*Image above is from Paperless Post, found through NYC Recessonista's post
A big "thanks!" to GigiOfCa {of the delightful Gigi's Gone Shopping blog} who came up with a brilliant suggestion for a series of post: a city guide where JCAs can suggest which J.Crews to shop at.
Feel free to share other tidbits of advice. For example... What are your top three spots? Are there certain stores that should be avoided at certain times of the day/ week? Are there stores that have a better selection than others? Which stores have the best sale offerings?
Which J.Crew brick & mortar (B&M) stores in L.A. should an out-of-towner shop at? Which stores should be avoided? Please share! :)
If you're down in Orange County, I would recommend South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. This is a very large store and they're premium so they have cashmere and shoes. Great customer service - always willing to locate an item, match online prices, etc. They usually have a large sale section too.
ReplyDeleteThe Grove is very busy, I was pickpocketed there and lost my camera with all of my anniversary pics and my credit card.
ReplyDeleteThe J Crew in Malibu at the Lumbar Yard wins my award for the most paradisiacal shopping spot in the world.
OMG that's terrible! I visited the Grove store in June and got the cutest map tote there, but agree it was super busy.
DeleteI second the recommendation for the South Coast Plaza store. The store is quite large, and is about to get larger with the opening of their mens store this summer. The sales associates have always provided fantastic customer service. I live an hour away from the closest store, and they're always so patient when I bring in returns or want to order something they don't have in sock from the website/we will find it.
ReplyDeleteI also recommend the Valley Fair store in San Jose. Its very similar to the Costa Mesa store. They have a great assortment of merchandise and friendly sales associates, but their sale section is ridiculously tiny.
There's a J Crew in El Segundo now, so you can immediately hop off the plane and go shopping! I'm from the South Bay and don't like crowds, so I like the J Crew in Rolling Hills, but I doubt there's ever a reason for a tourist to be down that way. If you're on the westside, you probably want to make a trip to the Century City and Santa Monica stores, which you can tie into other tourist activities, like Rodeo Drive and the beach. I consider the South Coast Plaza a tourist attraction in itself (and sales tax is lower in Orange County). I agree - try to avoid the Grove. It's always so crowded and there aren't that many other stores there. Ultimately, in LA, it comes down to location and traffic. You'll be depressed if you drive out of your way for one store, so try to tie it into something else. No sale section is worth wasting your vacation sitting in traffic. I'd rank Santa Monica as #1 for tourists because there's lots more shopping on the Promenade and you can do so much more all within walking distance.
ReplyDeleteOh yes I forgot the one in Third St Promenade, Santa Monica, very friendly helpful staff.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this one...their selection is really good!!
DeleteI also recommend the South Coast Plaza store, of all the SoCal locations. I, too, live at least an hour from a B&M and this is my preferred location.
ReplyDeleteEl Segundo is small and I've received less than steller CS. I won't shop there anymore. Glendale has great customer service, including PS Amy, but selection can be limited due to it's size. Although Grove is busy, it's my second choice after the South Coast Plaza.
Happy shopping!
Sorry ladies! I would suggest that if you are visiting Southern CA you would want to skip South Coast Plaza. :( It's my absolute least favorite store. South Coast Plaza is a great mall (if you are visiting) but South Coast J.Crew is terrible. It's small and runs out of sizes. If you are visiting and are planning to make a trip to LA then you need to hit the J.Crew at the Grove or Santa Monica. I don't leave Orange County except to make a weekend trip to go a J.Crew store at either of the LA stores. If you REALLY need to go to a local B&M in Orange County then go to Mission Viejo (The shops at Mission). Their selection is a lot smaller but they match online prices if you ask. South Coast may do this but you will definitely feel they are doing you a favor. :(
ReplyDeleteThe Third Street Promemade store in Santa Monica has my vote. Nice staff and good location.
ReplyDeleteI live in southern ca. and my closest B&M's are half hour away each; they are South Coast Plaza and Pasadena. I frequent South Coast more only because I'm mostly around that area and I agree with others is a big stores and carries shoes, accessories, etc. But i think Pasadena is my favorite, it's bigger than SC, has more stock, nice sale area and has crewcuts/mens; it's also in a touristy area. I heard it has recently been revamped, although I haven't been yet. I occasionally visit the J.crew Glendale Americana at Brand (3rd Favorite), San Diego @ Fashion Valley (small, not much selection), Santa Monica (location, location!-but I think is women's only??), and The Grove (least favorite-I think SAs are a bit snobbish there). That's all.. HTH!
ReplyDeleteI love the Pasadena store too. It's smack in the middle of old town Pasadena where there's lots of great restaurants and shops.
DeleteI like the Pasadena store, also (it's pretty and has a large selection of regular price, decent selection for sale items) but I am wondering where you live that would be only half-hour drive to either Pasadena or Costa Mesa?? You must not be calculating that with L.A. traffic! ;-P
ReplyDeleteI always go to the Glendale store because that is where I run errands, but I wouldn't recommend it because it is small and the sale section is usually terrible. Their staff is very nice though, especially one guy who I think is a manager and is always cheerful and fun.
I live in the chino/IE area, which I would say its in the middle. It's a half-hour drive south to Costa Mesa or half-hour north to Pasadena. Of course, that's without traffic... However, I always try to avoid rush hour or make sure that I go against traffic. So far, it has worked! But I know what you mean about L.A traffic, yikes!
DeleteThe store in El Segundo is my least favorite one! The customer service there is terrible. Either no one will come ask if you need help or a room, or when you make a return, they make you feel so out of place. Somehow the associate at that store have a terrible attitude that I don't often see at the other stores I have been and go to.
ReplyDeleteI agree that both South Coast and Pasadena are hood locations to visit,
If you are in LA, I would recommend the J Crew in the Century City mall over the Grove. The Grove store is tiny and the selection is really slim.
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ReplyDelete