South Coast Plaza, Shopping center in Costa Mesa, United States
South Coast Plaza is a large retail complex in Costa Mesa, California, spreading across multiple connected buildings. The complex includes numerous stores on several levels, restaurants, and parking structures, with wide interior corridors and glass atriums that bring in natural light.
The Segerstrom family converted their farmland in the 1960s into a retail space, opening the complex late in that decade. Over the decades, the center expanded several times and attracted upscale brands, making it a major shopping destination in Southern California.
The name comes from its location near the California coast and its plazalike layout with open areas between stores. In some sections, the complex feels like a mix of shopping center and art museum, with sculptures and installations along the wide walkways.
The center sits near major highways and offers several entrances with extensive parking surrounding the buildings. Finding your way inside is easier thanks to numbered sections and multiple directional signs, though the large layout requires a longer visit.
The public sculpture garden in the courtyard displays works by the Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi representing different California landscapes. The installation is open to all visitors and offers a quiet retreat within the busy shopping center.
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