irvine_home_owner - 01 October 2008 10:02 AM

bkshopr - 01 October 2008 09:33 AM

momopi - 01 October 2008 09:23 AM

There are 2 Ranch 99’s, 1 Zion, 1 H-mart, and couple Persian markets that I can think of in Irvine.  TIC has done a good job in spreading them apart across the city.  I’d like to see more diverse stores coming in, like Famima and Fresh & Easy.

If Irvine had refused to let ethnic stores open, I think they’d simply have opened in Tustin along Irvine’s border.  IMO Tustin missed out on some opportunities here.  They could’ve revived a few of their dead shopping plazas with stores like Shun Fat Supermarket and popular Dim Sum restaurants (NBC, Ocean Star, Empress Harbor, Sea Harbor, etc).

TIC does not own the centers with Asian Grocers except for Zion. Zion is in one of the oldest TIC retail center after Vons moved to Orchard Hills. TIC has done things right but it has contributed very little to the cultural diversities in meeting the Asians needs other than providing new housing for a PRICE. Yes, they also lease to the 99 Ranch at Culver.

Northwood Town Center is not a TIC retail center.

The only TIC center with an Asian supermarket is Culver Plaza (Culver/Irvine Center Drive).

I have quite a bit experience dealing with TIC as their lease rates are very prohibitive to mom/pop businesses.

Even established companies are not doing to well… check out Crossroads on Barranca—Tilly’s, Famous Footwear, Weinerschnitzel, Steak Escape, Cal ChopStix and several others stores have all closed in the last 6 months… after being there for many years.

Northwood, which was developed in the early 1970s, is the only community in Irvine that was developed independent of the Irvine Company. Therefore, it is not governed by any homeowner’s association.

The area that is now Northwood started off as part of the Irvine Ranch. The Irvine family gave or sold parcels of the area as bonuses and gifts to ranch foremen and other employees. 23 such chunks of lands were held by different owners. These were organized by a single developer who named the area Northwood.

The original Town Center was developed by the Irvine family but also was given to the Ranch foremans families. The original Irvine family lost the company to Bren from a hostile take over. Many of the non TIC pockets that we are seeing today in the retails, offices, spectrum area, El Camino, College Park and industrial zones around VOC and Legacy were land parcels given away as bonuses instead of cash.

Thank you for pointing out the Northwood Town Center and I have almost forgotton about the history.

Another community called Northwood Pointe was developed in the 90s by The Irvine Company as a companion neighborhood to Northwood.

Lambert Ranch was another parcel given to a rancher as a bonus. His decendents decided to sell it instead of developing it after seeing the sluggish market at PS.

bkshopr - 01 October 2008 10:39 AM

Northwood, which was developed in the early 1970s, is the only community in Irvine that was developed independent of the Irvine Company. Therefore, it is not governed by any homeowner’s association.

The area that is now Northwood started off as part of the Irvine Ranch. The Irvine family gave or sold parcels of the area as bonuses and gifts to ranch foremen and other employees. 23 such chunks of lands were held by different owners. These were organized by a single developer who named the area Northwood.

The original Town Center was developed by the Irvine family but also was given to the Ranch foremans families. The original Irvine family lost the company to Bren from a hostile take over. Many of the non TIC pockets that we are seeing today in the retails, offices, spectrum area, El Camino, College Park and industrial zones around VOC and Legacy were land parcels given away as bonuses instead of cash.

Thank you for pointing out the Northwood Town Center and I have almost forgotton about the history.

Another community called Northwood Pointe was developed in the 90s by The Irvine Company as a companion neighborhood to Northwood.

Lambert Ranch was another parcel given to a rancher as a bonus. His decendents decided to sell it instead of developing it after seeing the sluggish market at PS.

Bk,

Enjoyed reading your comments on Lambert Ranch and found the discussions on that thread very interesting.
Why would the descendents that own Lambert Ranch not want to develop with TIC thru some form of JV?
That would seem like a win-win for them.
Instead, they’re now caught trying to unload it in a down market with few buyers.

tenmagnet - 01 October 2008 11:26 AM

bkshopr - 01 October 2008 10:39 AM

Northwood, which was developed in the early 1970s, is the only community in Irvine that was developed independent of the Irvine Company. Therefore, it is not governed by any homeowner’s association.

The area that is now Northwood started off as part of the Irvine Ranch. The Irvine family gave or sold parcels of the area as bonuses and gifts to ranch foremen and other employees. 23 such chunks of lands were held by different owners. These were organized by a single developer who named the area Northwood.

The original Town Center was developed by the Irvine family but also was given to the Ranch foremans families. The original Irvine family lost the company to Bren from a hostile take over. Many of the non TIC pockets that we are seeing today in the retails, offices, spectrum area, El Camino, College Park and industrial zones around VOC and Legacy were land parcels given away as bonuses instead of cash.

