Author: Kirby

Restaurant with menu focusing on high-quality sushi and seasonal small plates, expected to open in The OC Mix, a curated collection of culinary and retail concepts at SOCO

COSTA MESA, CA (April 9, 2026) – Traditional Japanese restaurant Hassun has selected South Coast Collection (SOCO) for its inaugural Orange County location, with plans to open within the 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishings and design center in Costa Mesa in early May. The sushi and izakaya-style restaurant, which will focus on the preparation of high-quality sushi and seasonal small plates, will occupy the former Shuck Oyster Bar space in the The OC Mix, the culinary and retail collective positioned within the center. CRC Commercial Leasing Associate Roseanne Holmes represented the landlord and Stacey Kwong of Realest Group represented the tenant in this transaction.

“We are excited to welcome Hassun, to The OC Mix at SOCO,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Senior Vice President of Retail Operations at Continental Realty Corporation. “Hassun brings a refined take on traditional Japanese cuisine, providing a unique and elevated dining experience for the Costa Mesa community. This addition further strengthens The OC Mix’s fusion of culinary and specialty concepts. With each new addition, The OC Mix continues to evolve, offering something new for guests to discover each time they return.”

According to owner Satomi Kawamura, “Hassun” refers to a classical course in Japanese kaiseki cuisine that expresses the season through an elegant assortment of delicacies from the mountains and the seas. The name reflects the restaurant’s commitment to seasonality, balance, and the refined aesthetics of culinary tradition.

She added that “guests can expect an intimate and refined atmosphere that feels both authentic and welcoming, led by Executive Chef Susumu Ii, who brings more than 45 years of restaurant experience. Chef Ii enjoys overwhelming support from his customers based on his ability to take the freshest fish of the day and transform it into exceptional sushi, offering an omakase style that has become his signature.”

“SOCO and The OC Mix are known for their sophisticated and design-forward environment, which aligns perfectly with the vision for Hassun,” explained Kawamura. “We believe the community appreciates high-quality dining experiences and thoughtfully curated concepts. The location’s proximity to major freeways makes it easily accessible from all sections of Orange County and represents an ideal setting for introducing a refined yet approachable Sushi & Izakaya experience.”

Located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County, and with frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SOCO includes retailers such as Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts are highlighted by Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Moulin, Il Girasole, and Portola Coffee.

The OC Mix is a nearly 15,000-square-foot curated culinary and retail destination featuring a collection of elevated, chef-driven dining experiences, a specialty coffee concept, fast-casual culinary offerings, and specialty retailers including an artisan cheese shop and a gourmet ice cream concept. Many of the concepts offer curated tasting experiences, culinary classes, and other interactive programming that invite guests to engage more deeply with the center.

Founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a vertically integrated, privately held commercial real estate and investment company specializing in the acquisition and operation of retail and multifamily properties. CRC owns and manages a diversified, national portfolio of more than eight million square feet of retail space and over 10,000 apartment homes across 15 states, with a total value of nearly $4.5 billion. Guided by a commitment to excellence and long-term value creation, CRC combines market insight, disciplined investment strategies, and a people-first approach to deliver exceptional results for investors, residents, and communities.

For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

California-based furniture veteran Michael Webster leading team to establish presence in 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishings and design center near Thanksgiving holiday

COSTA MESA, CA (December 8, 2025) – European furniture and lighting store Eichholtz recently opened at South Coast Collection (SoCo), a 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishings and design center in Costa Mesa. Calfornia-based furniture veteran Michael Webster is leading the team which signed an 8,423 square foot lease with Continental Realty Corporation, joining a tenant roster than includes anchors Calligaris, Design Within Reach, King Living, Rejuvenation, and Roche Bobois. CRC Commercial Leasing Manager Melissa Sweeney and Jillian Sabaugh with Ukropina Sabaugh represented the landlord and Elyse Roberts with Ukropina Sabaugh represented the tenant in this lease transaction.

Eichholtz Orange County is configured as a flagship store carrying a full line of products designed in Europe, including bedroom, living room and office furniture, as well as cabinetry, wall art, and accessories. The SoCo location will also offer a complement of Eichholtz lighting creations such as chandeliers; ceiling, floor, table and wall lamps; and lightning accessories. A full range of home decor, ranging from mirrors, vases and planters, decorative items and pillows will complete the selection.

