You’ve never seen an outlet mall quite like the Citadel Outlets about 9 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Discover more than 130 stores and a hotel behind an exotic, 1,700-foot façade straight out of ancient Babylon—the remnant of a tire factory dating back to the 1920s.
It looks like a temple from a bygone era, and that’s not entirely misleading—the temple part at least. The Citadel is a shrine to contemporary shopping. Take the young ones to Gymboree and the Disney Outlet. Guys can update their wardrobes at A/X Armani Exchange and Perry Ellis, while women should check out Kate Spade New York and other chic offerings.
Before your visit, check the events calendar for happenings such as Moms & Mimosas on Mother’s Day or special discounts for service members during Military Appreciation Month. And once there, stop by the Customer Service desk to ask for a Savings Card and a Savings Passport for additional discounts at several stores. Citadel Outlets is also home to Los Angeles’ California Welcome Center; the staff there will be happy to help you plan your next—or next dozen—stops. Find it and the location of all the stores with this map.
This Los Angeles outlet mall also has an international collection of quick-serve eateries (why waste time dining when you can shop?). Look for Vietnamese food, sushi, and Mediterranean shish kabob. Like most outlets, Citadel has plenty of outdoor adjacent parking, but those lots do fill up quickly at peak times. Be aware that there is also a 9-story parking structure across the street on Hoefner Avenue with 1,000 free spaces to handle the overflow.
Insider tips: If you're planning a visit to Disneyland Resort, about a half-hour’s drive south (without traffic), consider adding a trip here; Citadel offers express shuttles (fee charged) from several hotels in Anaheim. If you are in downtown L.A., it’s even more of a no-brainer: there’s a free shuttle from multiple downtown locations. Citadel Outlets is also easily accessible via Metrolink.