Is Newport Beach Getting a Little Too LA?

Published October 21, 2026

Palm-lined commercial street with shops, sidewalks and passing cars.

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NEWPORT BEACH | AROUND NEWPORT | OCTOBER 21, 2026

Newport Beach is getting a new wave of names that already carry a certain image: Erewhon, Whole Foods, La La Land Kind Cafe, Bear Flag Fish Co. and Zov’s. One of those changes has already happened: Bear Flag Fish Co.’s Costa Mesa location at 154 E. 17th Street is now open, according to the company’s current website. The others promise more choices and fresh investment. They also raise a fair question for locals: when a neighborhood’s next chapter is led by polished brands and premium price tags, who is it really for?

First, a location check. These openings are clustered around Newport, but they aren’t all inside Newport Beach city limits. Whole Foods is planned for Westcliff Plaza, in Newport Beach. La La Land Kind Cafe has already opened at Lido Marina Village, and another location is planned for 17th Street. Bear Flag Fish Co., which began in Newport Beach, is now open at 154 E. 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Erewhon’s first Orange County store is planned for 140 E. 17th Street—also in Costa Mesa—and is targeting September 2027, according to the Orange County Business Journal. Zov’s has announced a 17th Street location as well and is listed as coming soon. La La Land’s 17th Street opening date has not been announced.

That distinction matters, but not much to someone who lives nearby. Residents cross city lines for groceries, coffee and dinner all the time. A busy 17th Street or Westcliff Plaza affects the surrounding neighborhoods whether the storefront is technically in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa.

There are real upsides. More grocery and dining options can make everyday errands easier, bring customers to nearby shops and restaurants, and give people more places to meet. Bear Flag is a local-born business expanding into a nearby community, while La La Land has already brought a new café to Lido. These aren’t only outside companies arriving to plant a flag; some are businesses with a local connection. And Whole Foods at Westcliff would add a convenient grocery option for nearby residents.

But the concern about Newport becoming “LA-fied” isn’t just about where people buy coffee. It’s about what kind of places get built, what they cost, and whether neighborhood commercial areas still feel useful to the people who live here. Premium brands can make a corridor feel more fashionable while also making it feel less attainable. If rents rise or longtime businesses lose customers and space, the community could end up with more buzz but less of the everyday character that made the area feel local.

That outcome isn’t guaranteed. A new business doesn’t automatically push out an old one, and a recognizable name doesn’t automatically mean a neighborhood has lost its identity. But growth should be judged by more than a new sign and a full parking lot. Are local businesses still able to stay? Can residents afford to shop there? Does the new activity fit the street, or does it turn a neighborhood errand strip into a destination that brings more traffic and crowds?

There’s a difference between welcoming investment and assuming that every high-profile opening is progress. Newport Beach doesn’t need to freeze in time. Locals want good food, convenient shopping and new places worth visiting. But the city’s character is built from more than the newest brand in the window. It also comes from independent shops, familiar gathering places and businesses that serve regular customers, not just the next wave of visitors.

So is this good for the community or bad for it? It could be either—or some of both. The arrivals bring choice and energy. The risk is that the value of a neighborhood gets measured only by how upscale it looks, while the people who already live and work here get priced out or overlooked.

The test is simple: as Newport and its neighboring streets change, do locals still recognize the place—and can they still afford to be part of it?

Is Newport Beach Getting a Little Too LA?

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