“We intend to create an immersive environment featuring one-of-a-kind furniture and lighting pieces curated for professional designers and end-users alike,” Webster explained. “Among our competitive advantages will be our significantly reduced delivery timeframes, with the majority of our products being available for immediate delivery. We are working on processes that will manufacture a large percentage of our complete product selection domestically, which will also accelerate this schedule. A portion of the upholstery work will be completed at a plant in North Carolina.”

Following its soft opening last week, Webster indicates that Eicholtz West will organize a grand opening for the new store in early 2026. He adds that his team, led by Founding Creative Director and Designer Ryan Saghian and his partner Anthony Checetto, Head of Retail Operations, opened Webster’s West Hollywood Flagship Showroom dedicated to Eichholtz on Robertson near Melrose. Company President James Lunsford explains that his team is exploring additional Eichholtz West showrooms in Pasadena, as well as Scottsdale, Arizona. Their Palm Desert/El Paseo Eichholtz Showroom is scheduled to open this winter.

The culture of the team fits nicely with the SoCo vibe, Webster explains. “We are extremely familiar with South Coast Collection and this venue allows us to be surrounded with like-minded stores which is extremely important in the furniture industry,” he added, “specifically Design Within Reach and Room and Board. The center offers a dynamic and forward design which helps produce a strong per square foot sales number on par with the finest fashion and design centers in the United States. James and I have been strong supporters of SoCo for decades.”

Ryan Saghian states that the relaxed, shopping forward, design centric atmosphere of SoCo presents a refreshing way to work with clients. “Orange County has always had incredible taste, and SoCo gives people a place to explore that in a relaxed, design-drive way,” he said. “Clients come here ready to elevate their homes, and that energy aligns perfectly with how I love to work – thoughtful, personal, and beautifully intentional.”

Located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County, and with frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SoCo includes retailers such as Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts are highlighted by Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Il Girasole, and Portola Coffee.

Eichholtz West further diversifies and differentiates the SoCo tenant mix and adds another compelling reason for Orange County residents and design professionals to visit and shop,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of the Commercial Division at CRC. “Their European-designed furniture, lighting, and home décor collections complement our existing best-in-class brands and reinforce CRC’s commitment to curating inspiring, high-quality destinations for the community. We are confident Eichholtz West will drive additional traffic, deepen engagement with SoCo, and support the long-term growth of the center and CRC’s portfolio.”

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the SoCo site daily an annual basis via Interstate 405. Nearly 550,00 households, with an average household income approaching $125,000, and 1.7 million people reside within 10 miles of the site.

Founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a vertically integrated, privately held commercial real estate and investment company specializing in the acquisition and operation of retail and multifamily properties.  CRC owns and manages a diversified, national portfolio of more than eight million square feet of retail space and over 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a total value of more than $4.2 billion.  Guided by a commitment to excellence and long-term value creation, CRC combines market insight, disciplined investment strategies, and a people-first approach to deliver exceptional results for investors, residents, and communities.

For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

JoJo Ichikawa, together with her husband Matt, planning to open inaugural Climb Ice Cream in The OC Mix section of South Coast Collection this Labor Day

COSTA MESA, CA (August 11, 2025) – When growing up, JoJo Ichikawa vividly remembers “convincing” her father to allow her to enjoy ice cream for breakfast every morning. After all, the then six-year-old reasoned, anything made from fresh strawberries and cream must be healthy, right? That love for ice cream never wavered and, after discovering an equally-strong passion for rock and ice climbing, Ichikawa and her husband Matt are combining the two interests to open the inaugural Climb Ice Cream at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. The entrepreneurs signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation and intend to open their shop at the 292,000-square-foot luxury home furnishing and design lifestyle center this Labor Day. Jillian Sabaugh, CEO, Ukropina Sabaugh, represented the landlord in this lease transaction and Dale Falasco, President, Newport West Properties, represented the tenant in this lease transaction.

JoJo Ichikawa is pivoting from a career in the high-tech industry to start this new venture. Her climbing experiences have taken her to exotic places all over the globe, including Iceland, Cuba and Scotland – as well as to less exotic areas such as dairy farms in Connecticut and Nebraska – where she has sampled the most natural and best-tasting flavors. Ichikawa’s discerning tastebuds have led her endeavor to produce the highest-quality and most differentiated ice cream product available in the Southern California region.

“The ingredients used are everything, as you can imagine,” she said. “If you ever tasted ice cream churned from milk derived from cows that morning, you would taste the obvious difference and that is what I am striving for. I have experienced this in Sweden, Nebraska, and places around the world and that is my gold standard.”

