Youth movement at Triangle Square

For years, there has been too much hoping and not enough action at

Triangle Square.

There was hope a year ago when Edwards Theater announced it would

remain at the Costa Mesa shopping center, which has been troubled by

low occupancy, poor parking, bad traffic and a certain lack of buzz

since it opened in 1992. There was hope in 2003 when the investment

group behind the center announced plans to fill all the empty store

fronts. There’s been hope that the Yardhouse and Sutra Lounge would

signal a change of tenor, a dash of electricity, a certain something

to get the center full and rolling.

But now, Virgin Megastore has announced plans to vacate the

center, following its neighbor and fellow “anchor store” Niketown.

The response from Triangle Square’s owners? A prepared statement

saying they are working with an existing tenant to expand.

Count us less than impressed. Though we don’t discount the

dedication and drive of the owner of the Closet, who said he is

looking to expand into Virgin’s space, a juggling of businesses won’t

save the center.

And if it wasn’t clear before, it should be now: Triangle Square

needs saving.

The mix of businesses at the center, which is at an always-busy

intersection and the mouth of the Costa Mesa Freeway, isn’t working.

People are not going to pull in on a whim or get drawn to a store by

a nice sign. People avoid that intersection. They need a reason -- a

compelling one -- to brave the traffic that clogs at Triangle

Square’s doorstep.

Destination-type stores, such as the Yardhouse and Sutra Lounge,

make an obvious model. But there must be other, exciting -- and as

unique to the center as possible -- ideas to draw crowds. The Block

at Orange has a skate park. Although a public one just opened in

Costa Mesa, is there enough interest to support another one? What

about a bowling alley (if anyone still bowls, that is)? Could it fit

in the empty space in the basement that once held Whole Foods? Dare

we even mention an ice-skating rink?

Of course, ideas such as a skate park would lead the center toward

a particular demographic -- a young one. But would that be such a bad

idea? Kids are always the marketing world’s target audience, and our

teens and early 20-year-olds often have a bit of cash to spend. Right

now, businesses that cater to a younger audience seem to be the ones

thriving. Why not commit fully to creating competition for the Block?

Triangle Square needs to be a place people want to go to, and a place

where they want to hang out.

Nothing, though, will happen unless the owners of the center

commit to making it a success. We hope -- to use that word one last

time -- that the owners will finally get a plan together that makes

Triangle Square a boon, and not a boondoggle, for Costa Mesa.