1. Anaheim Packing District

440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim; anaheimpackingdistrict.com

Originally a 1919 citrus packaging facility, the Anaheim Packing House in 2014 was reopened, historically preserved and repurposed as a market hall, according to Shaheen Sadeghi, CEO of Lab Holding and Packing District.

“The Packing District, which encompasses four historic buildings preserved through adaptive reuse, features a diverse, international array of over 30 independent operators, including chef-driven concepts, breweries, wineries and distilleries, creating a harmonious blend of culinary experiences,” Sadeghi said.

He said LAB Holding (an acronym for Little American Businesses), the creative real estate developer behind the Anaheim Packing District and other projects like The Camp in Costa Mesa, has a specialty of fostering gathering spaces for local communities and visitors — attracting those looking for connection, culture and localization.

“This journey has not only been about food but also about creating a community where diverse expressions of new young businesses could thrive,” he said.

Sadeghi said Wooden Pearl opened in April this year at the Packing House with Executive Chef Dago Caceres at the helm cultivating a fresh take on California surf and turf.

“LAB Holding continues to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant, community-focused developments, including two projects anticipated to launch this year, The Plant in Costa Mesa, which is an art- and design-focused concept within multiple retrofitted warehouses and New Makers District in San Marcos, which has been described as the spirit of Burning Man meets retail,” he said.

2. River Street Marketplace

31856 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano; 949-506-1875; riverstreetsjc.com

The vision for River Street Marketplace was to create a vibrant gathering place that honors the community’s heritage while introducing unique, high-quality brands to San Juan Capistrano, according to Dan Almquist, managing partner for development company, ALMQUIST.

“Built in the Los Rios district, the oldest neighborhood in California, the marketplace features elevated agrarian architecture, broken up into smaller buildings designed around central greens,” Almquist said. “The space features modern dining concepts, curated retail, local art, a butcher and a full bar and brewery.”

This summer, ALMQUIST broke ground introducing The Canopy at Great Park, a 12-acre experiential destination, scheduled to open in late 2026. ALMQUIST is also working on the Fox Block in Fullerton, expected to break ground next year. It will be an indoor/outdoor public market, adjacent to the historic Fullerton Fox Theatre.

3. 4th Street Market

201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana; 4thstreetmarket.com

4th Street Market is a culinary hub made up of creative chefs, food artisans and small business entrepreneurs, and a dedication to fostering new talent.

“This food hall is designed to ease and streamline the process for chefs bringing their ideas from concept to consumer. Beginning with the greatest challenge for most young chefs — startup costs — we offer retrofitted restaurant spaces, including hoods, plumbing, electrical and general equipment,” according to the website.

CulinaryLab (aka Co-Lab) is part of 4th Street Market and is where early-stage food businesses can experiment in a real-world setting.

In July, Co-Lab announced the grand opening of two culinary concepts: JAR:BECUE and Pizza House OC. JAR:BECUE is a new concept from Chef James “JJ” Jung, uniquely melding his Korean heritage with barbecue. Pizza House OC is a new Brazilian-style pizza concept from Chefs Pedro and Katie Campos.