35 YeaRS: Master Planning at The Market Place
Thirty-five years ago, Irvine Company master-planned something boldly original, convenient, and lasting – The Market Place. Today, it is a thriving destination where residents can live, work and play. Below, learn more about this unique mixed-use district and get the latest shopping, dining and planning updates.
35th anniversary
About The Market Place
The Market Place is an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination connected to 1.3 million square feet of creative office space and resort-style apartment communities. Its distinctive design was the vision of famed international architect, Ricardo Legorreta, who inspired with 100-foot-high light towers, geometric shapes and light-filled people spaces.
A Restaurant for All Tastes
The Market Place features a range of dining options so that every visit is an opportunity to explore something new. Over 45 restaurants include fast-casual favorites and chef-driven destinations.
The Best of Everything Under the Sun
All of your shopping needs are met here with a mix of enviable brands, health and beauty boutiques, home improvement stores and specialty grocers. You can also catch the latest movie, get in a workout or take the kids to dance lessons.
Attracting Top Companies & Jobs
The Market Place Master Plan includes a Class A office campus that recently underwent a major reinvestment to create new outdoor workspaces, fitness amenities and on-site dining options. The winning design attracts leading companies whose CEOs cite its proximity to homes and shopping as a key reason they brought jobs to the area.
Live Conveniently Close to Everything
Surrounding The Market Place are five resort-style apartment communities conveniently close to shopping, dining and job centers. Soon, a new apartment community will be integrated into the center that is designed to meet the needs of Irvine’s young professionals, nurses, teachers and first responders.
Bold Design, Lush Landscaping
The Market Place greets you with bold architectural designs and vibrant colors. Fountains and broad plazas invite you to relax, mingle, people-watch and window-shop. More than 3,000 trees, including olives, date palms and Australian willows, surround you with 1.6 million square feet of landscaping, irrigated responsibly with reclaimed water and smart controllers.
Updates from The Market Place
A New Live-Work-Play Community
The Irvine City Council unanimously voted in May 2023 to approve homes designed for Irvine’s workforce just steps from shops and jobs in an underused area of The Market Place. The plan was supported by local leaders, merchants, hospitals and businesses. According to a recent study, the new residents will support existing merchants with an estimated $30 million in new annual spending. View the planning area map below.
A Central Green Gathering Space
As part of our community outreach program and master planning at The Market Place, Irvine Company identified an opportunity to create a new central green near the Regal theater as a new place to gather with friends, let the kids play or take in organized activities – similar to the Giant Wheel Lawn at Irvine Spectrum Center. Our planners are creating initial designs that are expected to be shared with the city and community in the coming months.
New Shops & Restaurants
A sparkling new 24 Hour Fitness opened early in August 2023, offering more than 48,000 square feet of cutting-edge exercise equipment, a new lap pool and modern amenities, including an infrared sauna. Pacific Catch Westcoast Fish House opened its doors and features a destination patio, an open-air cocktail bar and our sustainably sourced seafood menu. And Boot Barn also kicked off its Market Place location earlier this summer.
The Market Place Mixed-use Distirct
