La Jolla Village Square

I think La Jolla Village Square is a great shopping center and was surprised that some of the reviews are so negative.
Firstly this IS NOT a mall. It’s a shopping center! Come for your errands. Groceries, dry cleaning, fast-​casual restaurants, a movie theatre and some retail stores. If you want a shopping mall, go to UTC or Fashion Valley!
Some of my favorite places to visit:
Ralph’s: best grocery store ever! They basically have everything you could ever need or want. Great produce and pharmacy too!
Trader Joes: 2^nd best grocery store ever. Lots of interesting products and TJ brands at great prices.
Starbucks: gotta get coffee, am I right?!
Marshall’s: love bargain hunting here!
Lastly, the parking lot is MASSIVE. At certain parts of the center at certain times of the day it can get busy, and some of the parking spots are WAY TOO SMALL. However, you can definitely get around it! Not a huge issue.

La Jolla Village Square was never a good mall, even when they had Tower Records.
I’ll admit that I used to be a regular at AMC and the Sports City Brewery on the second floor. That was a long time ago, and this place just doesn’t do anything for me anymore.
Okay, something good.
— The view of the Mormon Temple
— Ralphs
— Urban Plates moving in.
Complete insanity.
— Parking.
— Schlotzsky’s? Bahahah
There are so many reasons NOT to come to this mall but Urban Plates isn’t one of them.

I must be old when I remember this place used to be an actual mall. It started to go downhill when everyone started to go to UTC instead. It got a new life with the conversion of it from a traditional mall to a what I guess is called a food and entertainment center. It has a few shops and a wide variety of places to eat. The variety of places to eat is nice.
The biggest complaint like everyone has mentioned is the parking. Everyone enters and departs through the main entrance. It is easier to enter and leave from the west and south. They have less traffic and more parking.

It has most anything you need at a fair price. The only thing is it is getting ratty. It isn’t all that clean. The staff are not friendly. They do have a Wells Fargo, cleaners, and Red Box. I don’t know why they have a Starbucks since there is a real Starbucks just out the door. They have a so of lounge with two TVs on at the same time. There is another sitting area too. Both are so dirty and full of homeless types. They have a good selection of kosher. Trader Joes is next door. The parking is dangerous. The people here are aggressive drivers.

I will say that this review is for the outdoor seating near the theaters and the deli. Decided to sit outside and enjoy the sun while getting some work done on my laptop… loved it! I really liked the outdoor couches and appreciated the free WiFi.

This is NOT the place you want to meet at if it’s you or the other person’s first time. I’ve had everyone that has tried to meet me here for their first time be late! I warn them that it is confusing, that for sure they won’t find me and sure enough… they call asking for help. It’s often hilarious… but pretty traumatic if you are the one driving. Essentially there is an upper level, and a lower level… and each level has it’s own directions. Just keep driving and looking, you’ll find your destination. There is often a security guard roaming around– don’t be afraid to ask.
The La Jolla Village Square has a great selection of shops at your convenience in one area… that is if you can find them! HAHA! You have grocery shopping from Trader Joe’s to Ralphs and foodie places such as Chipotle, Starbucks, Z pizza, Jamba Juice, Fin’s, Daphne’s, Croutons, Pick Up Stix, CPK, Island’s, Ginza (inside the mall), a movie theatre, PetSmart, DSW shoes, ULTA, Ross, Marshalls, Best Buy, a Dentist… and a few more.
There is ample parking and you will find parking! The area in front of Trader Joe’s and Starbuck’s does not have the best parking design (expect cramped and small parking spaces) and traffic flow to be not so fun… but you’ll get through it.
Happy shopping and eating!

This place really isn’t as horrible as everyone says it is. It’s got ample parking spaces and a lot of great stores. The only badly designed area to park at is in front of trader joes and Ralph’s, so try not to park in that area if you can.
Overall, lots of places to eat and shop with plenty of parking. Very conveniently located as well.

