What’s a good fit in the Square?

Are there family- or kid-oriented businesses that you think would be

good additions to a renewed Triangle Square?

What we need is a place where the whole family can shop and be

entertained. We don’t need any more trendy bars and nightclubs.

Everyone loves to shop at the Irvine Co.’s Spectrum Center, with

its chic stores and restaurants, or at Fashion Island with its

friendly ambience and interactive fountains and opportunities for

relaxing in the comfy outdoor furniture. The “front porch” concept is

making a comeback even at the shopping center.

Since the city promoted redevelopment in the first place, city

leaders should earnestly engage the leasing agent in serious

discussions and encourage them to meet with the Irvine Co.’s retail

properties experts for ideas on how to redo Triangle Square.

Niketown would make a perfect setting for a “Costa Mesa Children’s

Museum,” with hands-on displays offering fun and education for kids

of all ages, parents and teachers.

On the bottom level, how about a bowling alley or Palace

Park/Chuck E. Cheese-type operation with video games, “soft” play

areas and fast food?

Destination shoppers, especially teens, would flock to Starbucks,

Dietrich’s, etc., Abercrombie and Fitch and Forever 21 and See’s

Candy. A well-supervised “teen” dance hall would be a draw.

Outdoor, family-oriented concerts and more craft-type businesses

like Color Me Mine would make stimulating “family night”

entertainment.

The city could open a satellite office and offer recreational

classes to busy shoppers.

Safety is a big concern. A few years ago, gang thugs and drug

dealers came to Triangle Square and made it unsafe for kids to be

there unchaperoned. Clear rules, zero tolerance for offenses and a

top-notch security force would be imperative.

Hopefully, Triangle Square will have a renaissance. We can also

tell our kids the lesson about government interference in the

marketplace: If a commercial enterprise needs a public subsidy before

it will go forward, chances are the market does not exist to support

that enterprise. And, when government condemns private property in

order to “play developer,” leaders better make darn sure that they

know what they are doing.

Remaking Triangle Square definitely calls for thinking outside the

box -- I mean, outside the triangle and the square.

* WENDY LEECE is a parent who lives in Costa Mesa and a former

Newport-Mesa school board member.

How about a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink? Seems like

we’re a little short on those types of facilities. Maybe a Kohl’s

store? A budget movie theater?

I believe that we do need to replace family-oriented businesses

like Kona Lanes, the Ice Capades and Mesa Theater. However, I don’t

believe any of those could survive in Triangle Square. That place is

just a retail disaster. It features one of the all-time worst parking

structures and only has one safe pickup/drop-off area, both of which

make for a less-than-kid-friendly facility.

The only businesses that can survive in such a tough location are

“destination” businesses. You have to want to go specifically to a

“destination” business, and there can’t be another one around. The

Virgin store fits that description, as does the Yard House, and

Niketown also did. But Niketown was also a not a very good store.

Prices were high, and they didn’t have a lot of things one would

expect. I once went in for some track shoes, which they didn’t carry.

I never went back. What would have worked a lot better would have

been a Nike outlet store.

With the “destination” idea in mind, perhaps a Dave & Busters,

entertainment type of business might fit, though I’m not exactly

convinced that pounding tokens into game machines is the best way to

spend family time.

* MARK GLEASON is a parent who lives in Costa Mesa.