The journey started in Ichikawa’s kitchen when she started experimenting with different recipes and held “tasting parties” for up to 30 friends. In one exercise, she used four different types of vanilla extract to determine which one tasted better and, after each event, she returned to her kitchen laboratory to perfect the formula. Slowly, a few rose to the top – just like cream – including one that utilized Ube – a yam popular in the West Coast, Hawaii and the Philippines. Following the encouragement of friends, family members and even herself, Ichikawa made the bold decision to quit her job and start Climb Ice Cream.

She settled on flavors including pRappel – Ube Chocolate Chip, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oreo, Do Yuzu Wanna Climb?, Mount Matcha, Sum-Mint Chip, We Climb at Dawn! – Cardamom Vanilla, and Strawberry v5 (of course), with many of the names serving as a nod to her climbing passion. All milk is sourced from Los Angeles-area dairy farms and special ingredients are flown in from around the world, including Matcha, a green tea powder grown in Japan. Climb Ice Cream will also serve non-dairy frozen desserts.

“Climbing requires you to shut off everything inside your brain and be completely in the moment, or something bad will happen,” Ichikawa explained. “Eating ice cream, on the other hand, is a carefree moment, but both experiences bring complete joy and excitement.”

“Upon learning there were no ice cream stores at The OC Mix, we immediately knew it was the perfect place for us,” Ichikawa said, “but we received another strong signal when hearing that a prominent climbing store – Gear Coop – previously leased space at South Coast Collection. We thought that karma was too good to pass up,” she laughed.

Located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County, and with frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SoCo is anchored by BoConcept, Design Within Reach, La-Z-Boy, and Roche Bobois, with additional retailers including Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts include Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Il Girasole, and Portola Coffee.

“Climb Ice Cream helps round out our tenant mix and provides the perfect complement to our sit-down and fast-casual dining options at The OC Mix,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of the Commercial Division at CRC. “Its arrival adds a fun and compelling new category and furthers our goal of attracting popular destinations for the local community.”

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the SoCo site on an annual basis via Interstate 405. More than 200,000 people, including more than 65,000 households with an average household income exceeding $132,000, are located within a three-mile radius of SoCo. Additionally, 125,000 people work within a three-mile radius.

Headquartered in Baltimore and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of over eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a portfolio valued at nearly $4.2 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

Burger concept, which utilizes 100 percent organic, grass-fed beef and avoids seed oils in cooking process, expects to open in The OC Mix component of the development in August

BALTIMORE, MD (August 4, 2025) – Palms n’ Patties, a burger concept which utilizes only 100 percent organic, grass-fed beef and avoids the use of seed oils in the cooking process, has signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation for 1,815 square feet of space at South Coast Collection (SOCO), a 292,000-square-foot luxury home furnishing and design lifestyle center in Costa Mesa, California. The restaurant opened its first location earlier this year in Santa Monica and plans to begin operations at a new site on 3rd Street in Los Angeles, following the expected opening of the SOCO location in August. Jillian Sabaugh, CEO, Ukropina Sabaugh, represented the landlord in this lease transaction.

According to entrepreneurs and co-founders Pedro Goes and Browston Xai Xai, Palms n’ Patties maintains an “intentionally small” menu to “preserve the integrity of each food item, guarantee freshness and high quality, and keep prices reasonable to consumers.” The restaurant specializes in smashburgers and cooks its original hand-cut Pn’P Fries in beef tallow. The sauces are also made on premises and created with avocado oil and green ingredients. Drink offerings include several flavors of OLIPOP prebiotic soda and organic lemonade.

“Consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and making better decisions about the food they eat, especially in Southern California, and Palms n’ Patties immediately resonated in the Santa Monica community upon our opening in January,” explained Pedro Goes. “We are proud of the process we utilize to produce high-quality meals and it is extremely important for us to maintain consistency and provide the same experience to each consumer. We want people to feel good about themselves after eating a Palms n’ Patties hamburger, rather than guilty after ingesting a fast-food product.”

Goes brings a background in marketing and operation consultancy for food and beverage companies, while Xai Xai has previous experience in operating multi-location fast-casual concepts in the restaurant category, a partnership Goes terms as “the perfect situation.” He explained that the next step for Palms n’ Patties is to scale operations and completely eliminate the use of seed oils in its food items, a goal which will be attained when the restaurant begins baking its hamburger buns in-house. Goes said that a small amount of seed oil is currently contained in its buns, which are purchased from an outside source.

