Hawthorne and make a left. The mall will be on your right. The bus lines to the Galleria are Beach Cities Transit 102, Gardena 3, Lawndale Beat Express Route, Lawndale Beat Residential Route, Metro Bus 40, 130, 210, 211, 344, Metro Rapid 710, 740, Municipal Area Express 2, and finally Torrance 2, and 8.
| Malls • Glendale Galleria |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 51 |
| Address: | 100 West Broadway, Suite 700 Glendale, California 91210 |
| Phone: | 818-246-6737 |
| Website: | www.glendalegalleria.com |
Shopping
In the giant game of mall Tetris, Glendale Galleria is the “L”: not only because of its shape, but also because it’s simultaneously the most annoying and rewarding piece of the puzzle. It’s the mall that locals love to hate—for all of its faults, you simply can’t find a more comprehensive or utilitarian shopping experience. The mall is anchored by the usual stalwarts: Macy’s, JCPenney, Target, and Nordstrom. Coach, Swarovski, and the Apple store represent the high end at this otherwise middle-class temple of mass consumerism. You’ll find typical mall fare like Hot Topic and Foot Locker mixed in with boutique-type stores. The Galleria has an impressive selection of dedicated children’s stores including Janie & Jack, Naartjie, and the ubiquitous Gap Kids. Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe are the standard go-to for trendy Valley girls while their mothers can stock up on chi-chi cosmetics at Sephora, MAC, and Aveda. A motley crew of kiosks finishes off the retail landscape, peddling everything from “miracle” face creams to rhinestone-encrusted belt buckles.
Food
The Galleria’s main food court is on the second level, but you can often smell it from the third. The smoke from Massis International Grill is mainly responsible—the popular kabob shop serves up steak, lamb chops, and Cornish game hen along with a selection of Armenian and American beers. You’ll find everything you’d expect in a food court, including Panda Express, Cinnabon, La Salsa, and Hot Dog on a Stick. The third level has its own selection of fast-food restaurants.
Drawbacks
If malls aren’t your thing, the Galleria probably won’t change your mind: on a bad day, it can be a long, echoing chamber of crying babies and shrieking teenagers. The place is also short on elevators and escalators, meaning you may end up walking the length of a football field just to change floors. On the weekends, you run the risk of being swept up in the herds of stroller-pushers, young lovers, and junior high cliques that roam the mall’s narrow corridors. Of course—to some hard-core shoppers—this is all just part of the fun.
How to Get There
From the 5 in either direction, exit Colorado and take Colorado east about a mile and a half. The entrance to the mall parking lot is at a light on the left a hundred or so yards before you get to the intersection at Central. From the 134 in either direction, exit Central/Brand Boulevard and head south on Brand about a mile and a half. Turn right on Broadway, and head west an eighth of a mile. The entrance to the mall parking lot is at a light on the left about a hundred or so yards after Central. Look for the “Galleria” sign. For Nordstrom’s valet service, enter the smaller parking lot on the east side of Central, just south of Broadway. The Buses to Glendale Galleria are Glendale Beeline 1/2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, Metro Bus 92, 180, 181, 183, 210, 603, and Metro Rapid 780.
| Malls • The Grove at Farmers Market |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 2 |
| Address: | 189 The Grove Dr Los Angeles, CA 90036 |
| Phone: | 323-900-8080 |
| Website: | www.thegrovela.com |
Shopping
Like Vegas, to which it has aptly been compared, the Grove polarizes Angelenos. There are those who hate it with a passion, resent the way it has commercialized the ancient, historic Farmers Market, and believe it has congested the streets of the Fairfax District beyond repair. Then there are the Grove supporters, open-minded, adaptable and happy consumers who can’t help but smile when the dancing waters of the fountain break into yet another choreographed routine to the sound of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.” Yes, the Grove is sterile. Yes, the Grove is pre-fab. But like the character of Melanie in Gone With the Wind, it’s just so darned nice that we’re able to table our cynicism for the length of a shopping trip and sing the mall’s praises.
