Built in 1977, the Brea Mall has been the perfect hangout and shopping spot for many. Countless stores and people have come and gone, as it changes with the times and is the perfect place for people to shop for all kinds of products. From clothes to furniture, the Brea Mall has it all–one of the many reasons why the people of Orange County are so attracted to it. 

In the past 3 years, the Brea Mall has been renovating in every way, bringing new stores and a modernized look to the building. Construction was first approved in May 2023, and now, almost 3 years later, the construction team is reaching the end of this renovation. Holly Keitel (10) is a frequent shopper at the Brea Mall and says, “The construction was annoying, but I am happy that they added all those new stores. I especially really like the outdoor area they added.” Expected to be completed in 2026, the Brea Mall has seen lots of new additions, from restaurants to a slim eatery. 

Even though the Brea Mall has been a very popular place to shop in the past few years, it has become even more popular with the new additions. Amongst these additions is the outdoor area, which features a coffee shop, furniture store, beautiful greenery, and fun activities for kids to enjoy. Amanda Lamb, a resident of the area, recently started coming to the Brea Mall more often. Amanda shares her opinion on the new outdoor section, saying, “I love the outdoor area! I have noticed that it has also brought more people, especially families with young kids.” What may have once been only a fun experience for parents can now be a fun experience for their kids as well, thanks to the games included. 

The mall’s general indoor area was expanded, and many shoppers have noticed a difference in style and structure. Joey Miller, the store manager of UNIQLO, talks about the new style, “The new section is definitely more modern. People seem to like this area more than the old one, so the new style might be why.” The new area is modern, very sleek, and clean; in contrast with the rest of the mall, it feels like a completely different place. 

As for the news stores, there have been some fun additions to the mall. The list includes UNIQLO, Lululemon, Zara, and many more. Kristen Slymen, an employee at FP Movement, has noticed changes since these new renovations, describing, “There have been a lot more people since the new stores opened, and plenty of foot traffic in addition to the regular car traffic.” These are only a few of the stores that are located in the new section of the mall, but in addition to these, there have also been other stores, such as H&M and Slimeatory, opening in various parts of the mall. 

In addition to these three stores, the Brea Mall now has its very own Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese restaurant known for its delicious dumplings. Other restaurants include North Italia, Kalbi Social Club, Heytea, The Kebab Lab, The Alley, and even a Philz Coffee. As for the fashion and retail stores, the new additions include North Face, Alo, TravisMathew, and Purification Garcia. These amazing stores are helping make the mall all the better as they each bring a new selection to shopping and dining. 

In the 49 years the Brea Mall has been operating, there have been countless changes. From new stores to physical renovations, this mall is continuously evolving with society, leaving part of the old, classic mall style, while still including the new and modern style. As stores come and go, the mall continues to be a major hangout spot for people of all ages. It is already very advanced in construction, so it will only be a matter of time before the mall is ready for everyone’s enjoyment.