4 /5 Douglas Shin: I visited Ontario Mills on December 24 with my wife and our son for the first time in a while. Compared to previous visits, the mall felt noticeably less crowded overall.
Department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue were especially quiet, while discount stores such as Marshalls were much busier. The only place where I saw a clear line was at a shoe store selling UGG. Seeing this contrast made me wonder a bit if consumer spending in the U.S. might be slowing down.
It took us nearly three hours to make a full loop around the mall, which says a lot about its size. While walking through, we noticed that it was raining, and inside PacSun there were actually spots where water was leaking from the ceiling, which was a little surprising to see.
We wrapped up our visit at the food court and really enjoyed a Brazilian barbecue meal along with a steak sandwich from Charleys Philly Steaks—both were very satisfying.
Overall, despite feeling quieter than in the past, Ontario Mills was still a comfortable place to spend a few hours with family, and the lighter crowds made for a more relaxed shopping experience.