Thank you for taking the time to write this review Susan90405.
We loved the old Santa Monica Place, so we weren't sure what to expect when it was totally rebuilt a couple years ago. This was our first visit to the "new" Place, and it was well worth the stop. It has a great variety of stores including the top anchors (Bloomingdales and Nordstroms) and the open-air layout is very nice. You can get a full listing of shops at their website: http://www.santamonicaplace.com/map/. We had a great time at the new mall.
Loved it so much I came back twice to go shopping and to check out the views of the beach! I first came in the evening and the was amazed at how long the mall was. The setup is great: the shops are long a closed street with twinkling lights and lots of restaurants with outside patios for your to enjoy the scenery. There are shops that stay open later than others so you can still shop around and walk off the food you just ate. It's not as crowded and hectic like Hollywood blvd., and I didn't mind just sitting down and people watching. I also saw an actor but hated that I could not remember his name! But he was just there shopping like everyone else.
This is a nice place to spend some time when in Santa Monica. Tidy with a great range of stores for all ages. The Disney store was a big hit! When I was there there was an event in the main concourse with sand sculpture and things to do. It had a great atmosphere and with it being so close to the promenade and the beach, its definitely a place to see.
There was a massive remodel a few years ago on this mall. I was quite unimpressed and a little put off by the fact that the food court was moved upstairs.I know they say it never rains in California, but it does, and an outdoor food court stinks.It seems as if there are less options in the food court as well.The mall itself is nice. I love some of the stores.But it is nothing any more than most malls.
My husband and I took Santa Monica Big Blue Bus No. 3 from Los Angeles Bus Depot at Los Angeles International Airport for a day trip to Santa Monica.The bus stopped right in front of the shopping centre. Our first stop was Bloomingdale. Lovely store but really high end, the handbags were around $300 or more. It was Chinese New Year and they had Chinese Stiltwalkers and Chinese music was played. Great photo opportunity! We checked out the food court and it was busy with other shoppers as well. The mall is close to the Santa Monica Pier. Unfortunately, it was a cold rainy day which is most unusual for the area. After a couple of hours of browsing, we left to check out Third Street Promenade shops.
Mad traffic both car and foot. Takes hours to get in, out or around the area. I would head elsewhere unless you want to walk along the pier as well and the shopping is just a side dish.
We're glad you enjoyed your day at the mall Alexclondon95. We hope you'll stop by for one of our shakes soon!
I thought the Santa Monica Pier would be just the thing to treat the nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews after a visit to the Getty. I was wrong.Instead of lingering at the Pier, we climbed up to Santa Monica Place and found the Food Court on the roof. Everybody was able to get exactly what they wanted from the toddler to the teenager to me.Then we took over several tables overlooking the pier and had a lot more fun than we had down on the pier. I'm sure the shopping is grand, but we spent a couple of hours up there just chilling. It was great!!
Love this place, there's a Hot Topic, a Disney Store, Bloomingdale's and other cool stores. There's also a food corner with different possibilities to choose.