Haute Shops: The oc mart MIX

Sometimes, trekking to South Coast or another of Orange County’s shopping supermalls is just too much. If you’re looking to mix up your shopping experience and find some one-of-a-kind pieces, there’s a new destination: the oc mart MIX. It’s just a few blocks from South Coast, so if you’re in need of a retail re-do, it’s easy to stop by for a refresher course on retail.

Instead of big names and labels, the oc mart MIX is a gathering of like-minded vendors that are striving to bring a unique blend of boutiques to one place — and with everything from artisinal olive oil and olives to unique home accents, they’re doing a mighty fine job. Phase one of the MIX is a great collection of retail that includes Generic Youth clothing, Gatehouse interior/exterior design and Macallistaire at 1850’s satellite spot. For foodies, there’s Portola Coffee Lab and We Olive & Wine Bar alongside paperies, other home stores and a great selection of apparel and accessories.

Phase two is already underway, so expect another dynamic collection of shops and pop-ups that’ll blend seamlessly with the vendors and variety of the first phase. And in addition to the retail and restaurants, the oc mart MIX is also home to a weekly gathering of food trucks (Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and a farmer’s market (Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.). With so much happening at this always-changing haute spot, you can be sure there’s something for everyone, no matter what you’re looking for. And if you’re just browsing, trust us when we say that these little shops are giving the big names a run for their money.

Currently, the oc mart MIX is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. But, starting April 15th, they’ll be extending their hours to a more regular schedule of Monday through Saturday, with hours from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The oc mart MIX is located at 3313 Hyland Ave., at the South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. For more information and a full directory of the shops, visit their official web site at www.theocmartmix.com.

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