Irvine’s shopping and dining is the envy of Southern California cities.
As president and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber, I often receive compliments on how immaculate our city’s shopping centers look.
This is in stark contrast to some centers in other cities across the nation that continue to deteriorate. Observations such as these make me proud to be an Irvine resident and feel fortunate to lead a business organization in one of the best-run cities in the world.
The city’s beautiful retail centers are an affirmation of what Irvine does right. The secret to Irvine’s retail success comes from two distinct advantages.
First, the Irvine Master Plan – the city’s blueprint – ensures local and regional centers offer residents the convenience of having shopping opportunities close to home.
Second, the Irvine Company constantly reinvests in its centers to ensure they reflect the wants and needs of local shoppers.
The Irvine Master Plan and continuous investment creates a reciprocal and beneficial cycle that drives our world-renowned quality of life.
Here’s how the cycle works:
Irvine’s well-maintained centers attract the brands consumers want, from boutique shops to trendy restaurants, corner coffee shops, and in-demand markets. For instance, most cities would be thrilled to have a Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Gelson’s. We have all four.
In turn, the retail centers contribute tens of millions of dollars to the city. These funds are then used to support police officers, keep our parks meticulous and abundant, and balance our city’s checkbook.
The result: Irvine is consistently ranked the safest city in America, the No. 1 city for parks in California, and the nation’s most fiscally responsible city.
The cycle constantly repeats because of continual reinvestment in its shopping centers to keep them exciting and beautiful. This is a direct benefit of long-term ownership.
Whether you’re running an errand at your neighborhood center or enjoying an outing at Irvine Spectrum, you are part of a community that values its shopping centers, which are the envy of Southern California.