Palms n’ Patties is opening in The OC Mix, a nearly 15,000 square foot shopping and dining experience which is part of South Coast Collection and features more than 20 distinct full-service sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, quick service restaurants, a fine cheese retailer, a barber, and other unique soft good retailers.

“We love the energy and consumer demographics at SOCO and The OC Mix, and we believe that we would seamlessly fit in with the existing tenant mix,” Goes said, adding that the concept leased a second-generation restaurant space, which will significantly accelerate its opening schedule. Among our goals was to ramp up operations as quickly as possible, but we also wanted to choose a location where Palms n’ Patties could thrive in the long-term.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Palms n’ Patties to South Coast Collection,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of the Commercial Division at CRC. “Their focus on high-quality, organic ingredients and healthier cooking methods offers something truly unique to our visitors. This addition not only enhances our dining options but also reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing innovative, community-focused concepts to SOCO. We believe Palms n’ Patties will be a key driver of future growth and help us continue to build a vibrant, destination-worthy experience for our guests.”

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the SOCO site on an annual basis via Interstate 405. More than 200,000 people, including more than 65,000 households with an average household income exceeding $132,000, are located within a three-mile radius of SOCO. Additionally, 125,000 people work within a three-mile radius.

Headquartered in Baltimore and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of over eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a portfolio valued at nearly $4.2 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

Operating nearly 1,600 locations in 50 states, concept expands Orange County location with move to 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishing and design center in Costa Mesa

BALTIMORE, MD (July 16, 2025) – Residential lighting, plumbing, and appliances retailer Ferguson Homes recently opened a 20,000 square foot showroom within South Coast Collection (SoCo), a 292,000-square-foot luxury home furnishing and design lifestyle center in Costa Mesa, California owned and managed by Continental Realty Corporation. The concept, which operates in all 50 states, expanded its presence within Orange County with this new location.

The Ferguson Home showroom offers a full range of products for consumers and professionals including premium kitchen and bath fixtures from brands such as Fantini, Kallista, and Gessi, along with high-end appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf, Cove, Miele, and Gaggenau. Every showroom experience is supported by expert design consultation and personalized service.

“We are delighted to expand our presence in Southern California and bring a personalized showroom experience to this design-forward community,” stated Jesse Long, Ferguson Home Showroom Manager for Costa Mesa. “With this location, we have created a larger, more immersive space where customers can explore our full range of bath, kitchen, and lighting products, receive tailored consultations and enjoy improved accessibility and added convenience throughout their visit.”

Located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County, and with frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SoCo is anchored by BoConcept, Design Within Reach, La-Z-Boy, and Roche Bobois, with additional retailers including Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts include Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Il Girasole, and Portola Coffee.

“Consumers regularly visit SoCo to experience the latest home furnishing designs, equipment and fixtures,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of the Commercial Division at CRC. “The addition of Ferguson Home to the tenant mix provides another name brand option for Orange County residents looking to modernize or update their place of residence.”

Also contained within the property is The OC Mix, a nearly 15,000 square foot shopping and dining experience featuring more than 20 distinct full-service sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, quick service restaurants, a fine cheese retailer, a barber and, other unique soft good retailers.

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the SoCo site on an annual basis via Interstate 405. More than 200,000 people, including more than 65,000 households with an average household income exceeding $132,000, are located within a three-mile radius of SoCo. Additionally, 125,000 people work within a three-mile radius.

Headquartered in Baltimore and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of over eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a portfolio valued at nearly $4.2 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

Joybird’s new 4,643 square foot showroom sits among the 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishing and design center in Costa Mesa

BALTIMORE, MD (June 23, 2025) – Handcrafted, modern furniture maker Joybird (joybird.com) recently joined the South Coast Collection (SoCo) tenant mix, a 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishing and design lifestyle center in Costa Mesa, California. Joybird, a subsidiary of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation for 4,643 square feet of space and opened its first Orange County showroom on June 5, joining its fleet of 12 U.S. locations (joybird.com/showrooms). CRC Leasing Manager Melissa Sweeney represented the landlord in this lease transaction.

Joybird specializes in customizable, handcrafted, and sustainable furniture and décor to home design enthusiasts and interior design professionals, including modern silhouettes for the living room, bedroom, home office, and outdoor areas. Joybird offers more than 75 color choices in a range of life-friendly fabrics and leathers to bring a personal touch to any space. Traditional items include sofas, sleepers and sectionals, accent chairs, side tables, upholstered beds, dressers, and more. Joybird offers free design services in all showrooms and, with its suite of online tools including its 3D Space Planner, 3D Modular Sofa Builder, and 3D Room Scanner, meant to help customers accurately and quickly measure their room and visualize the finished product in their home before making a purchase.