Thank you for pointing out the Northwood Town Center and I have almost forgotton about the history.

Another community called Northwood Pointe was developed in the 90s by The Irvine Company as a companion neighborhood to Northwood.

Lambert Ranch was another parcel given to a rancher as a bonus. His decendents decided to sell it instead of developing it after seeing the sluggish market at PS.

Bk,

Enjoyed reading your comments on Lambert Ranch and found the discussions on that thread very interesting.
Why would the descendents that own Lambert Ranch not want to develop with TIC thru some form of JV?
That would seem like a win-win for them.
Instead, they’re now caught trying to unload it in a down market with few buyers.

I have not seen any JV with TIC. Any one JV with TIC will gain instant branding recognition. KB Homes paid extra to be in Portola Springs so it can escalates its bad reputation up a notch by its presence on the Ranch because TIC carefully hand selected the creme of the crop. I do not see how TIC would benefit from this JV. Most land under new homes are on a 99 years lease and would LR be an exception?

bkshopr - 01 October 2008 01:34 PM

tenmagnet - 01 October 2008 11:26 AM

I have not seen any JV with TIC. Any one JV with TIC will gain instant branding recognition. KB Homes paid extra to be in Portola Springs so it can escalates its bad reputation up a notch by its presence on the Ranch because TIC carefully hand selected the creme of the crop. I do not see how TIC would benefit from this JV. Most land under new homes are on a 99 years lease and would LR be an exception?

I see what you mean.
There’s no real motivation for TIC to partner up or JV with anyone.
It’s the other way around like the KB example you provided.
Lambert Ranch missed the boat on developing the site and now must sell in a negative market.

Bread’s too expensive. 1.85 for what I can get for 0.85 at other bakeries.

Also kinda chaotic and not well-organized.

I haven’t been to an 85C in Taiwan but I’m not going to that one again.

Fraychielle - 03 October 2008 04:34 PM

Bread’s too expensive. 1.85 for what I can get for 0.85 at other bakeries.

Also kinda chaotic and not well-organized.

I haven’t been to an 85C in Taiwan but I’m not going to that one again.

0.85?? Are you sure you are quoting Irvine bread price?? No kidding.

85C bread is very tasty and very cheap considering the bread price in Irvine.

Go to American bakery for comparison. you will know.

Their 85 C coffee is excellent and cheap, too.

The only drawback is part of their pastries are Americanized, i.e., cakes are overly sweet!, and that kill me.

Nevertheless, definitely will be a frequent patron.

I didn’t care for it.  All the breads tasted the same and all had a hint of sweetness even the breads that should have been salty like the garlic or green onion.
My wife and I tried every single one, and only one that we cared for was cheese/cranberry one that looked like a dome. 

I also agree with Fraychielle, very chaotic and not very organized at all.  We didn’t get a chance to try the deserts, they looked good for its price.  So we will go back again to try the desserts, and if that doesn’t pan out for us, we wont go back.

As far as price, I didn’t think it was bad at all.  However, I would much rather pay 5 dollars for a piece of bread and eat it, then pay 1-2 dollars for something I won’t eat.  And at the same time if I’m going to infest my body with carbs, I’ll make sure they are worth it.

What is the factory behind the DJ plaza? It looks like a chemical factory. I am concerned about the water contamination

mimi - 05 October 2008 09:41 PM

What is the factory behind the DJ plaza? It looks like a chemical factory. I am concerned about the water contamination

Are you confusing Columbus Grove and DJ plaza?

mimi - 05 October 2008 09:41 PM

What is the factory behind the DJ plaza? It looks like a chemical factory. I am concerned about the water contamination

I was wondering about that too.  You see it straight ahead as you enter DJ from Alton.  It’s to the right of the parking structure and behind (and to the right of) H Mart.  It looks like a sewage treatment plant.

blackvault - 05 October 2008 11:27 AM

I didn’t care for it.  All the breads tasted the same and all had a hint of sweetness even the breads that should have been salty like the garlic or green onion.
My wife and I tried every single one, and only one that we cared for was cheese/cranberry one that looked like a dome. 

I also agree with Fraychielle, very chaotic and not very organized at all.  We didn’t get a chance to try the deserts, they looked good for its price.  So we will go back again to try the desserts, and if that doesn’t pan out for us, we wont go back.

As far as price, I didn’t think it was bad at all.  However, I would much rather pay 5 dollars for a piece of bread and eat it, then pay 1-2 dollars for something I won’t eat.  And at the same time if I’m going to infest my body with carbs, I’ll make sure they are worth it.

