Ralph Lauren opened a retail store and its signature Ralph’s Coffee in late January at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It was the company’s first Ralph’s Coffee in California. Another would subsequently open in Palo Alto. (Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren)
Rocky road cookie from Levain Bakery, a 30-year-old New York City bakery that is opening in summer 2026 at Fashion Island. (Photo courtesy of Levain Bakery)
Fashion Island in Newport Beach is adding several new merchants in spring/summer 2026. (File photo: Sam Gangwer, Orange County Register/SCNG file)
New merchants are coming to Fashion Island in Newport Beach and Irvine Spectrum Center.
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Both centers are owned and operated by the Irvine Co., which sent along this update for both retail centers.
New this year and coming soon to Fashion Island:
Ralph Lauren opened a retail store and its signature coffee shop in late January. It was the company’s first Ralph’s Coffee in California. Another would subsequently open in Palo Alto.
Rothy’s also opened its Orange County’s first brick-and-mortar location. The brand sells footwear and accessories.
Coming soon:
Telefèric Barcelona: The restaurant is opening its first Orange County location and will offer Spanish cuisine and tapas and cocktails.
Levain Bakery: The fan-favorite East Coast brand is know for its “indulgent” cookies.
Varley: The contemporary apparel brand is opening its first Orange County store.
New at Spectrum Center:
Din Tai Fung: The popular noodle and dumpling restaurant chain is open and features a window where guests can watch the dumpling-making process.
La La Land Coffee: The cafe is known for its viral yellow cups and ultra-aesthetic interior. It’s the second location in Orange County for the brand.
Voluspa: The Orange County-based brand sells candles in ornate vessels. It’s the company’s third boutique.
New gym for La Habra residents
Planet Fitness celebrated the grand opening of its La Habra club, which took the place of a former Northgate store.
The gym is open 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 5 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Amenities include free Wi-Fi, locker rooms with showers and TVs with wireless connection to cardio equipment. The space also features free weights, cardio equipment, and mobility and stretching space. Specialty services for Black Card members include hydromassage loungers and chairs, recovery loungers, tanning beds and red light therapy.
Address: 580 W. La Habra Blvd.
UCI lowers tuition at its business school
The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine is lowering tuition for its Flex MBA and Executive MBA programs in order to meet federal loan limits established under the Trump administration.
The university said it was lowering tuition by up to 38% as it redesigns an AI-integrated curriculum.
This fall, Flex MBA tuition is going down by $30,000, and Executive MBA tuition will lower by $48,000. At $99,000, the Flex MBA now falls below that cap for graduate business degrees.
As for the addition of artificial intelligence in the programs, the business school dean said the pivot was about remaining relevant.
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“This is about access and relevance,” said Ian O. Williamson. “We’ve redesigned these programs to reflect today’s economy, where AI, flexibility and return on investment matter, and made them more attainable for professionals ready to advance their career.”
For more information on the MBA programs, go to https://merage.uci.edu/tuition-reduction.
The Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is hosting its 10th anniversary celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Balboa Yacht Club on Saturday, June 13, 2026. The featured vessel for the 2026 festival is the Tall Ship Spirit of Dana Point, operated by the Ocean Institute of Dana Point. (Photo courtesy of the Balboa Yacht Club)
The Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is hosting its 10th anniversary celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Balboa Yacht Club on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Balboa Yacht Club)
The Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is hosting its 10th anniversary celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Balboa Yacht Club on Saturday, June 13, 2026. In addition to dockside exhibits, the festival will offer 20-minute harbor cruises in gondolas for $20 per person. (Photo courtesy of the Balboa Yacht Club)
Wooden boat festival is June 13
The Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is hosting its 10th anniversary celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Balboa Yacht Club on Saturday, June 13.
The event will feature some 40 wooden-hull vessels ranging from powerboats to sailboats and custom wooden craft. The featured vessel for the 2026 festival is the Tall Ship Spirit of Dana Point, operated by the Ocean Institute of Dana Point.
In addition to dockside exhibits, the festival will offer 20-minute harbor cruises in gondolas, live music, maritime education displays, and food and beverage options for purchase.
Admission is $10 per person. Children ages 12 and younger are free. Gondola rides are $20 per person. Parking will be available off-site with a free shuttle service to the Club. Additional event details are at newportbeachwoodenboatfestival.com.
Address: 1801 Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar
$8M gift aimed at UCI Health’s brain clinic
UCI Health received an $8 million gift that will go toward establishing the J.W. and Sandra Mitchell Neurosciences Clinic.
The clinic will be the home for outpatient neurology and neurosurgical care at the UCI Health at its Irvine medical campus. The university health system said the gift would also help it bolster “collaborative research in movement disorders.”
The 14,910-square-foot neurosciences clinic is on the fourth floor of the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and will include neurology, neurosurgery, brain imaging, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The space includes 21 exam rooms, two treatment rooms, consultation and private office space for clinicians and staff.
J.W. Mitchell was a prominent businessman and property owner in the region who also loved to race cars. He suffered serious injuries in a raceway crash in 1999, and ultimately succumbed to a traumatic brain injury. His wife Sandi would go on to establish the J.W. and Sandra L. Mitchell Foundation in 2016 and was its trustee until her death in February 2024.
Good works
Girls Inc. of Orange County’s 2026 Sneaker Ball raised $400,000 to support the organization’s workforce development and college readiness programs. The program, which will help at least 1,300 girls this year, provides mentorship, STEM education, leadership development, entrepreneurship and career-connected learning opportunities. The “Ready or Not, Here They Come” event was held May 2 at Fête the Venue in Costa Mesa.
Orange County resident Anthony Santiago received a $1,500 scholarship at the Emerging Leaders for Civic Engagement awards ceremonies hosted by Santa Ana-based America On Track. Santiago spent five years as a teen leader in the ELCE program, receiving a combined $6,450 in scholarships, along with leadership opportunities, mentorship, and civic engagement training. The high school graduate is now moving on to college. The organization said 93 students participated in this year’s ELCE awards ceremonies, including 55 teen leaders and 38 elementary school students.
New Directions for Women held its 18th annual Circle of Life Brunch on May 7 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, raising $225,000 for the Costa Mesa-based nonprofit. The organization’s signature event was attended by at least 260 guests who support “the transformation of lives of women and families affected by addiction.” For more information about New Directions for Women, go to newdirectionsforwomen.org.
Editor’s note: A savvy reader with a long memory reminded the Register that Erewhon had a store in Orange County decades ago. Erewhon Nature Foods operated at South Coast Village in the 1980s. If you missed the news, Erewhon is returning to the county, bringing its super-expensive organic grocery store to Costa Mesa in 2027.
Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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