The Grove is fairly restrained, with just one anchor store—Nordstrom—and a small one at that. The emphasis here is on high-end specialty stores. NikeWomen carries fitness wear for gym goddesses. This family-friendly mall houses the area’s only Pottery Barn Kids and recently opened American Girl Place, home to a series of overpriced, over-accessorized dolls, a theater, and a cafe. The usual suspects—the Gap and its brethren—are well represented, but the Grove also houses the unexpected: LA’s first Barneys New York CO-OP, Amadeus Aveda Spa & Salon, and what might be the mall’s most beautifully designed retail store, Anthropologie. If none of these stores fit your style, there’s always Barnes & Noble. They’ve got something in everyone’s size. Keep your eye out for celebs, this is one mall in LA they’ll actually go to. Plus, they film Extra here, if you’re lucky you can be in the audience.
Food
We’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is no food court—only full-service restaurants, so lunch or dinner at the Grove is going to cost you. The Farm of Beverly Hills offers American comfort food, while the Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill is a carnivore’s paradise. The good news is you can head for the adjacent Farmers Market and enjoy its less expensive, eclectic, and far-superior food stalls. The Gumbo Pot features the best muffuletta this side of N’awlins, ¡Loteria! Grill offers some of the finest Mexican specialties west of Alvarado, and there’s no better place for breakfast than Kokomo. Also worth checking out are the handful of specialty kiosks, like Haägen-Dazs and Surf City Squeeze.
Drawbacks
The lack of cheap places to eat can be a drag, and traffic and parking are always a problem. Third Street gets congested, and the traffic light at Beverly Boulevard and The Grove Drive is so poorly timed that two cars are lucky to advance on a green light. Entering from Fairfax Avenue is your best bet.
How to Get There
From the 10 in either direction, exit at Fairfax and head north approximately three miles. Go through the intersection at Third and Fairfax and turn right at Farmers Market Way. Drive past the Farmers Market and enter The Grove’s parking structure. From the 101 in either direction, exit at Highland and head south toward Franklin Avenue. Turn right onto Franklin, and continue until you hit La Brea Avenue. Make a left turn and continue south on La Brea to Third Street. Turn right onto Third Street, and continue until you reach The Grove Drive. Make a right turn into the mall. Parking at The Grove is free for the first hour, and $3 per hour for the second and third hours. Valet parking is also available near each of the main entrances of The Grove’s parking structure and costs $8 for the first two hours and $2 for each block of 30 minutes thereafter. While parking can get pricy here, most shops validate with purchase. And here’s a trick, Nordstrom has validation machines. You don’t even have to buy anything and you’ll get a couple of hours of parking free. The bus lines that stop at The Grove are LADOT DASH Fairfax, Metro Bus 14, 16/316, 217 and 218.
| Malls • Hollywood & Highland |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 3 |
| Address: | 6801 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, CA 90028 |
| Phone: | 323-817-0200 |
| Website: | www.hollywoodandhighland.com |
Shopping
Hollywood & Highland opened in late 2001 to much fanfare. Like the Strip in Las Vegas and the “new” Times Square, it’s exceptionally clean, well lit, and family friendly. The center is most famous for its state-of-the-art Kodak Theater, which hosts the Academy Awards each year (right across from the Roosevelt Hotel, where the first Academy Awards was held in 1929). Yes, you heard correctly, the Oscars are held at a shopping mall! It’s also home to Lucky Strike, a very glossy bowling alley serving a whole lotta top shelf liquor. The complex provides a safe haven from panhandlers and impersonators of Spiderman and Charlie Chaplin on the Boulevard out front.
But let’s be honest here: Hollywood & Highland is a gajillion-dollar complex built for the amusement of tourists who come to shop, take pictures of each other, and take pictures of each other shopping. Hollywood & Highland makes little effort to cater to the local set, which is why you won’t find many locals here. At this point you have no doubt flipped to the front of this book to confirm that the title is “Not For Tourists.” Understandable. We include it here, because eventually we all must entertain our paler friends from the eastern parts of the country who show up to visit in February for what seems to be the express purpose of telling us that California has neither weather nor seasons. But we digress.
Yeah, they’ve got a Hot Topic and an interactive candy megastore, SWEET!, but this mall tries to provide a little something else: a calendar of events like the wine & jazz summer series keeps the culture alive. Besides, the convenience of the Metro, along with shuttle services to the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, and Griffith Observatory makes H&H an unavoidable convenience. Even Spiderman has to get home after a long day.
