The gateway between Long Beach and Orange County, along Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street, is getting a facelift. Where the old SeaPort Marina Hotel used to be, construction has been underway for a new outdoor mall—the dazzling 2nd and PCH Shopping Center, opening next spring.
“This was really designed to be Long Beach’s living room,” said Rob Budetti, a 30-year veteran architect and partner at Architects Orange (AO). AO, which is in charge of designing the shopping center, is an industry leader in architectural design and planning practices.
2nd & PCH will have a heavy restaurant focus along with entertainment, fitness, and many other amenities. Currently, the focus on the shopping center is finalizing design components of the coastal contemporary complex as new tenants sign on to the outdoor mall. There will be a Whole Foods, and several eateries and shops will be added in the near future to boost the area’s aesthetic and consumer appeal.
“Marina Drive, which is, as of today, a fairly dead street, will be activated immensely,” Budetti said, referencing the rendering of the project. “Originally, we had a lot of restaurants and shops overlooking the Marina, but the back [of the complex] hadn’t been activated yet. So what’s really nice is that there will be more streetside retail and restaurants there as well.”
Perhaps one of the greatest selling points of the shopping center will be the large outdoor patios overlooking the Marina from the upper plaza of the complex, giving those cruising down Pacific Coast Highway a place to take in the cool breeze and see the boats on the bay. Just walk up the Spanish-style steps, and you will be in one big, central gathering area to hang out and take in the sights.
Once the outdoor mall opens, there will also be performances similar to Concerts in the Park, where 2nd and PCH Shopping Center visitors can take in great entertainment while sitting by water features or relaxing by fire pit after a fun day of dining and shopping.
Dine, relax and catch spectacular views of the Marina at the 2nd & PCH Shopping Center, expected to open spring 2019. For more information about 2nd & PCH visit, https://www.2ndandpch.com/