All Taiwanese bread tends to be sweet.  You see things in Taiwanese bakeries all the time that look convincingly like a baguette on the outside but take a bite and you will say WTF, this thing is sweet???(unless you are Taiwanese, of course).  In Taiwan, bread is not a staple carb like it is here, it is more of a specialty food, like a pastry.  By the way, if you want authentic bread from an Asian establishment, some Viet sandwich shops bake very authentic baguettes and I’ve spent quite a bit of time in France.  I’ll take a Viet head cheese baguette with liver mayo any day over a Subway sandwich.

fray’s right.  compared to other asian bakeries such as JJ, fake JJ, or diho bakery, $1.85 for one of those pastries is outrageous.  you can’t compare their prices with pacific whey.  they also didn’t seem to have much variety when i was there.  the bakery section was stocked so i thought each bin was a diff pastry.  turns out maybe half a dozen diff breads, just repeated in multiple bins.  blah…

the first time at the plaza i thought wow this place is going to do gangbusters business!  line out the door at every place that was open.  the 2nd time there the novelty had worn off and i looked around more objectively.  nothing in that plaza is all that exciting except the bbq chicken place and maybe guppy house, but those two are also the most novelty-like and rely on the younger clientele.  everything else already existed in irvine in other forms.  the dim sum place when it opens will be a real coup for the chinese community here though.

The 85 C ice coffee is fabulous…afraid it might be fatty but not as fatty as a frappacino.  Anyone know how they make this?  Hope its just half/half and not some condensed milk.

The pastries are great…love the garlic bun w/the green onions on it.

Try the muffin lookin blueberry bread, it’s got some kind of cream filling, its pretty darn good.

Now if i could only get in and out of there without feeling like I’m bombarded with hungry Asians, I’d go there more often.

Seems like all of Orange County’s Korean/Chinese have now flocked to this area. Where did they all come from???

Shooby - 10 October 2008 03:58 PM

Seems like all of Orange County’s Korean/Chinese have now flocked to this area. Where did they all come from???

You must not live in Irvine… hehe.

High Gravity - 08 October 2008 12:13 PM

blackvault - 05 October 2008 11:27 AM

I didn’t care for it.  All the breads tasted the same and all had a hint of sweetness even the breads that should have been salty like the garlic or green onion.
My wife and I tried every single one, and only one that we cared for was cheese/cranberry one that looked like a dome. 

I also agree with Fraychielle, very chaotic and not very organized at all.  We didn’t get a chance to try the deserts, they looked good for its price.  So we will go back again to try the desserts, and if that doesn’t pan out for us, we wont go back.

As far as price, I didn’t think it was bad at all.  However, I would much rather pay 5 dollars for a piece of bread and eat it, then pay 1-2 dollars for something I won’t eat.  And at the same time if I’m going to infest my body with carbs, I’ll make sure they are worth it.

All Taiwanese bread tends to be sweet.  You see things in Taiwanese bakeries all the time that look convincingly like a baguette on the outside but take a bite and you will say WTF, this thing is sweet???(unless you are Taiwanese, of course).  In Taiwan, bread is not a staple carb like it is here, it is more of a specialty food, like a pastry.  By the way, if you want authentic bread from an Asian establishment, some Viet sandwich shops bake very authentic baguettes and I’ve spent quite a bit of time in France.  I’ll take a Viet head cheese baguette with liver mayo any day over a Subway sandwich.

I used to buy Viet sandwiches from a place near Bolsa and…  I think Magnolia, next to a supermarket.  They use old style French breads (not the baguettes used by Lee’s) and sold the sandwiches at $1.50 each, buy 2 get 1 free.  So for $3 bucks you get 3 sandwiches.

In recent years they’ve raised the price to $1.75, but I think the large steamed pork bun is still 50 cents each.

Last time I was in Taipei, my friend there took me to this “NY Bagel Cafe” place where they advertise that the bagels were authentic and imported (frozen) from the US.  I almost fell off the chair, but then I noticed people there were ordering full plate meals and not the bagels.  o.O;;

Best breakfast bread I had in Asia…  Kaya toast, toasted over real charcoal grill with a little butter + jam made palm sugar, served in many breakfast shops in MY and SG   :D

Sometimes the best tasting food is the simple dishes!

Just got back from using my Tokyo Table gift certs and stopped by 85°.  I thought it was decent, the pastries were fresh.  We had the lemon one and the pinapple one.  The iced coffee is OK.  I tend to prefer it sweeter, though.

It was packed w/Chinese people.  I saw people leaving with like 7 bags, others w/2 full trays .. insane.  They’re going to be packed once the dim sum opens up.

The lonely Italian frozen yogurt place next door seemed depressingly empty.

Went back with the wife on Saturday and it was packed.  Lots of young people there after dates and hanging around.  This place will destory all of the other Asian bakeries in the area.

As for the price.. . true it is a little pricy if you are comparing it Ralphs but cheap compared to Zov’s or Whole Foods.

Momopi,

I’d love to know where can we get decent Kaya toast in LA/OC.