Bristol Swap Mall

This places gets no stars i have never been to a business that says opens at 10 but in reality they come at whatever time i waited for 10min outside then when i came in no one was inside they had to call the ppl to come and they said they were on there way horrible never again

I got 4 nail polish colors for under ten bucks and my screen protector put on for two bucks and you can find religious book, rosarys, prayers etc. and snack too

There never any parking here. But they got what you need and there fast for the most part

Bristol swap mall is not fancy, modern, or clean– but it is a lot of fun. The stores inside sell a variety of odd imports. Nothing I really /​need/​, but lots of neat junk that really wants to gather dust on my shelves. Jesus Malverde wallets, big fake false eyelashes with rhinestones on them, chinese imported toys with terribly funny translations (‘My lips light up when I phonate!’), basketball outfits with outlandish all over prints. I suppose there is more everyday stuff too– a vitamin store, shoes, but that’s not really worth the trip for me.
Outside can feel a little sketchy sometimes, but I have never had any problems, just odd looks from people standing around holding up walls. They have a security guard in the front to ameliorate concerns. The food next door is worth looking at, though your milage may vary. It smells good but the space is run down. It reminds me of an indoor market in Tijuana a little bit.
In sum I wouldn’t take my parents or coworkers here. I would shop for small silly gifts for artist friends here.

Really lives up to its name! Great place to get Mexican candy and chivachamango when you’re having that token Santa Ana sweet and spicy craving

It’s ok

you can find stuff pretty inexpensive here, especially cheap make up and nail polish. i saw a lady get false eyelashes put on for $ 7 and the young lady that put them on did a really nice job.
they have the usual inexpensive t-​shirts and underwear and socks and mysterious hispanic witch doctor concoctions for sale that will cure anything from warts to baldness. i also saw small electronics and perfumes.
bristol swap mall is pretty cool to just browse and shop for cheap stuff but i’ll tell you what, if there was a fire at this place and you were inside, you could kiss your @SS goodbye because im pretty sure with all that flammable stuff (shirts and stuff) and all the people with baby strollers, you would never get out alive…
OH, parking is atrocious so get ready to battle for parking spots or just ride a bike there. bring a lock because this isnt the best part of town…

The Bristol Swap Mall is pretty awesome — IF you know what you’re getting into, that is!
What it is not:
— A fancy, frou-​frou shopping destination.
— A cornucopia of cutting-​edge fashion and state-​of-​the-​art technology.
— A «den of thieves», a «mess of illegals», a «buncha wabs», and/​or a «no gabachos» policy strictly enforced kinda place.
What it is:
— A crowded, lively, and thriving marketplace reminiscent of street markets or bazaars that you would find in any number of countries around the world, this one in particular with a Latino riff.
— A clean and well-​secured venue (I spotted at least a half-​dozen, serious business-​looking security guards both patrolling and posted at various points in the mall).
— A real haven of deals IF they have what you’re looking for.
— A source of entertainment for some of the distinctly foreign-​feeling goods for sale (I don’t mean this in a derogatory sense, I mean this in a wanderlust/​nostalgia-​fueled kind of sense — world travelers/​global citizens will know exactly what I mean when they look around here).
That being said, here’s a few tips to make the most of your stay:
1.) Don’t mind a few stares from some of the shopkeeps if you’re not Latino (as a 6’2″ Asian male, I stuck out like a sore thumb haha! Even the Asian shopkeepers –yes there’s a few of them — gave me looks LOL!).
2.) Bring cash.
3.) Be willing to flow with the crowd (don’t just smash into people, and don’t let people just smash into you — those who have been in certain foreign countries will have this skill down pat).
4.) Keep an eye on your pockets (but really, you should be doing this in any crowded place, not just here).
5.) Don’t be afraid of a lack of Spanish skills — use your best Spanglish and you can be damn sure that whoever you’re talking to will do the same. OR! Surprise surprise! There’s sure to be someone willing to translate for you in a pinch!
Anyway, I picked up a luchador’s mask here at the shop towards the center of the mall that sells Mexicana goods (ya know, like Americana, but, well, Mexican haha. In other words, Mexican cultural and heritage goods). So for anyone that’s looking for a mascara de lucha libre here in Orange County, this is the spot to find it! It was $ 14 and I probably could have bargained for it, but the lady working the shop was so nice that I decided not to even bother with haggling!
So have fun and expand your cultural horizons! Besides, this place is a HELLUVA lot nicer than the Santa Ana Indoor Mall on Westminster (now THAT place is GHETTO haha!)!