Shopping is believing ! Shop 'til Drop !

• Malls, Plazas, Shopping Streets, and Shopping Arcades
• Markets
• Big Stores
• More Info & Search Engines

1. Century City Shopping Center link | map | theatre -- Some 140 stores make this one of LA's premier outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complexes. You could find a Disney's store here. 15 mins drive from USC, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood.
   
   
2. Glendale Galleria link | map -- Enormous San Gabriel Valley Mall that includes The Broadway, Nordstroms & J.C.Pennys plus over 250 other shops and restaurants. Used to be the only place where you can find an Apple (Macintosh computer) store in LA. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale.
   
   
3. 3rd Street Promenade link | map | theatre -- Famous pedestrian shopping promenade in Santa Monica. Buskers and unique street performers are just part of the carnival like atmosphere found here. Vast range of shops and dining options to suit everyone.
   
   
4. Beverly Center link | map | theatre -- Up market mall with over 160 Fashion, Department and Specialty stores. Also contains Cinema's Restaurants and the world famous Hard Rock Cafe of Beverly Hills. Look out for Elvis Presley's old Cadillac perched nose first into the wall above the entrance. 8500 Beverly Boulevard.
   
   
5. The Grove link | map | theatre -- A new borned place for LA people to hang out since 2002, next to Farmer Market, not only there are a lot of shops around but you could also take a 2 story tram to go round this place. You may see a splendid animated fountain from above and there are 14 huge movie theatres here, really close to USC, really beautiful place, even the parking space looks good. You could find the 2nd Apple store here. It's on Fairfax and 3rd Street.
   
   
6. Melrose Avenue link | map -- Three mile stretch of the funky & exotic. Eye catching shop fronts contain everything from Art galleries, retro boutiques and a vast range eateries. This area is perhaps the most outlandish in LA with multi colored hair way out fashions its worth a visit just to people watch.
   
   
7. Old Town Pasadena link | map -- This restored 12 Block shopping complex has a vast range of Shops, Boutiques, Restaurants, and Gift stores.
   
   
8. Larchmont Ave link | map -- has nice restaurants and brand name stores, cool people to watch, hard to find parking spot. There is a good but very expensive chocolate shop near Blockbuster but you might want to try some of the free samples there, before deciding which one you should buy.
   
   
   
9. Rodeo Drive link | map -- Beverly Hills, this is truly a gold card shopping area with the most expensive shops in the world all here rowed up side by side. Definitely only for the serious shopper, although window shopping is free and quite an experience in itself. Whilst here why not take a 30.min. tour of the area for a dollar on the old fashion Beverly Hills Trolley Bus. Runs on the hour daily between July and Sept. from 10.30 - 5.30 Tel: (310)-285-2563 it will be the only bargain you'll find.
   
   
10. University Village (UV) map -- For someone who doesn't have time but need to buy something. Across the street of USC on Jefferson Blvd is a plaza wanna be "University Village". It contains 3 stinky theatres, supermarket, salons, photo processing shop, an international food center, and more.
    
    
11. Universal City Walk link | map | theatre -- Gifts, souvenirs, specialty and eateries on a two block pedestrian promenade outside Universal Studios. Night time visit for the lights and atmosphere is best. Contains the larger of the Hard Rock Cafes.
    
    
12. Kodak Theatre link | map | theatre -- A new grand icon on Hollywood Blvd, a home of Oscar Nomination Show.
    
    
13. Disneyland and Disney Downtown link | map -- If you really have time, don't you want to check it out ? About an 40 mins drive from USC.

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1. UV 32 Markets map -- the default for people living near Hoover Blvd or went to have some meal at UV.
2. Ralphs link | map -- more fancy selection than Vons, but sometimes it's more expensive, near USC and all over LA.
3. Vons link | map -- lower prices than Ralphs and good quality stuffs, the nearest one's on Vermont and 3rd St.
4. Bangluck Market map -- on Hollywood and Alessandro Blvd, Thai town, have lots of Thai foods both dry and fresh. In the same plaza, shared a Thai bookstore (very updated issues), and Sanam Luang restaurant.
5. Bangkok Market link | map -- on 4757 Melrose exit 101 North, goes West Melrose. It's on you right.
6. 99 Ranch Market link | map -- Alhambra Chinese market, really big and good, on Valley Blvd, exit 10 East at Delmar North.
7. Mitsuwa link | map[Santa Monica, Torance] -- Japanese supermarket, has several small stores and a food center inside each branch.Some of the products have free samples.
8. Nijiya link1 | link2 | map[Sawtelle, Torance1, Torance2] -- Japanese, one in Little Tokyo, there is one store in Sawtelle Place (2130 Sawtelle), and two in Torance.
9. Farmer Market link | map -- Famous market that boasts international cuisine, wide range of gifts from around the world, regular special events for the family and fresh produce & flowers.
10. Albertsons link -- never be on my route
11. Gelsons link | map -- up scale American supermarket, I found one in Century City.
12. Rite Aid link -- major in selling medicines. There are 2 of them along Vermont Blvd North of USC.
13. Walgreens link | map -- the enemy of Rite Aids but it have a really good Kodak film processing inside. One near Vermont and Wilshire Blvd.
    