“We consider SoCo the premier design center of Orange County,” said Gerardo Ornelas, vice president and general manager of Joybird. “Its modern aesthetic and design-minded shoppers are the ideal match for our newest, and only, showroom in Orange County. We are excited to welcome everyone in to explore our collections and fabrics, find their favorite sofas, and design a space as unique as they are.”

Located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County, and with frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SoCo is anchored by BoConcept, Design Within Reach, La-Z-Boy, and Roche Bobois, with additional retailers including Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts include Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Il Girasole, and Portola Coffee.

“Joybird brings a customer-first approach to the furniture selling process, with an emphasis on empowering design lovers to make bold decisions, and be original,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of the Commercial Division at CRC. “Its addition to the SoCo tenant mix provides another compelling option for Orange County businesses and residents looking for the most modern, distinctive, and stylish furniture brands to fit their needs.”

Also contained within the property is The OC Mix, a nearly 15,000 square foot shopping and dining experience featuring more than 20 distinct full-service sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, a fine cheese retailer, a barber, and other unique soft good retailers.

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the SoCo site on an annual basis via Interstate 405. More than 200,000 people, including more than 65,000 households with an average household income exceeding $132,000, are located within a three-mile radius of SoCo. Additionally, 125,000 people work within a three-mile radius.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of over eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a portfolio valued at nearly $4.2 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com

Contact Larry Lichtenauer for media inquiries @ 410.627.2675

Courtesy of Continental Realty Corporation

BALTIMORE, MD (November 9, 2023) – Continental Realty Corporation (CRC), a Baltimore-based real estate investment and management company active in 11 states with more than $3.7 billion Assets Under Management (AUM), has entered the Southern California retail real estate market with its acquisition of the South Coast Collection (SoCo) in Costa Mesa. SoCo is a 97 percent leased, 292,000 square foot luxury home furnishing and design lifestyle center, with a 60-store tenant mix featuring design, home furnishings, fashion, and culinary retailers. Christopher Hoffman, Managing Director, and Mark Damiani, Director of Eastdil Secured, L.L.C., represented the seller. CRC has now acquired nearly $720 million worth of retail real estate since the beginning of 2020.

SoCo was purchased with funds from Continental Realty Opportunistic Retail Fund I, LP (CRORF). CRORF is a closed-end fund for which $261 million has been raised since 2021, including $200 million in the Fund and $61 million in co-investment vehicles. Since the inception of CRORF, CRC has acquired 11 retail properties comprising approximately 2.7 million square feet of space. Since 2012, CRC has raised nearly $1 billion in equity for retail and multifamily investments across five real estate funds and multiple associated co-investments.

This is the second asset acquired by CRC on behalf of CRORF this year, following the $78 million purchase this summer of Lakeside Village, a nearly 460,000 square foot super-regional lifestyle center located just east of Tampa, Florida.

CRC owns and manages a diversified portfolio of more than 9,000 apartment homes, as well as retail centers and other commercial properties consisting of almost eight million square feet, serving the real estate needs of more than 1,100 tenants across 10 states. CRORF was formed as a vehicle to target and acquire a diversified portfolio of distressed, opportunistic, and value-add retail properties throughout the United States.

Constructed in 2007 and located at 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue in Orange County on a 20-acre site with 1,000 feet of frontage on the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405), SoCo is anchored by COCO Republic, Design Within Reach, Roche Bobois, Pirch, and Paul Mitchell the School, with additional retailers including Brown Jordan, Natuzzi Italia, and Room & Board. Restaurants and food concepts include Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Paragon, and Portola Coffee.

Contained within the property is The OC Mix, a 15,000 square foot shopping and dining experience featuring more than 20 distinct full-service sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, quick service restaurants, a fine cheese retailer and an art gallery. Many of the tenants offer tasting events, cooking classes and other events that draw unique visitors to the concept. The OC Mix is ranked in the top 10 percent nationally for foot traffic, according to Placer.ai, a market research company that reports on consumer behavior by tracking store visits.

Situated adjacent to SoCo is the corporate headquarters for Vans with 500 employees, with numerous high value properties nearby including the 640,000 square foot Anduril Industries corporate campus, one of the busiest Ikea stores in the country according to Placer.ai, and a site designated for the construction of more than 1,000 multifamily units. SoCo is also home to Orange County’s largest weekly Farmers Market, which regularly draws unique visitors to the lifestyle center.

