I have to say this place is a hidden gem! I have lived in the IE all my life and always loved the eastside of the 215/91 freeway (mostly trees & residential) as far as I thought... well then I discovered about CCTC from a yelp event. Checked it out and headed to the area around early afternoon to walk around and see what it was all about. Come to find out they have events like a Wine Walk tour every first Sat of November & if you are into Beer they have an event the first Sat of every May.... first hand info from the lovely ladies @ Canyon Crest Dental. So some of the shops I checked out were a variety from pet shopping (Pawlished Paws) to Mexican dinner @ (Espetto's Grill or Pepitos Restaurant) & drinks (Nektar Juice Bar) or treat yourself to a Spa day or two OLO (Massage Triology Spa &/or Spa @ Canyon Crest) or a nice piece of Jewelry (Mardon Jewelers) which is a family owned business & wow the lady w/ short red hair was so sweet. There is a ton of other businesses that we peaked our head into and said hi. In case you needed to inquire on Insurance (Allstate) or maybe real estate inquire with American Funding Center located on the 2nd floor near Extreme Pita. There are so many favorites to mention that maybe you wouldn't even expect like: A British Emporium (super nice British owner) & CC Athletic club, CC Winery w/ a Jalapeño Cabernet!!! Don't forget to stop into the (Crafty U Too) if you want to paint your own pottery or feeling crafty to create a bowl. My fav's were Helio's Cigar Lounge, Isabellas cupcakes, Migliore Gourmet (Olive oils for ever....) & lastly Smokey Canyon BBQ for a quick slider bites. Yum. I can wait to head back and see what plants are on sale at Rite Aid too. Christmas decorations are gonna be exciting to see how its all lite up for the Holidays. read more

Such a cute little spot to come shop or just walk around. They have really great shops all along the square. Love visiting the dog groomers for healthy meal toppers for my dog. Looks like Hangar 24 will be coming soon also. The gardens are beautiful and the people are really nice. Family friendly, dog friendly. Great little spot in Riverside. read more

See all

the employees are friendly and helpful, the atmosphere is nice the music is pretty tasteful, along with the food looking delicious :))

One of Riverside's more upscale areas is Canyon Crest, which lives up to its name due to the lie of the land. Nestled about a mile above the UCR campus, the shopping center is a slightly sprawling strip mall with old California style. The weathered wood facades keep neon and garnish logos confined to various states of new or faded paint. The landscape lends a forested feel as well, more like something you'd encounter near Santa Cruz. Also upscale, mostly, are the mom and pop shops that cater to many different tastes. Sure, Subway looks out of place 'sandwiched' (giggity) between the infinitely superior Marisa's Italian Deli and Jammin Bread, but most will find something good to eat somewhere in the complex. Parking can be a challenge on the Ralph's and Rite Aid side, but if you're willing to walk around there are less congested lots circling the perimeter. I am partial to the bagel shop, the gourmet food stores, wine shop, bookstore and even the cigar shop. Plus, one of the nicer Hallmark stores lies between the cool pet supply shop and the Asian cuisine restaurant. Sushi? Check. Gas? Sure, Chevron jacks up the prices but good luck finding a nearby alternative. Sandwiches and burgers? You're covered. Pasta and pizza? Look no farther than Romano's. Catering to cultured tastes and appropriately sized wallets, this quite zone is one of Riverside's best kept secrets. read more

This is a really nice shopping center. It is located in a great area. Plenty of businesses. Tons of parking and very clean.

If your are an evolutionist you might consider writing a case study on The Canyon Crest Town Center. I have lived in walking distance of this wonderful place ever since 1994 and have seen it go through many transitions and changes. I was here when Ralphs was an Alpha Beta, Rite Aid was a Thirftys, The Shoe Repair was Ritz Camera, Blockbuster (now out of business) was a Video Wiz, Water & Ice Cream was Ice Cream & Water, Coldstone/Extreme Pita/Pick Up Sticks/Starbucks was a movie theater. That's right, there actually used to be two movie theaters in this plaza right across the street from one another, then they turned one of them into a lazor tag (now Crest Cafe), and eventually just tore the other one down to replace it with the above mentioned establishments. Besides the movie theaters I will pay homage to Bonnie and Friends which was a pet store, the candy store although I forget what the name of it was now, Pizza Hut, and Imagine That Bookstore. These places are all out of business at the Towne Center now, but were once very much a part of my childhood growing up :,( tear, I suppose I'm very sentimental like that. On the other side I want to commend a few of my favorites that have stuck it through these past 17 years that I have known them: Donut Tyme, Coffee Roasters I, Monark (same owners, but the name changed from The Little Emperor), The Athletic Club (I sometimes go as a guest on my mom's pass and soak in the sauna...ahhhhhh :), and The Dry Cleaners. These are the sort of places that know you by name and I enjoy to visit them whenever the opportunity presents itself. I still have never tried Subs & Spuds although I do not know why. I will never go back to the Crest Cafe because of their reputation and first hand experience for serving mediocre at best, disgusting at worst, food. And of course I dislike Starbucks very much for trying to push out a small coffee shop that freshly roasts their own coffee and has been here for over 20 years. Shame on Starbucks and shame on the owner of the Towne Center to even allow them to build shop here; this furthers my convictions even more to continue to boycott Starbucks (support local coffee shops!!! will you join me???)! Besides this metamorphosis that The Canyon Crest Towne Center has undergone, this plaza is convenient as it has a little bit or a lot of everything that one could be shopping for. For the most part the shop's prices lean towards the $$-$$$ side, so be prepared for that if it is your first time visiting. My favorite part about this plaza is how beautiful it is. Lots of trees, flowers, fountains, and other greenery. They even have a stream with fishes swimming around and a spouting fountain that little children play in during hot days. This plaza is also very safe because of its many security guards that you can find patrolling the area 24/7. I may be biased because I grew up here, but I adore The Canyon Crest Towne Center. You may not be able to find support for the evolutionist theory that we evolved from monkeys by doing a case study here, but no matter how many alterations they make to the businesses I'm sure this place will always be great. read more

