As you realize the major holiday of this year (for most of us) is this Thursday, the date starts to gain some importance and LOOMS in front of you like a the Wooden Horse in front of Troy! However if you are in LA, there are places called outlet malls that are a collection of outlets and regular stores in one easy to shop location. However most of these cool outlet malls are not within reasonable distance if you are a regular working Jill or Joe. Camarillo is past Ventura on the way to Santa Barbara; Cabazon is out near Palm Springs; Carlsbad is across the San Diego County line and then inland. While there is an outlet mall within LA County, it’s off the 5 Fwy that makes driving surface streets a better option than that freeway during the work week. However there is another option that’s about 60 minutes outside of LA, in San Bernardino County and it’s called Ontario Mills. It’s a pretty easy drive once you get outside of LA and heading east on the 10 freeway. It’s a shopping mecca I had heard about more than 10 years ago but never thought it worth the time to visit.
Yup, me– the shopping diva- said that. I had never seen the area, never looked at the potential of visiting there but since I heard about it, Ontario Mills has grown to a huge complex of outlet and regular stores surrounded by more shopping centers of other related stores like Kohls, Target etc along with restaurants and various service/retail stores. Until just over a week ago, I had no idea how big this outlet destinatiion was and what was there. Thanks to Goodman PR for providing me with an opportunity to visit Ontario Mills.
This post is sponsored by Ontario Mills.
Ontario Mills®, California’s largest outlet and value retail shopping destination, is an indoor climate-controlled mall providing the ultimate shopping experience with more than 200 stores boasting some of the biggest names in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, jewelry, sporting goods, footwear and more.
Ontario Mills is home to more than 200 retailers, some of whom are listed here.
ASICS
Banana Republic Factory Store
Coach
Columbia Sportswear Outlet
EB Games
Forever 21
Fossil
GUESS Factory Store
H&M
Hugo Boss Factory Store
J.Crew Factory
Michael Kors
Nautica Factory Store
Neiman Marcus Last Call
Nike Factory Store
Nordstrom Rack
Perry Ellis
PUMA
Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH
Sports Authority
Steve Madden
Tommy Hilfiger Company Store
Under Armour Factory House
Stores include Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Coach Factory Store, Michael Kors, True Religion, Lucky Brand Jeans Outlet, Nordstrom Rack, H&M, Forever 21, J.Crew Factory, Tommy Hilfiger Company Store, Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet, Nike Factory Store and so much more.
There are some great restaurants including Market Broiler, Rainforest Cafe, Dave & Buster’s and GameWorks. Shoppers can relax and get a giggle or a guffaw or two at Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre .
There is an AMC 30 Theaters that provides lots of choices when one chooses to hit the theaters!
I finally went out to ONTARIO MILLS on Saturday, Dec. 13. I had no idea it was so close to 2 different family members who live near there. When we took off, I had acquainted myself with the directions and generally what was there. I was surprised that I went 50 miles outside LA in about less than 60 minutes. It was a traffic-free journey on a gloriously sunny yet crisp day and it was a joy to make the trip.
We got there just before 11 and already the parking lots were filling up.
ONTARIO MILLS: What is it like?
I was wowed by the size of the mall. I brought my Significant Other (otherwise known as SO) with me because he had not been here either. He was floored it was that big and so encompassing of brands that both/either of us buy.
This is definitely a shopping destination. Unlike Cabazon, this mall is totally enclosed and air-conditioned. It made shopping extremely pleasant. Other people thought so too because the mall got crowded quickly.
While I had looked at the list of stores, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like until you get there. I was in awe of the Bed, Bath and Beyond store. I had not seen that store in that large a scope. I drove the SO nuts checking out all the little stuff. Here is the list of places we visited and what I experienced there.
Guest Services: The staff at Guest Services was very helpful. The mall security was very helpful too as we got turned around a couple of times.
Bed, Bath & Beyond: So many things that I forgot what I wanted to buy and left without buying anything. I was shocked at such an array of choices.
J.Crew Factory Store: a great store that was very popular. The staff was trying to restock merchandise while I was there because they were had a huge sale going on and people were taking advantage of it.
H&M: OMG.. a huge store with 2 entrances on opposite sides of the mall! The checkout line was 6 + deep in every line. (Hence the suggestion to come back during the main lunch time. I found it worked!)