Food
Two high-profile brands raise the meaning of mall food to an unprecedented level: CPK for pizza and Johnny Rockets for burgers. Cho Oishi and Chado Tea Room are reliable choices for a lunch date. Green Earth Café serves up speciality coffees and iced blended drinks. The cream puffs at Beard Papa’s will have you asking, “Krispy Kreme who?” The clever (and discreet) visitor might venture up to the Loews Hollywood Hotel rooftop pool for a spectacular view and a cool drink. On the elevator ride up be sure to practice your straight face when you tell the guards that you “totally didn’t see the ‘For Hotel Guests Only’ sign.”
Drawbacks
The drawbacks of Hollywood & Highland are pretty much the same as those of the Strip or the “new” Times Square: it’s crowded, air-brushed, fabricated out of whole cloth, and devoid of organic materials—but that’s why you moved here, right? Then there’s the mind-boggling traffic in the area around the complex. The streets surrounding the place get distressingly backed up on weekends. Also, the entrance to the never-crowded Mann Chinese 6 Theaters (not to be confused with the Grauman’s legendary Chinese Theater next-door) is not well marked. Parking at Hollywood & Highland costs $2 for up to four hours with validation. For an additional five bucks, you can splurge on valet.
How to Get There
If you’re using mass transit, take LADOT DASH Hollywood, Metro Bus 156, 212/312, 217, 222, 656, Metro Rapid 780 or the Red Line to the Hollywood & Highland station. From the 101 S, exit at Highland Avenue/Hollywood Bowl and merge onto Cahuenga Boulevard. Cahuenga becomes North Highland Avenue. Stay on Highland until Hollywood Boulevard. From the 101 N, exit at Highland Avenue/Hollywood Bowl and keep right at the fork in the ramp. Merge onto Odin Street, and turn left onto Highland Avenue. From 405 in either direction, exit onto Santa Monica Boulevard. Head east on Santa Monica Boulevard through Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and into Hollywood. Turn left on Highland. The bus lines that stop at Hollywood and Highland are LADOT DASH Hollywood, Metro Bus 156, 212/312, 217, 222, 656, and Metro Rapid 780.
| Malls • Burbank Town Center |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 50 |
| Address: | 201 E Magnolia Blvd Burbank, CA 91501 |
| Phone: | 818-566-8556 |
| Website: | www.burbanktowncenter.com |
Shopping
At some point in the early stages of their assimilation into LA, all new arrivals pass through the portals of IKEA, thus making Burbank Town Center the Ellis Island of Los Angeles. To see this area only for its prefab Swedish furnishings would be to miss the point entirely. It also has a full-service, mid-range mall (with an oversized chessboard on the first level centercourt), a boatload of movie theaters, and access to a rapidly developing stretch of San Fernando Boulevard where shoppers can browse movie scripts and used books, migrate toward the peculiar glow emanating from Urban Outfitters, and shoot a game of pool in between all the shopping, eating, and movie-going.
The Burbank Town Center mall itself provides the moderately priced fare you’d expect from anchors such as Macy’s and Sears. Sport Chalet is fun and well stocked, while the newly minted Bed, Bath & Beyond delivers its reliable supply of home furnishings and gadgetry. Women’s clothing outlets (Georgiou, Lane Bryant, Express, and the like) outnumber men’s (Corsine, Express Men, etc.) by nearly five to one, while kid magnets like KB Toys proliferate like bunnies at Easter. The chocolate-minded can get their fix at See’s Candies. Outside the mall, Barnes & Noble is always good for pre- or post-movie browsing.
Food
On the Magnolia Boulevard side of the mall’s upper level, you’ll find all of the standard Food Court fare, while Johnny Rockets, PF Chang’s, and Pomodoro Cucina Italiana offer sit-down respites from mall madness. Just outside, along the strollable San Fernando Boulevard you’ll find Market City Caffe (164 E Palm Ave, at San Fernando), specializing in Italian antipasti and inspired martinis; Romano’s Macaroni Grill (102 E Magnolia Blvd), serving more Italian standards; Knight Restaurant (138 N San Fernando Blvd), offering savory Mediterranean treats; and Picanha Churrascaria (269 E Palm Ave), trotting out abundant quantities of Brazilian meat-on-a-stick fare. Hurried shoppers can also hit the drive-thru at In-N-Out Burger (761 N 1st St) just outside the mall’s 1st Street exit, or pause to admire the view over their meal at Hooters (600 N. 1st St).
