Barnes & Noble is coming to South Coast Plaza.
The bookseller is setting up shop in the Macy’s Home wing, which shoppers reach either by walking the pedestrian bridge over Bear Street or by parking under or next to the smaller of the two SCP retail centers.
Signage at the former Sports Authority store alerted readers to the new store, which Barnes & Noble confirmed via email to the Register.
The company said the 27,000-square-foot, single-story bookstore should be open by summer 2026. It will include its own company-branded B&N Café, plus an exterior patio.
Ironically, Barnes & Noble will be not that far from the former Borders bookstore, which closed 15 years ago as the national chain went bankrupt in 2010-11.
Barnes & Noble has been on an expansion kick in Orange County. It opened in 2023 in the former Aki Home store at the District at Tustin Legacy shopping center. It then pivoted in Orange, moving from its former store on Main Street, which burned in 2023, to its new home in the former Van’s Skate Park at the Outlets at Orange. That store opened in December. Another store also opened in November in Brea.
Other California stores opened in Brentwood, La Jolla and Los Gatos in Northern California. The company said three more stores are due this year in Clovis, Turlock and Elk Grove.
Since being acquired by a private equity firm and taken private in 2019, the company has been rebuilding. It plans on opening 60 stores nationwide in 2026, a company representative said.
Address: 3333 Bear St.
(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
85°C Bakery open in Brea
85°C Bakery Cafe is open in Brea, taking the place of a former Jerome’s mattress shop on Imperial Highway.
The Taiwanese bakery is known for its tea, coffee and baked goods, which range from sweet to savory. The company also makes an array of decadent cakes and confections.
85 Degrees, founded in Taiwan in 2003, launched in 2008 in the U.S. at Irvine’s Diamond Jamboree shopping center. It has since grown to more than 1,000 locations worldwide and has dozens of locations in Southern California.
The coffee shop is named for the company’s preferred temperature at which to serve coffee (85 degrees Celsius). The chain only serves espresso-based coffees (hot and cold). The drink selection also includes a variety of teas and smoothies.
2515 E. Imperial Hwy.
Mother’s Market coming to Dana Point
Mother’s California Market is coming to Dana Point, replacing Monarch Beach Market, which closed last year.
Signage went up at the storefront in recent weeks, alerting residents that Mother’s was in the works at Camino Del Avion where it meets Niguel Road. The grocery store is taking shape next door to Rosco’s and Project Social.
Facebook users chatting about the new store bemoaned the parking lot at the small shopping center.
“I love going to Project Social; it’s always a challenge to find parking,” wrote John Frink. “Just wait until Mother’s goes in there.”
For now, there’s no word from Mother’s on when the store will open. Stay tuned.
Address: 24040 Camino Del Avion G
Speed Queen laundry store open in Santa Ana
A new Laundromat opened Jan. 9 in Santa Ana, and it comes with a popular name brand.
Speed Queen, a maker of laundry appliances, opened its latest Speed Queen Laundromat franchise at 2502 W. McFadden Ave.
The 3,400-square-foot Laundromat features an array of large-capacity laundry appliances and space to sort and fold. The washers and dryers each can handle up to 100 pounds of clothing, so customers can get in and out fast, the company said.
Customers also can drop off their laundry and have it washed, dried and folded for a fee.
The franchise operator will offer two “Free Wash Weekends” of any capacity from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on specific weekends: Jan. 30-Feb. 1 and Feb. 6-8.
For more information about the Santa Ana location, call 714-677-4145 or go here or stores.speedqueenlaundry.com/ca/santa-ana/2502-west-mcfadden-avenue
On the move
Two Irvine attorneys at Kutak Rock were promoted to partnership roles, effective Jan. 1. Charles C. McKenna has 30 years of experience in business litigation, real estate law, public entity representation, mortgage lending and servicing, and labor and employment law. Susan B. Stabe also has nearly three decades of experience in intellectual property, focused on domestic and international trademark and copyright prosecution and more.
Good works
Feed the Children and Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. and Friendly Center held a resource rally Dec. 18, providing food and essentials to local families experiencing food insecurity. The event helped 400 families with a 25-pound box of shelf-stable food, a 15-pound box of personal care items and other products.
Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.