Who designed this place, the entire place reeks of stupidity!
#1, the parking lot is maze there is no flow to it. Once you head down one direction you’re cut of from going to other places in the parking lot. It’s like a choose your own adventure book, there’s no going back once you’ve chosen a direction.
The parking stalls are narrow, they need to be 6 — 12 wider!
How the heck do you get in there? It’s so confusing! I was trying to get to the theater which is in the mall, but i couldn’t find the entrance! I walked under the LARGE sign saying ‘entrance’, it was the entrance to Ralph’s! Take a long walk around down a handicap ramp to the lower level and eventually found an entrance past a bunch of restaurants. The whole mall needs to be redesigned! Whoever created this malls’ floor plan is stupid! From the parking lot flow design to the mall itself, its just confusing and and random. The layout of the entire mall is spread out and convoluted. Break it down and start all over!

The worst parking lot I have been in. Period. Hands down.
That being said, the actual shopping center is fine and has everything you could need. There’s a movie theatre, Best Buy, 2 grocery stores (Trader Joe’s and Ralphs), various chain restaurants, and even an Ulta cosmetic store. The decent shopping still doesn’t make up for the abysmal parking.

Hate coming here due to the traffic and parking situation.
The Square does have its perks…
Or should I say perk…
TJs = Trader Joe’s = open late until 11p. FTW!!!

Its been 10 months and 14 days since my last review… now BOTH escalators are broken… FIX IT!!!

Yes, one of the worst parking lots in San Diego. It’s amazing that the psuedo-​La-​Jollans put up with it. Oh yeah, they are the ones SPEEDING through the parking lot! Come on people… parking lots are supposed to be less than 10 MPH.
The layout of the shopping center can be a bit confusing with the upper level and lower level. I love Trader Joes, but this particular one is too small. Jamba Juice, Islands, CPK & Daphnes Greek Café are good. I like browsing at Cost Plus, Marshalls & Ross. Some stores are passable: DSW, Best Buy, Ulta, Fins Mexican food is decent.
The AMC theatres here is old and doesn’t have stadium seating, so take that into account. Nice that it’s not crazy busy, but I don’t like paying the same price as I would for nicer seats in Fashion Valley or Mission Valley Center.
Ralphs (my least fave grocery store) has one of the worst parking lots EVER. I avoid the upper part of the shopping center completely.
La Jolla Village Square needs an overhaul and parking lot remodel… PLEASE!

This shopping center has the WORST parking/​parkers I have ever seen. Ever.
A few months ago I was completely blocked in by someone who literally parks like an idiot (I’d use a different word, but trying to keep it G-​rated). See picture.
Today, a woman rear-​ended me. When I pulled over to park and look at my bumper she kept on driving. Really? How is that okay?
If this shopping center wasn’t so conveniently located near where I live I would avoid it like the plague.
I recommend parking far away from everyone else and staying away from the main road that runs closest to the stores and restaurants.

I think the urban planners who designed this parking lot gathered one evening, decided to smoke a lot of pot, and gleefully planned out what surely is any road raged-driver’s nightmare. Then they planted cameras in the parking lot with the monitors in a secret room. Now, whenever they have a particularly bad day, they go inside this room to laugh at drivers suffering to navigate the poorly structured parking lot.

From DSW to Daphne’s Greek Café, I love the shops and restaurants here, but the parking lot is a clown show. Narrow spaces? Yes, great idea! Narrow spaces next to 2 grocery stores? Nope, no oversight here. Lots of one way twists and turns? Why not? Let me put it this way — I haven’t seen Labyrinth since I was still wearing LA Gear light up high tops and drinking Squeeze Its, but every time I go here, I understand young Sarah’s plight. Jareth might as well have designed this parking lot. (In which case, I almost wish he had because David Bowie is badass and I would have given one more star.)
Bottom line: some things are great tight and narrow. Parking spaces and lots are not one of them.

