Square needs new peg

Andrew Edwards

Niketown is gone, leaving a gaping vacancy in one of Costa Mesa’s

most high-profile shopping locales. The question that remains is what

kind of business should take its place.

Shoppers at Triangle Square on Sunday offered their thoughts on

what they would like see fill the hole left by Niketown’s departure.

A common thread linking many opinions was the idea that the location

would be best as an entertainment venue.

“Newport has more hot spots, and Costa Mesa, in order to be

competitive, it would be nice not to have to drive into Newport,”

Triangle Square shopper Susie Birmingham, 36, said.

Triangle Square management wants to attract entertainment and

nightlife to the mall, though no replacement for Niketown has yet

been found, Triangle Square spokeswoman Vanessa Showalter said.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor said the mall can become

successful, and he welcomes any business strategy that does not

bother residents.

“I’m open to all options, as long as it doesn’t cause a disruption

to the community,” he said.

Two nightspots, The Yard House and Sutra Lounge, have met success

at Triangle Square, though the two alcohol-serving locales have had

issues similar to those facing other bars and nightclubs. Costa Mesa

Police keep track of incidents around the mall, but Sgt. Marty Carver

said the force keeps tabs to look for trends to prevent the center

from becoming a problem, not because it has already become one.

“We don’t want to be caught off guard,” Carver said.

Huntington Beach resident Brandon Acosta, 22, suggested that

Triangle Square already has enough adult-oriented business and could

use an all-ages club for Costa Mesa’s youth.

A teenager echoed Acosta’s idea. Robert Rubio, 15, of Costa Mesa,

said he would like to see Niketown transformed into a concert hall.

“They should just add a venue,” Rubio said. “That would be cool.

If they added a lot more music, more kids would come here.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Costa Mesa resident Tony Karaya said an

indoor skate park could have a future inside Niketown’s old digs.

Others said retail is still the way to go, as long as Niketown’s

replacement is hip enough to draw customers.

“I’m thinking a clothing store, something that’s actually

popular,” 26-year-old La Habra resident Rachel Carver said. “There’s

a lot of college kids here, and they change their fashion.”