LA Explorer

Mixin’ It Up At The OC Mart Mix

August 10, 2012

Just off the 405 freeway in Costa Mesa is the SouthCoast Collection. This shopping center initially opened a few years ago under a different name, South Coast Home Furnishings Center. It was to be a one stop shop for all things furniture but unfortunately made its debut just before the recession hit. One by one the stores began to shutter and soon the center was deadsville.

Luckily, that’s no longer the case. A new owner took over, a new name came about (South Coast Collection – SOCO for short) and now the center is thriving. And much of it is to do with one of the tenants – The OC Mart Mix.

The OC Mart Mix is essentially an indoor marketplace filled with small, independent shops.

There are vendors offering an array of products for all tastes. Coffee fiends can get their caffeine fix at Portola Coffee Lab. Cheeseheads can get their Gruyere on at The Cheese Shop. Road warriors can pick up a new ride at Derringer Cycles. Locavores can grabbed some snacks at Local Fare. And beauty buffs can get pampered at Beauty Cirque.

These are but a few of the vendors you’ll find in this eclectic shopping spot. Really, there’s just about anything available to indulge your fancy.

My favorite day to visit the center is on Saturday. Truthfully, I avoid Saturday shopping like the plague. Too many people, too much time taken away from my weekend. But I love Saturdays at SOCO because of the Farmer’s Market.

Every Saturday from 9am-2pm you’ll find purveyors of produce and hawkers of handmade eats setting up shop in the parking lot. And there’s always a sampling of the hottest food trucks to grab a quick bite at.