Drawbacks
Three AMC Theaters with a total of 30 screens are clustered around Burbank Town Center, including one in the Burbank Town Center. Double-check your movie location before you go, or you’ll surely miss the previews in a desperate dash between theaters. Parking gets complicated on weekends. Your best bet is to park in the East Garage on 3rd between San Jose and Magnolia.
How to Get There
From I-5 in either direction, exit at Burbank Boulevard and head east on Burbank to N 3rd Street. Turn right on 3rd and go four blocks. The East Parking Garage is on your right, the block after IKEA. The Buses that stop at Burbank Town center are Metro Bus 94, 154, 164, 165, 292, and Metro Rapid 794. There is also a metrolink stop right near the mall, it’s the Downtown Burbank Station.
| Malls • Northridge Fashion Center |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 43 |
| Address: | 9301 Tampa Ave Northridge, CA 91324 |
| Phone: | 818-701-7051 |
| Website: | www.northridgefashioncenter.com |
Shopping
Although there’s ample spending opportunity at Northridge Fashion Center, nothing did as much financial damage to it as 1994’s earthquake. Since the quake, Northridge has been renovated twice to become the extravagant structure of retail magnificence you see today, with 200 stores, ten restaurants and a charming outdoor pedestrian area. Cost Plus offers more exotic home décor ideas than you can shake a rain stick at, while conventionalists can rely on department store standards like Sears, JC Penney, and Macy’s. With all that Northridge has to offer—including an Apple store and a ten-screen cinema—it’s a shame that it’s tucked just far enough out of the way that you’d never think to go there. However, if you’re already headed to Sears for a fridge or new tires, or if you’re fairly deep in the West San Fernando Valley, there’s no reason not to go check it out.
Food
The NFC food court is clean, well lit, and offers outdoor seating. You can choose between a variety of cuisines at restaurants like La Salsa, Sansei, and Surf City Squeeze. The line for Donatello’s Pizza is always long, but it moves surprisingly fast. Sit-down restaurants in the complex include Red Robin (hamburgers) and Yard House. For a break (weather permitting), sit outside on the patio at Wood Ranch BBQ for good food and better people watching.
Drawbacks
Whether you’re coming from the 101 or the 118, the drive along Tampa can be slow. The parking lot fills up quickly, too, so in summer you may be in for a long, 100+ degree walk to and from the mall. There is a beautiful Gelson’s supermarket nearby—far enough away from the main mall to require moving your car, but close enough to make you feel guilty for doing so.
How to Get There
From the 101 in either direction, exit at Tampa Boulevard and head north on Tampa approximately four miles to Plummer. The mall entrance is on the left. From the 118 in either direction, exit at Tampa Boulevard and head south on Tampa approximately four miles to Plummer. The mall entrance is on the right. The bus lines that stop at NFC are AVTA 787, LADOT DASH Northridge, Metro Bus 166/364, 167, 242.
| Malls • Paseo Colorado |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 34 |
| Address: | 280 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91101 |
| Phone: | 626-795-9100 |
| Website: | www.paseocoloradopasadena.com |
Shopping
If Carrie Bradshaw lived in LA (as if!) this is where she’d pick up her Manolo Blahniks. Paseo Colorado is a self-consciously upscale outdoor mall with the usual yadda yadda yadda stores. Fashionistas beat a path to DSW Shoe Warehouse for super-affordable designer shoes and drop by the venerable Loehmann’s for discount chi-chi threads. Looking a little like Walt Disney’s vision of a shopping mall (minus the life-size cartoon characters), Paseo Colorado boasts cutesy Mexican architecture and inviting open spaces that encourage strolling and exploration. Once inside the mall it’s easy to forget you’re just yards away from the busiest thoroughfare in Pasadena. Paseo Colorado proudly bills itself as an urban village; and it’s true, you literally could live here—if you won the lottery—as light and airy apartment towers form the perimeter of the mall. Pick up your furnishings from the Bombay Company and Brookstone. Grocery shop at the world’s most expensive supermarket—Gelson’s—and meet your neighbors for a $5 happy hour martini or work your way through the “world’s largest selection of draft beer” at the Yard House. If your jaw doesn’t drop at the idea of single digit cocktail prices, you’re not quite a local.