More than 340,000 vehicles pass the site on an annual basis via Interstate 405. More than 200,000 people, including more than 65,000 households with an average household income exceeding $132,000, reside within a three-mile radius of SoCo. An additional 125,000 people work within a three-mile radius.

Irreplaceable Asset in Top Tier Infill Urban Market

“South Coast Collection is the only shopping venue of its kind in an extensive, high net worth trade area,” stated Josh Dinstein, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions for Continental Realty Corporation. “An irreplaceable asset strategically located in a top tier infill urban market, it features an attractive, customer-friendly layout and a synergistic tenant mix that includes some of the nation’s top home design and furniture stores. The OC Mix, a highly successful food and dining concept serves dual purposes as an amenity and a high-volume traffic driver on its own. The asset’s institutional quality and strong value-add potential, plus its location in the heart of Orange County, make SoCo the perfect acquisition for our entry into the southern California marketplace.

“Our team was able to execute this transaction based on our reputation and long-term relationships,” Dinstein added. “We are confident in our ability to generate additional value by leasing the remaining vacancies and implementing our proven property management protocols to realize operational efficiencies.”

Enduring Fundamentals of Costa Mesa Attracting Jobs and Fueling Long-Term Growth

According to the Orange County Workforce and Economic Department, the region is among the most densely populated counties in California, with nearly 3.2 million residents and an employment sector fueled by the construction, tourism, and healthcare industries. The Orange County Business Council describes the county as a “microcosm of all great things about California – multi-culturalism, beaches, sunny weather and an educated workforce that drives a powerful economy.”

Featuring a labor force of more than 1.6 million workers, Orange County supports nearly 170,000 business establishments and contains nearly 1.1 million households. The median household income is projected to grow by approximately 11 percent over the next three years and, in 2021, Orange County saw the largest growth of tech talent in the United States. More than 50 million people visit the county annually. Fortune 200 companies with a presence in the county include Amazon, Blizzard Entertainment, Broadcom, and Google.

SoCo is less than three miles north of South Coast Plaza, which is considered to be among the most valuable malls in the United States, with more than $2 billion in annual sales. SoCo is positioned four miles from John Wayne Airport and is approximately 35 miles from Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport. Its position off Interstate 405 provides convenient connections to the entire state via Highway 5.

Summary of CRORF acquisition activity

In addition to its recent entry into California, CRC entered the suburban trade areas of Chicago, Illinois and Troy, Michigan in 2021. Key acquisitions included Banks Crossing, a 255,101 square foot regional shopping center in Fayetteville, Georgia; Lakeside Village in Tampa; The Shoppes at Webb Gin, a 330,000 square foot lifestyle center in Greater Atlanta; a portfolio of five shopping centers comprising more than 900,000 square feet of space in Cicero, Mount Prospect, Naperville, and Palatine, Illinois; and Oakland Plaza and Oakland Square, shopping centers located in Troy, Michigan consisting of nearly 392,000 square feet of space.

CRORF targets neighborhood, grocery-anchored, lifestyle and power centers situated within the U.S.’s top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), as well as select secondary markets.

“Consumers have returned to traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores and restaurants as the growth of ecommerce has subsided and, by leveraging our extensive relationships and relentless market analysis, we are continuing to pursue additional shopping center opportunities on a national level,” explained CRC’s CEO JM Schapiro. “We believe in the enduring strength of the Southern California marketplace, and we are confident that the unique ecosystem at SoCo, low sub-market vacancy, and lack of new supply are key factors that will enable us to execute our strategic plan to add value and deliver a solid risk-adjusted yield to our investor group. Orange County’s stable consumer population, thriving tourism sector and low unemployment rate make this section of the country extremely attractive. The low overall 4.3% vacancy rate for retail space, year-over-year rent growth of 4.6 percent, and the $110,000 median income are prime indicators of the market’s current and long-term strength.

“Our experienced team benefitted from our vertically integrated platform by leveraging cutting-edge technology, and advanced data sources, to uncovering emerging acquisition opportunities,” Schapiro added. “CRC’s ready capital and strong track record of certainty to close make us a preferred and proven counterparty to sellers of retail real estate.”

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of almost eight million square feet of commercial space and over 9,000 apartment homes across 11 states, with a portfolio value exceeding $3.7 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.