LAB Anti-Mall Costa Mesa: A Unique Shopping & Dining Day Trip

The LAB Anti Mall was established in 1993 to provide a platform for small local businesses to showcase their products and services. The founders envisioned a place where shoppers could interact with the people behind the products they were buying. LAB, in the venture’s name, stands for Little American Business, focusing on supporting local enterprises. LAB draws shoppers from the standard, soulless, same-old shopping malls to the Anti-Mall. The environment here is the polar opposite of what we have come to expect when we head off to buy a new outfit or have lunch with a friend.

LAB Stores and ArtWorks

The LAB Anti-Mall has neither big box stores nor remote, robotic, computerized cash-out systems. There is no golden arch insight; indeed, no jack is in the box. Instead, visitors wander indoors and out, exploring art installations, vintage clothing shops, artisan bakers, and owner-operated beauty salons. Whether your style is classic, cutting-edge, or merely comfortable, you’ll find something at the Antimall you can’t live without.

It could be something old, new, second-hand, or blue.  A blue Airstream trailer is parked outside the Antimall, near the eclectic Urban Outfitters shop. The Airstream is home to Crème Tangerine. The name suggests that it’s not a café or a candy store. It is, in fact, a record store. Remember them? Those funny, flat, black circles that somehow made music?

The boys at Crème have kept all the vinyl legends alive in their corner of this fascinating LAB experiment to support the Little American Business.

The Eye Society has a somewhat similar “vision.” Seeing the modern eyeglass market as a “sea of mediocrity,” they seek out one-of-a-kind eyewear for their shop. They’re a unique collection of glasses, sunglasses, and accessories that appeal strongly to those who prefer to take their path, not always be in step with the crowd.

And that is one thing all these LAB Anti-Mall businesses (and their patrons) have in common. LAB shops want to go above and beyond the ordinary, the average, and the “expected.” They take tremendous pride in their work, and they should.

If you’re not in the mood for a donut, try Goodtown Donuts. If you need help finding the perfect pair of vintage jeans, an “Urban Outfitter” will provide exceptional service.

LAB Dining Experience

Indulge in a shopping spree and then treat yourself to some delectable Cuban cuisine at Habana. Savor the taste of their creative dishes and pair them with their signature Mojito cocktail. Habana offers gourmet Cuban food and spirits, so it’s best to make a reservation in advance for lunch, dinner, or their special weekend brunch menu.

If you have some space for coffee in your day (and we hope you do), visit Nook Coffee Bar. Nook is renowned not only for the delicious taste of their coffee but also for the Instagram-worthy latte art and their baristas who always go the extra mile to make your day. However, fair warning – if you visit once, it’s highly likely to become your favorite daily habit.

Special events are routinely organized at the Antimall, and a quick check of their website will give you the inside scoop. Live music, Full Moon Fairs, and celebrity artist installations are excellent excuses for a quick getaway to the LAB.

The LAB Anti-Mall is about half a mile south of the 405 Freeway on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa. GPS down and out? Just look for the hippest people on the highway and follow them.

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