If you must move with the herd, know that Paseo Colorado is also home to Macy’s, Tommy Bahama, and Ann Taylor Loft as well as a variety of smaller, more distinctive stores such as J. Jill. At the end of a hard day’s consumerism, fold yourself into a seat in front of one of the Pacific Paseo Theater’s 14 screens.
Food
There isn’t one centrally located food court, thank God, but there are a variety of places to eat on the second floor. Sit-down restaurants include Island’s (huge burgers and frou-frou drinks with umbrellas in them) and PF Chang’s China Bistro. Tokyo Wako has its fans if you’re in the mood for sushi. During the day you can get takeout from Gelson’s excellent deli and hot food sections...but aside from the aforementioned cheap drinks, Paseo Colorado isn’t really a fine wining or dining location. Better to make the short hop to Old Town Pasadena for an eclectic array of really fine ethnic restaurants and street life.
Drawbacks
Avoid the permanently full underground garage at all costs. Your endless gas-guzzling loops will easily take on the qualities of a Twilight Zone episode. There’s plenty of street parking and it’s safe. There isn’t one contiguous second floor, so be sure and check the shopping directory before you head upstairs to your restaurant of choice.
How to Get There
From the 134 in either direction, exit at Marengo Avenue and head south on Marengo for a half-mile until you hit Colorado Boulevard. Parking is available in the structure on the right, just past Colorado.
From the 110 N, exit Fair Oaks Boulevard and head north on Fair Oaks to Colorado Boulevard. Turn right and head approximately a half-mile to Marengo Avenue. Turn right at Marengo Avenue to enter parking. There is also parking on the Green Street side of the Paseo. Don’t forget to validate your parking ticket! There is a metro rail station near by, Memorial Park Station. The buses that stop at or near Paseo Colorado are Amtrak Thruway 19, Foothill Transit 187, 690, LADOT Commuter Express 549, Metro Bus 180, 181, 256, 267, 686, 687, Metro Rapid 780, and Pasadena ARTS 10 and 40.
| Malls • Santa Monica Place |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 18 |
| Address: | 395 Santa Monica Pl Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
| Phone: | 310-260-8333 |
| Website: | www.santamonicaplace.com |
Shopping
Santa Monica Place is a perfectly average mall in a spectacular location. Adjacent to the 3rd Street Promenade, the mall, designed by Frank Gehry in 1980, is barely a quarter-mile from the beach. The location, combined with the usual line-up of unremarkable store offerings, make it hard to justify a visit. There are simply better places in the neighborhood to be. Better places, of course, unless it’s raining. The typical mall shops serve the local Santa Monica community well for last-minute gifts and clothing necessities. Unless you know that what you’re looking for is in one of the stores (Victoria’s Secret, Brookstone, etc.), your best bet is to stroll around and take the mall on its own terms. Recently, Macy’s was replaced by Bloomingdale’s, which is now the only department store left, since acquisitions closed down Robinsons-May. Santa Monica Place caters to the young, so take your teenaged niece to Wet Seal and Forever 21. If you’ve arrived at the beach unprepared, you can buy bathing suits at one of the sporting goods stores and then find some new shades at Sun Shade or Sunglass Hut. (Both have good sales, making it worth at least a drive-by.)
Nearly wiped out in a gloriously stupid 2004 decision to go condo, subject to regular shakeups in ownership and management, and closed for years pending renovations, Santa Monica Place is now reopened for business and rainy-day wandering.
Food
The food court is bustling and cacophonous. Hot Dog on a Stick and Charlie Burgers will put you in a good-time mood if you’re one of the lucky ones to snag a table, but more likely you’ll have to place those orders “to go.” Take them outside to eat on the Promenade, where the weather’s better, anyway.
Drawbacks
This particular area of Santa Monica gets particularly congested on the weekends. Pedestrians, some on roller blades or skateboards, will wear out your patience. Once inside the mall, the clientele consists mostly of teens and tourists. Parking is killer here; plan on paying at least $10 a day. You won’t find free parking anywhere.
