Newfound Market at Bristol Farms
Irvine Spectrum's first gourmet supermarket closed less than two years into its experiment
Arriving at the Irvine Spectrum Center like a Whole Foods on steroids, Bristol Farms’ Newfound Market concept debuted in 2022 as a gourmet food shop with its own coffee shop, bakery, sushi shop and poke bar (Pikapika), as well as a hot chicken counter (Horton’s) and a pizza parlor. Curated by people with obviously good taste and seemingly unlimited budgets, Newfound Market offered Spectrum visitors access to a pristine collection of domestic and imported fruits, olives and charcuterie spread items, fresh juices and healthy(ish) sodas, plus a large, attractively arranged fresh fish section labeled Catch (of the Day). Standard supermarket aisles were less amazing, but included some choice imported ingredients from flavored salts to cheeses, with some notably great picks from Spain.
Unfortunately, many of the specialty items’ price tags were unsustainably high, and the popular mall’s crowds never seemed to pack the sprawling space. Newfound Market closed in early 2024, after a year and a half of business.