Sports Authority, ASICS, UNDERARMOR and NIKE Factory store all are much bigger than I have seen even at South Coast Plaza! The stores had incredible array of shoes, apparel and sporting goods I found both pairs of athletic shoes I had purchased at Sports Authority and in more sizes than I did at my Sports Authority.
UnderArmour had a huge sale going on that people –including me– were loving.
We stopped at the major anchors: Neiman Marcus Last Call, SFA’s Off 5th, Nordstrom Rack and Forever21 where I was finding gifts for family members. I had a great time at those stores which the SO was realizing I might be enjoying my visit far too much!
Other assorted stores include: Teavana (I have Oprah’s favorite Chai Tea now!!), Victoria’s Secret (where I bought stuff for moi), Banana Republic, The Gap, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss as well as the Corningwear store, Lancome, Nine West and every other shoe store for women in the mall. I had such a great time that the SO had to pry me out of shopping so that I would eat. Smart guy, it was a wise move. It was close to 4 PM when we left and we felt like we had made a major dent in the holiday shopping. Plus we scored some real deals at some of the best places: Teavana, Nordstrom Rack, Forever21, H&M, JCrew and Sports Authority among the stores we visited.
The trip back was only marred by a major accident on the 605 southbound significantly that shut down the freeway to one-lane only. We got off at the first sign of that accident and took surface streets. Even the SO remarked that the day was really exceptional except for the traffic accident. He was really happy to find an all-encompassing outlet mall this close to LA, with little to no traffic (barring accidents) and he would have no problem going again!
How to shop ONTARIO MILLS– There is still time to shop before Christmas!
1) Get there EARLY! You will be happy you don’t have to fight for parking! Make a note of where you parked or take a photo of the view of your car with some sort of identifying landmark and also take one of the nearest entrance that you used so you can figure out where you are!
2) Wear comfortable shoes! This mall is so much larger than it looks. 200 stores doesn’t mean it’s small, it’s HUGE!
3) Bring water or stop to get beverages at places like Starbucks, Teavana (one of Oprah’s favorites) or at any number of quick food & drink outlets!
4) Plan your excursion with some thought. In other words, know where you want to go first and then be prepared to walk around the mall at least twice.
5) Don’t forget to eat but realize that around 12 noon, everything starts to get crowded.
6) Around 1 PM, many stores get a bit of a lull as people head to the food court or restaurants to eat! Try shopping at the store you left earlier because it was crazy busy.
7) Do realize that as you approach LA County, that traffic will pick up a bit. Not a lot, but enough to make you realize how great the trip was to ONTARIO MILLS
8) Tell ALL your friends and acquaintances about your trip.
9) Don’t forget After -Xmas sales will be going on at these stores.
10) Not all stores in the mall are outlets! Some of the stores are regular stores that know that ONTARIO MILLS is a huge draw.
Other key tips from ONTARIO MILLS include the following:
ONTARIO MILLS Family Gift Guide Picks
Handbags:
Pick up a Badgley Mischka or kate spade handbag from Neiman Marcus Last Call or Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. Mom, aunt and sis will love you!
Get Fit:
Track down some new running shoes, workout bags and fitness monitoring wristbands for the healthful enthusiast on your list from Nike Factory Store.
Game On:
Level-up to the new Assassin’s Creed, Halo and World of Warcraft for teen gamers or Little Big Planet, Super Smash Bros. for WiiU and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby for younger players. Find them at GameStop.
Watch This:
Matching his and hers watches from Michael Kors Outlet will complete any outfit.
Career Defining Moment :
For career-minded dads, J. Crew Factory, Fossil, Kenneth Cole Company Store and Brooks Brothers Factory Store have an assortment of belts, wallets, messenger bags and more.
One Size Fits All:
Available for purchase at Guest Services, Simon® Giftcards are the perfect gift – no size or favorite color required!
There is also an online lookbook that shows you some amazing gifts that would please anyone and everyone on your list! (Tory Burch, take me away!)
Find more information HERE: www.simon.com/mall/ontario-mills
Follow Ontario Mills on these social platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ontariomills
Twitter: @ShopOntario
Instagram: @ShopOntario
Hashtag: #ShopOntarioMills
I would like to thank ONTARIO MILLS and Goodman PR for this opportunity. I had such a good time. I love to shop and the icing on the cake is when someone asks me to go shopping! Would I go again? In a heartbeat!
Disclosure: I was given a gift card to come shop at ONTARIO MILLS.
The owner of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own.
Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
So go wrap up your holiday shopping at ONTARIO MILLS outlet mall!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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