How to Get There
From 10 W, head north on Lincoln Boulevard for a quarter-mile until you hit Colorado Avenue. Head west on Colorado Avenue and enter the parking lot from that side.
From PCH heading east, exit at Ocean Avenue. Turn left on Ocean and then right on Colorado Avenue. The bus lines that stop near Santa Monica Place are Mini Blue Downtown, Big Blue Bus 1, 2, 3, Rapid 3, 4, 5, 7, Rapid 7, 8, 9, Rapid 10, Metro Bus 4 (Night), Metro Bus 20 (Owl), Metro Bus 33 (Owl), Metro Express 534, Metro Rapid 704, 720, 733, and the intra-California Shuttle Bus.
| Malls • Westfield Fashion Square |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 55 |
| Address: | 14006 Riverside Dr Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 |
| Phone: | 818-783-0550 |
| Website: | www.westfield.com/fashionsquare |
Shopping
When fun-loving couples in their twenties evolve into responsible parents in their thirties, they move to the Valley. Indicative of this shift, while the Westfield Century City unveils a spanking new multiplex, the Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks is the recipient of a new kiddie playground and a passel of children’s clothing stores (Naartjie, Janie & Jack, babystyle). The mood at the Fashion Square is cool, but not hip. Upscale, but not ostentatious. Entertaining, but not necessarily fun. The Fashion Square caters to the locals who have moved to Sherman Oaks because it is clean, tasteful and safe. Similar qualities may be found in the home furnishings dealers at the Fashion Square, a group which includes Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, and Z Gallerie.
Clothing choices are an equally predictable mix of Abercrombie & Fitch, the Gap, Banana Republic, and Victoria’s Secret. The Square is not without its high-end perks—the Bloomingdale’s shines and Teavana shows that there’s a world of tea that goes way beyond Earl Grey. Expectant mothers are treated like queens with two apparel stores (babystyle, A Pea In the Pod) and a group of dedicated parking spots located close to the mall entrance reserved just for them. Those few Valley denizens without kids in tow can hold on to their freedom, shopping solo at the Apple store or pampering themselves at the Aspect Beauty health club and spa, which could only be further from the playground if it had been placed outside the mall on the other side of Riverside Drive.
Food
The choices in the Garden Café Food Court seem so limited that the most appealing lunch selection often seems to be an Ice Blended from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and a Cinnabon, extra icing please. Chain restaurants rule, from healthy(-ish) chains like California Crisp or La Salsa to those that are decidedly not healthy at all (Carl’s Jr., Sbarro). Downstairs options are more appealing. Barney’s is a Westside institution that now offers burgers, sandwiches, and salads, and the California Pizza Kitchen ASAP offers a faster-food version of its usual dine-in menu. For your convenience and snacking pleasure, gumball machines are strewn throughout the mall, filled with assorted candy and chocolate treats.
Drawbacks
The long line of cars waiting to turn into the mall can frequently serve as a deterrent for shoppers, sending them off to stand-alone alternatives in nearby Studio City or Encino. Also, the absence of a supermarket, a movie theater, and a decent sit-down restaurant prevents the Fashion Square from being a destination in its own right.
How to Get There
From the 101 in either direction, exit Woodman. Head north on Woodman one block, and go left onto Riverside. The parking lot can be accessed on both the Riverside and the Hazeltine sides of the mall, though Bloomingdale’s shoppers will want to enter on Hazeltine. The bus lines that stop at Fashion Square are LADOT DASH Van Nuys/Studio City, Metro Bus 155 and 158.
| Malls • Westfield Topanga |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 45 |
| Address: | 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Canoga Park, CA 91303 |
| Phone: | 818-594-8732 |
| Website: | www.westfield.com/topanga/ |
Shopping
For any Valley resident who has ever gone behind the Orange curtain to Costa Mesa and lamented, “Where is our South Coast Plaza?” we have an answer. It’s in Canoga Park and it’s called Westfield Topanga. Before the Northridge Quake did some serious damage, Topanga Plaza (as it was then known) was a run of the mill neighborhood mall. But out of the rubble has emerged a lesson in civic planning, a utopia, if you will, of how retail—and society—should be.
