By Sharon Stello
Russell and Andrea Young, the power couple who developed The OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa and Union Market at The District at Tustin Legacy, are proud to call Newport Beach home. Andrea—who spent part of her childhood here—met and married Russell in San Francisco; they lived in Arizona before moving back to Orange County to be closer to family.
“What I love is that we can walk to everything,” Andrea says of the peninsula, where they now reside after moving from Newport Heights.
When not strolling to nearby shops and restaurants, the Youngs enjoy riding their Vespa scooters around town, attending high school sporting events and plays at Newport Theatre Arts Center—where their 13-year-old daughter Savannah sometimes performs—or taking their boat out on the water.
“We’re a block to the beach and a block to the bay, so I mean, it’s just beautiful,” Russell adds. “… Even though it’s a peninsula, you feel like you’re on an island.”
The area provides a retreat for Russell and Andrea when they’re not working on business projects in nearby cities. No longer involved with The OC Mix (established as The OC Mart Mix in 2010), they are now focused on Union Market, which opened in the fall of 2014 in Tustin with a blend of restaurants, gourmet food vendors and artisan retailers. Another Union Market is in the works to open soon at the Kaleidoscope shopping center in Mission Viejo. The Youngs say they would love to find a perfect spot for a market in Newport, but until then, the couple has discovered plenty of places to dine, shop and relax in town. Here, they divulge a few of their favorites.
RISE AND SHINE
“Every morning I go to … the little, tiny My Galley [on Balboa Boulevard],” Andrea says. “… It’s a little breakfast place and they’re the nicest people. They know my name, they know my order and they are wonderful. I’m there every single morning, and if it’s not food, I pick up my iced tea.”
COASTAL COMMUTE
“Even though it’s longer, I take the [Balboa Island] Ferry almost every morning because I like to just sit on it and have coffee and look out. I go home that way probably half the time, too,” Russell says. “… I’ll jump on it just to relax and see the harbor.”
A NIGHT OUT
“We love Billy’s [at the Beach],” Andrea says “… We like the live music and it’s on the water. It reminds me of Hawaii. … I always get wine, but the mai tais are great.”
DINNER TIME
“The Porch—[we like] the atmosphere, the food is delicious and it’s local,” Andrea says. “We see all of our friends every time we go there. We ride our Vespas there. … I get the chicken with risotto. It’s delicious.”
RETAIL THERAPY
“Bohemia—it’s a little clothing store that I go to,” Andrea says. “… I can walk there. I love it. … [It’s] casual, fashionable, affordable.”
CENTER STAGE
“The Newport Theatre [Arts Center] up on the hill—they’re wonderful,” Russell says. “The playhouse is kind of a little gold mine up there. I don’t think people think of it all the time, but they do a nice job. It’s an intimate theater.”
