RETAIL ROUNDUP:

They may not be South Coast Plaza or the Irvine Spectrum, but Costa Mesa’s alternative shopping centers are anticipating big business in the weeks before school begins — in large part because they’re not South Coast Plaza or the Irvine Spectrum.

The Lab and the Camp, across from each other on Bristol Street, are offering heavy back-to-school sales as summer vacation draws to a close.

Monet Quick, the marketing and communications director for both centers, said the stores’ demographic has expanded far beyond the student crowd that first made them popular, but the late summer was still their best business time before Christmas.

“It’s pretty much the place to shop for a lot of people,” she said. “We did that sidewalk sale last week and I would say 1,000 people showed up.”

Now, the majority of shops in both centers — part of the SoBeCa District, short for “South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts” — are slashing prices and offering special deals on popular school items, mostly clothes.

Among the limited-time specials:

 ARTH will offer hats for up to 50% off through Sept. 3.

 Customers who buy three pairs of shoes at Habit can get a fourth pair for one penny, while other items are on sale for 50% to 75% off through Wednesday.

 Blankstyle will offer 50% off its American Apparel and Bobi lines through Sept. 3.

 Humanitaire, a boutique featuring clothing entirely free of animal products, will offer discounts of up to 50% while supplies last. Through Aug. 31, customers can get 15% off any regular-priced item with a receipt from the Native Foods restaurant next door (the receipt must be dated in August of this year).

 Marmi, a women’s shoe store in the Corona del Mar Plaza on Avocado Avenue, caters largely to a crowd past school age, but it’s having a fall preview of its own this weekend. Through Sunday, customers can purchase all fall merchandise at 10% off, with a heady collection of shoes, hats and handbags to choose from.

More than 100 new shoes are on display in the store, with open-toed sandals mostly out, and closed tops and boots lining the shelves again. There is also a rack of elegant high heels, mostly from the Vaneli di Notte brand.