    -- more (Thai) markets...
    

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1. Best Buy link | map[Los Feliz, Burbank, Sawtelle] -- It sells some computer parts, furniture, TVs, Phones, VDO games, Programs, Digital Cameras, Camcorders, DVDs, VDOs, CDs, and much more. It has many branches, and 2 of them are next to Costco, unlike Circuit City, CompUSA, and Fry. So very convenient to get there on the weekend to buy both groceries and electronic stuffs. If you bought any hardware from here but after a while you don't like them, you could always return them within 30 days, without restocking fee. Don't forget the receipt.
   
   
2. Circuit City link | map[La Cienega, Sunset, Burbank] -- Sells only electronics, not as big as Best Buy but you could also return the hardware within 30 days, no restocking fee.
   
   
3. CompUSA link | map[Burbank, Culver City] -- The name said it all. You can find Macintosh here but don't expect to see specialized PC parts here. One of the store is right across the street of IKEA, K-Mart, and near the AMC Media Center North 6 theatre.
   
   
4. Fry's electronics link | map[Burbank, Industry] -- Alien invaded theme (not kidding) huge store, about the same size as Macro in BKK, has the most selection of general hardware tools, electronics, and computer hardware (but not as much as Pantip I think). You could find an empty computer case, specialized cable, or mainboard here without going online (couldn't find them in any of the stores above). But if you want to return them, you will be charged for restocking fee (up to them how much you have to pay).
   
   
5. Costco link | map[Los Feliz, Burbank, Alhambra] -- It's a gigantic whole sale store where you have to be a member or know someone who is the member to get it (like Macro in BKK). Cheap stuffs (shampoos, tissues, paper towels, water, soft drinks, wines, fresh meats, vacuum cleaners, computers, DVD, VDO, games, batteries, detergents, candies, jewels, flowers, medicines, camping stuffs, cooking stuffs, bathing stuffs, bed stuffs, and a lot more thing you thought you won't find them here (told you it's big). But not many selection for each of them, just good enough famous brand name and cheap. You could even buy and let them install the car tires here.
   
   
6. Staples link | map -- Stationary, computers, and office stuffs. There's one for emergency, really close to USC and Staples Center. You can get there by Dash route 'F'.
   
   
7. Office Depot link | map -- The enemy of Staples, less selection on stationary. They also sells office furniture. Also on the way of Dash route 'F'.
   
   
8. Home Depot link | map[Sunset, Wilshire] -- Everything for the home maker; furniture's, advanced and basic tools, materials, parts, chemicals, trees, technology, and knowledge. They teach people how to paint the wall, how to plant the garden in their workshops. Thai people usually drop by the Sunset branch on the way from or to Thai town.
   
   
9. Target link | map[Alhambra, Burbank] -- Sells cheap but creative and stylish stuffs, groceries (but no fresh stuffs), electronics, stationary, clothes, plates, cookware, camping gadgets, and furniture. You could find a cheap nice silent analog wall clock and shade partition here. You could return stuffs within 90 days with the original receipt and package.Both targets are next to or near Costco.
   
   
10. Kmart link | map[Vermont, The Grove, Burbank] -- Almost same categories as Target, some stuffs are believed to be cheaper but hard to find their prices. The only store having Martha Stewart's product lines on its shelf.
    
    
11. Wal-Mart link | map -- Sells stuffs almost like Kmart, but more selections, more categories, about the same cheap price, bigger store. But really far and stand alone, near Thai Temple in North Hollywood.
    
    
12. Ross link | map[The Grove, Burbank] -- Cheap brand name cloths, stylish arts and crafts.
    
    
13. Pier 1 Imports link | map | sales -- Beautiful woods and organic furniture, expensive but also great quality goodies. Look for the sale stuffs.
    
    
14. IKEA link | map -- Sells cheap great looking furniture's that save space. They help you think how to make your small room functions, simple, organized, and classy. You would need a car or someone with a car if you want to buy large stuffs like cabinet or desk. You would also have to assemble the big furniture's like bookshelf, bed, wall shelf, lamp, and table by yourself. I thought it was fun to do it, though. There's a lot of people who might be able to help you here. You could return any item you don't want with in 45 days. If you forget the original receipt, they will credit it to a fancy magnetic giftcard for your next time shopping.
    
    
15. Barnes & Noble link | map[3rd St, The Grove, Old Town] -- The biggest bookstore chain in the US, has so many types of books in it, always has restroom and long-line coffee shop.
    
    
16. Kinokuniya link | map -- Know the one in Isetan in Would Trade Center, BKK ? It's better than that one (more Japanese book store here).
    
    
17. Blockbuster link | map[Vernon, Washington, Pico, Larchmont] -- Rent or buy movies and VDO games. Some stores doesn't have the games rental services. Not every store have the same amount of movie selections. Seem like the Larchmont branch is one of the largest.
    
    
    

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