The brilliance of the Topanga mall is in how it manages to be the big tent that draws everyone in. The planner who thought to include a two-story Target along with a newly renovated Nordstrom deserves a Nobel Prize for malls. Low end, high end…it’s all covered. The major apparel chains are all represented, along with an occasional higher-end surprise (Benetton and Hanna Andersson). Male shoppers have established a beachhead in the upper level “Canyon” with the one-two punch of the Apple Store and the spa-like Art of Shaving.
Food
The mall’s egalitarian qualities extend to the food available to its guests. Westfield eschews the term “food court” for the far more posh “dining terrace.” Choices there are a little more focused on Asian meals, from the sushi at Seiki-Shi Sushi to the Korean BBQ and kimchee at Sorabol, but it’s all definitely fast food. If you’ve got the time (and the cash) spend a little more and have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Farm of Beverly Hills, an export from Beverly Hills and The Grove.
Drawbacks
In a bizarre attempt at world domination, the folks at Westfield now own both the former Topanga Plaza and a complex they call The Promenade just down the street (6100 Topanga Plaza). The good news is that together they are home to just about any retailer you might ever want to visit. The bad news is that there’s no easy way to get to the Promenade from the Westfield Topanga and vice versa — you can walk about five blocks, or drive and repark (an unbearable thought on a weekend evening). It’s rumored that Westfield will one day connect the two malls by bridge or walkway or—we hope you’re sitting down for this—build a new mall to unite the two squabbling ones that we have.
How To Get There
Take the 101 to Topanga Canyon Blvd and head north. Westfield Topanga will be the second mall on your right (the first being the Westfield Promenade), at Victory. The bus lines that stop at Westfield Topanga are AVTA 787, Metro Bus 150, 161, 164, 165, 245, 645, Metro Rapid 750, Santa Clarita Transit 791, 796, and VISTA Hwy 101/Conejo Connection Route.
| Malls • Westside Pavilion |
General Information
| NFT Map: | 23 |
| Address: | 10800 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 |
| Phone: | 310-470-8752 |
| Website: | www.westsidepavilion.com |
Shopping
The Westside Pavilion is a rarity. A no-attitude shopping location with all the usual suspects in terms of stores and resources, but with solid ties to the local community. This may not sound exciting, but this mall has hotspots for everyone, including a dance studio, post office, and hairstylist. There are more kid’s stores than you can hit in an afternoon: Gymboree, E.B. Games, Disney Store, and Three Cheeky Monkeys, to name a few. You can park the teens at Pop Star or Claire’s Accessories. Dad will probably park himself at Sisley’s Italian Kitchen wine bar while Mom is giving the plastic an airing at BCBG.
The mall is a long narrow space anchored by Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. Despite being home to over 160 stores it never feels crowded. The original space has an end-to-end skylight which gives a plein air feel even in winter. The newer annex is reached by way of a covered walkway across Westwood Boulevard. Periodically W.P. hosts wine and food samplings and honors local schools. There’s even a monthly Kid’s Club for the little brats that presents mimes, jugglers and puppet shows. On the upper level there’s the ubiquitous food court and a couple of cozy movie theaters that actually show films you don’t mind paying to see, including exclusive indie presentations not found anyplace else in the city. All in all a great, well-balanced mall.
Food
Not much to write home about. Basically, if you can fry it, put it on a stick, or smother it with cheese, you’ll find a counter devoted to it in the food court. If you want real food, try Sisley’s Italian Kitchen on the street level. Also surprisingly good is the Nordstrom Café, located inside the store on the top level. The best food, however, is just outside the mall: the Apple Pan (10801 W Pico Blvd) is a Los Angeles institution. The small shack serves affordable old-school hickory burgers in a lunch-counter setting. Be prepared to wait. Down the street on Pico is Louisa’s Trattoria and the venerable (but pricey) Junior’s Deli is just around the corner on Westwood Boulevard. It’s been there for 50 years and some of the waitresses look as if they haven’t missed a day. God bless ‘em.
