Quick review: Jeff's Costa Mesa
- Thread starter NicoleC
- Start date
NicoleC
New member
The smaller locations were intended to be retail stores, and not mini versions of the Gardena warehouse. They will match their web site prices, though, if you ask nicely. 
I would have preferred another Gardena-like facility in OC. Ah well, we can't really complain much about our selection of vendors in OC!
I would have preferred another Gardena-like facility in OC. Ah well, we can't really complain much about our selection of vendors in OC!
Bah. South county is empty. I only know of one south of the Irvine area (Reef Room in Dana Point). Someone needs to open one in Aliso Viejo, then I'll be thrilled.
(This came across kinda whiney - it's not meant to be. During the week, I get off work at 5-6, and if there's any traffic on either the 5N or 405N - and there always is - I can't make it up to most of the northern stores much before closing. It is a selfish post, but it's not an " I don't want to drive " post, it's a "I can't make it by closing" post ).
NicoleC
New member
I can only refer you to the numerous RC threads where someone's only LFS is 2-3 hours drive away, overpriced, understocked and clueless. We've got it good!
But I know what you mean. I work in Newport and live in Orange -- if there's a place to live that's more spoiled, I don't know where it is unless maybe right in Huntington Beach. And yet, I have trouble with the hours the shops are open.
I understand why store owners and employees want to work days, but when all your customers also work days, it just makes sense to me to time-shift your hours to be open when most customers are themselves off work and can shop, even if that means not being open in the AM so you can be open in the PM, like 2pm-10pm. Even if only 1 or 2 days a week. It's not as if the owners of the small shops aren't often working at those hours doing books and deciding on their next livestock order anyway!
But I know what you mean. I work in Newport and live in Orange -- if there's a place to live that's more spoiled, I don't know where it is unless maybe right in Huntington Beach. And yet, I have trouble with the hours the shops are open.
I understand why store owners and employees want to work days, but when all your customers also work days, it just makes sense to me to time-shift your hours to be open when most customers are themselves off work and can shop, even if that means not being open in the AM so you can be open in the PM, like 2pm-10pm. Even if only 1 or 2 days a week. It's not as if the owners of the small shops aren't often working at those hours doing books and deciding on their next livestock order anyway!
NaughtyCashew
Premium Member
Even though I am not the biggest fan of Tongs, they are open till 8:30, so you can still make it.
So Cal shaggy
New member
I just visited the Jef's in Costa Mesa last week and they had a couple of good looking fish and corals the prices were a bit high but then again compared to some of the other stores around me they were comparable. Most of the stores in my area have large selections of corals but when it comes to unique reef fish the pickins are usually slim. I really enjoy gobies but unless I want to have nothing but yellow watchmans or blue spotted only in my tank I usually have to go to Tong's in Fountain Valley because they have a large selection and variety on fish but their prices can be through the roof on dry goods and full sized coral pieces but sometimes they have decent prices on LPS and softie frags.
