Enchanted Lake Shopping Center

Since the start of February 2015… I began my trek out to Enchanted Lakes Shopping Center to kill some time before I start work. Not a far drive from the highway, a few entrances and exits along the shopping center. I notice that not much business are open in the morning. Which is understandable since I’m there at 7 – 8:25am. Parking lot is pretty easy to move around in, even with the construction going on at McDonalds.
All in all, I wouldn’t mind coming back later in the afternoon or evening to try the Korean and Pizza restaurants.

This busy neighborhood strip mall is a treasure trove of reasonably-​priced eateries.
Safeway, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are visible from the street (Keolu Drive) as you drive by.
Have many favorites here, including Kim Chee (different menu from the other fast food oriented Kim Chee’s), The Food Company (two sides with different menus), The Fat Greek, and Saigon Phở.
There’s also a Ben Franklin Crafts store here. With all these great establishments, the parking lot can get crowded during peak dining hours. But there is sufficient turnover, so just circle around the lot and parking spots open up.

I love the eateries here, lots of great places to eat… Enchanted Lake Kim Chee, Fat Greek, Round Table, The Food Co. just to name a few. Management really needs to pave the parking lot and fill in the major pot holes!!! I’ve seen people get hurt walking in the parking lot… I see reviews from 2011 about the parking lot in desperate need of repair… It’s now 2013 and its only gotten worst!!!

Enchanted Lake Shopping Mall is the other major shopping mall in Kailua, although the Aikahi Shopping complex may have gripes about this assessment. Nevertheless, this shopping mall is as cozy as they come, as it is nestled within the residential confines of Kailua — off the beaten path from the thoroughfare of Oneawa /​Kailua /​and Kuulei roads. The 57 and 57A public bus routes breeze through here, so there is an alternative mode of transportation to this shopping center, if you so desire. Coming here on a whim on a day trip from downtown Honolulu, is great, since there are plenty of places to go to on the bus.
Compared to Kailua Shopping Center, this place is like Koko Marina and Aina Haina Shopping centers in East Oahu. Humble businesses for the every day consumer, rather than the glitz and glamour of high end retailers like Gucci and Bebe (i.e. Waikiki and Waikele Premium Outlets). I like the fact that most of the tenants at the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center is mostly eateries. McDonald’s, Subway, and Starbucks are my favorites, although the Saigon Noodle House was my pick of the day, when I ventured in there to get my daily helping of Phở with beef and beef balls. The parking situation is fluid, although I can imagine that it can get tight to the max during peak times.
The atmosphere is peaceful, as most are being set in a residential neighborhood. Well, a good, low crime area anyway. I felt safe here and wish I could live in and around Kailua /​Lanikai sometime in the future.
B++

Enchanted Lake Shopping Center is like many strip malls on O’ahu. High traffic, congested, overall decent tenants, inadequate parking, aging and in desperate need of a facelift.
The anchor tenant here is Safeway. There’s also a Ben Franklin, a Starbucks, Great Harvest Bread Company, and a pet store. But most of the businesses here are casual dining, including McDonald’s, Subway, Round Table Pizza, The Food Company, and several more. There’s even a church – Hope Chapel Olomana meets here in one of the storefront locations.
The parking lot is always busy and you have to keep your wits about you. Some people like to think of this parking lot as a «DMZ» where the normal rules are suspended, like the laws of time and space. The pavement is in serious need of repair. Between the speed bumps and pot holes, this is a low rider’s worst nightmare!
Still, Enchanted Lake Shopping Center is a vital part of the neighborhood. I would just like it better if it didn’t look so decrepit and they’d fix the asphalt.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #145/​365