Drawbacks
Do not attempt to navigate the parking lot without medication and a pocketful of breadcrumbs. Hands down the worst, most confusing parking lot in the greater Los Angeles area. Take the express ramp directly to the top level. Or better yet, splurge on the best valet bargain in town—$3, no waiting. Enter next to Nordstrom. If you start thinking about trying your luck outside the structure, don’t. There’s minimal street parking and, since it’s so close to both the 405 and 10 freeways, making your way around the surrounding streets (especially the biggies like Pico and Westwood) can be a slow-moving pain.
How to Get There
From the Valley, take 405 S and exit at the Pico/Olympic off ramp. Make a left to reach Pico Boulevard, and then another left. Continue east on Pico. Westside Pavilion extends from Westwood Boulevard to Overland Avenue. From the South Bay and Orange County, take 405 N, exit at National Boulevard and turn right. Make a left at Westwood Boulevard and travel north until you reach Pico Boulevard. From downtown LA, take 10 W and exit at Overland Avenue. Take a right on Overland Avenue heading north to Pico Boulevard. Westside Pavilion extends west from Overland Avenue to Westwood Boulevard. From Santa Monica, take 10 E and exit at National/Overland. Turn right on National and another right on Overland Avenue. Head north on Overland Avenue to Pico Boulevard. The bus lines that stop at Westside Pavillion are Big Blue Bus VA Commuter, Big Blue Bus 4, 7, Rapid 7, 8, 12, Super 12, 13, Culver City Bus 3, LADOT Commuter Express 431.
| Malls • Third Street Promenade |
General information
NFT Map: 18
| Address: | Wilshire Blvd & 3rd St Santa Monica, CA 90403 |
| Website: | www.downtownsm.com |
Shopping
Third Street Promenade is a tourist magnet with a force greater than gravity. The street is closed off to traffic from Wilshire to Colorado, providing wide-open walking space. Its outdoor shopping and alfresco dining options theoretically make it a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening, but its weekend crowds of high schoolers, out-of-towners, and visitors from the Inland Empire can make it a little less than charming to navigate. However, the Farmers Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings lives up to its renowned reputation (Arizona & 3rd St). The usual mall suspects—Gap, J. Crew, Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn, Victoria’s Secret—flank the Promenade, intermixed with small boutiques selling cutesy, perhaps dubiously priced clothes. The selection of stores clustered in one walkable area does make it easy for someone on a mission to quickly find exactly what he or she is looking to buy, and on the way one might even spot a celebrity browsing the magazines at the giant newsstand in the middle of the Promenade that features newspapers and magazines from all over the world. Additionally, three movie theaters span the Promenade and are a popular place to watch big premieres.
Food
Third Street Promenade offers up a range of eateries from McDonald’s and Johnny Rocket’s to more upscale Italian and Greek cuisines. Monsoon (1212 3rd Street Promenade) has a daily happy hour, along with sushi and potsticker deals, and a view of the tango entertainment on the street. Yankee Doodle’s (1410 3rd Street Promenade) features 39 screens for sports watching over burgers and beer, and has several pool tables on two levels (also a good place to get quarters for parking meters). Gaucho Grill’s Santa Monica location (1251 3rd Street Promenade) has a quiet, intimate dining room away from the outside hubbub. Though Broadway Deli (1457 3rd Street Promenade) is only an attempt to be a New York deli on the left coast, the food isn’t so bad. Of course, dining weekday nights on the Promenade makes for a more soothing evening than on the weekends.
Drawbacks
Parking can be a challenge on the weekends, and if you park on the street, rest assured that the meter maids stand to watch the second your meter expires. Street performers often cause a clog up of pedestrian traffic as people stop to watch the man who juggles bowls or listen to the mini-Elvis crooning the King’s songs a foot from the ground. But if you can snag an outdoor dining table, the people-watching is endless.
How to Get There
From I-10 W, take the 5th Street exit going north. From PCH heading east, exit at Ocean Avenue. Turn left on Ocean and right on Colorado Avenue. Parking is available at a number of structures on 2nd and 4th Streets, and along Broadway and Colorado (free for the first two hours during the day). The Buses that stop at 3rd st are Mini Blue Downtown, Big Blue bus 1, 2, 3, Rapid 3, 4,7, Rapid 7, 8, 9, Rapid 10, Metro Bus 20 (Owl) Metro Bus 33 (Owl), Metro Express 534 Metro Rapid 704, Metro Rapid 720, Metro Rapid 733.