Why, dear God, why are there so many great stores in this mall — but such crappy parking?
While La Jolla Village Square has a plethora of great stores (Trader Joe’s, Fins, AMC 12, and even the Marshall’s), and the mall is visually pleasing, the parking situation is just plain horrible. Even when Tower Records was open here back in the day, I dreaded parking in the upper area where TJ’s, Ralph’s, and Islands were.
The parking garage is no better — I thought that the Convention Center’s was bad, but this is far worse. It’s like whoever drew up the plans for the place failed to take into consideration the vehicles we Americans drive (or the gas guzzler rage from a few years back).
Still, I’ll come here for Trader Joe’s, Fins, and the occasional movie at the AMC 12, but I’ll park across the street!

As everyone else have pointed out… THIS PARKING LOT IS ATROCIOUS!
They are SO lucky they have Trader Joe’s and Golden Spoon or that plaza would be empty. I used to live across the street from the TGIF next door and would be able to walk to Trader Joe’s, since I moved away EVERY TIME i’ve gone here parking, getting in, getting out has been a complete NIGHTMARE. And every time i leave thinking, «i need to write a review on Unilocal about this».
Once, I parked in the Trader Joe’s side and ACTUALLY got PARKED in. Someone decided it would be a great idea to park in front of the planter next to me WHICH IS ACTUALLY NOT A PARKING SPOT. It fits CARTS, not cars. Then the A**hole to my left parked EXTREMELY close to my driver door. I was literally STUCK in my spot unable to open ANY doors whatsoever and forced to wait for one of these crazy drivers to return to pull out of the spot blocking me out.
so unless all idiot drivers who don’t know how to use common sense stay at home, i would avoid this place like plague…
unless of course you are craving Golden Spoon’s coffee flavored soft serve with almond roca topping.

I’m not going to lie. Parking by the Ralph’s sucks. Outside of that this is a great shopping center that has everything from a 24-​hour Ralph’s (with free wi-​fi, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Golden Spoon Yogurt inside), Marshall’s, Trader Joe’s, Best Buy, Chipotle, Pick Up Stix, Jamba Juice, Daphne’s, Croutons, Sol Yoga, etc. If you park anywhere but in front of Trader Joe’s by Ralph’s the parking is fairly easy. There’s also an underground lot you can get to by entering off Nobel. You could literally get almost everything you could want to buy in this shopping center so I’m giving it a solid 4 stars.

The clean and aesthetically pleasing La Jolla Village Square – not to be confused with The Shops at La Jolla Village across the street – offers a nice variety of stores and eateries.
I visit this plaza most weeks and routinely hit up Marshalls, Ulta, and World Market.
A nice shopping plaza with the exception of one highly undesirable aspect – parking. Yeah, the parking situation at La Jolla Village Square is terrible. The spaces are tiny, and, alas, my car is a monster. Not a marriage made in Heaven.

THIS parking lot is Cursed, I tell you, CURSED!!!
Friday, 12:30 AM, late night fly-​in, my «Better Half» parks and runs in to Ralphs for some packaged salads cause there ain’t no food in the house. I roll the seat back to take a nap.
A few minutes later I begin hearing loud rattling and smashing near me. «Wasted Dude» is in the lot, launching shopping carts at bushes, cars etc. He thinks no one is in our car so he rolls one downhill at us. I jump out and Tae-​Bo it before it crashes in to our Audi.
As I’m pushing it away «Wasted Dude» says, «Huh, Huh, Huh, you must have been taking steroids to produce a kick like that!»
I reply, «Yeah, and your Mom must have been having sex with your Uncle to produce a Lowbrow like YOU!»
I take out my cell phone, call Ralph’s and ask, «Where the ‘F’ is your security?»
Another morning I go for my run at Torrey Pines and stop for my regular Golden Spoon peanut butter with brownie crumbs. Three other people and I are in the ped. crosswalk when suddenly they start scattering. Dude in a F150 speeds through and almost takes out all of us. He stops, I assume to apoligize, but instead laughs and speeds off.
Don’t worry Twinkle Toes, I hexed your ass. Your third set of t*sticles will begin growing in next week.
What can I say? We still come here, but, be afraid, be very, very AFRAID!!!