See all

I agree with the previous two reviewers that this shopping center is "quaint" and tranquil. It is quite possibly the prettiest center in all of Riverside. Nonetheless, that does not mean I like shopping here. I used to live in the apartment complex behind the center, so I've had my fair share of exposure to this pace. The Ralphs is super-expensive and for some reason, the Subway feels that they can charge more than other Subways in Riverside. In addition, there seems to be a lot of small boutique-type shops that are not of my tastes. If you are into that stuff, by all means, go ahead. Also, the Carl's closes early. On the plus side, the Rite Aid is 24 hours to satisfy your midnite cravings. read more

I would not go as far as to say this is a "shopping center", it is a strip mall but a very nice one at that. One worth writing a review about and seeing if you are in Riverside. I love Ralphs, so I wanted to check this one out since they are all a bit different and I am obsessed with finding great managers specials there. Donut Tyme was great, mostly what I like is the looks of this "mall", the general feel is typical California, casual but chic, organic and expensive. The staff here is nice, good food here, a nice place to get some casual shopping done. read more

The town center has a lot of stores and food. We came here on a Friday night to have dinner and some walking. The place was dead on a Friday. We wanted to get some books at the store but it was closed at 8pm. Then we wanted to go to the gourmet food shop and sample some olive oil, it was closed as well. Darn! We ended up walking to the yogurt store and getting my kiddo a treat. Overall it was just okay. I wish more stores were open. read more

Canyon Crest Towne Centre - Shopping Centers Near Me - Riverside, California

Love my community town centre. It is quaint, clean & has a great feeling! Ralph's, Pepitos, Romano's, Nektar, 3 banks & a great donut shop!

Super cute little shopping center with tons of little shops and restaurants. They have hanging white lights throughout the place with climbing ivy on every wooden post, so in the evening there's this beautiful magical effect where you feel like you're in an alternate summer Narnia-like world. You can see kids eating outside with their parents and people going in and out of the grocery stores. They have water fountains with cute benches next to them so you can just bask in the beauty of it all. It's a very romantic little place for a date, so long as you don't mind your date being mostly walking around exploring it! read more

I've lived next to the Canyon Crest Town Center for five years, and I love everything about it. There's so many good restaurants and shops, you don't need to shop outside of the center. I also really appreciate the stream and string lights that run through the center walkways. read more

I love this shopping center. It's actually a huge reason I moved to the area was the convenience of this very nice, well-maintained group of shops. Rite-Aid, Ralphs, Donut Tyme, Carl's Jr, Romano's, Monark, Gardener's Cottage, Smoky Canyon BBQ, Chase, Allie's Hallmark, Taco Station, the list goes on... In addition to the shops, t has several fountains you can lounge near and even a coy pond in between The Gardener's Cottage and Jammin' Bread (my daughter is a fan of "the river" and "the fishie pond"). There's a cute water play area for the kidlet set just outside Starbucks, Cold Stone and Extreme Pita too. During the holidays, there's a huge Christmas tree by Monark and Taco Station, with pretty lights and decorations everywhere. There are all kinds of community events like antique car shows and little fairs with crafts and face-painting for the kids each month. Really makes the area feel homey. Even though the center shows signs of the times with a few empty storefronts, the center is usually at least moderately busy and is good about bringing in new businesses. A chiropractor's office just moved in as did Yellow Chili Tapas (which I can't wait to try). Most of the shops are a little pricey (I'm guessing rent ain't cheap here!), but I still love it. I'm here every other day just because it's so darn convenient to walk a few blocks to get an ice cream cone, grab a latte or pick up some more milk. read more

I have to *totally* agree with Sheena M.'s review on this lovely little gem of a shopping center! Located on the other side of UCR, the Canyon Crest Towne Center is a wonderful outdoor mall/shopping center hybrid. Instead of brightly colored and generic, this shopping center is cozy feeling (even though it's quite sprawling) and provides a pleasant "walk and shop" experience. It features fountains, a small brook and plenty of places to sit and relax along your way. It also has something for everyone. From big names like Rite Aid and Ralph's to wonderful quaint stores like The Gardener's Cottage and Pawlished Paws. At least 2 bookstores...a place that caters to haircuts for kids...they even have a winery! They also offer at *least* a dozen eateries catering to all kinds of tastes. Subway, The Crest Cafe, Jammin' Bread, Coldstone Creamery...just to name a few! My only tiny complaint is that I remember there used to be a quaint little 2nd-run movie theatre in the plaza that seems to have gone under a number of years ago. I kinda miss it! But still - not enough to detract from a 5 star rating. Its a pretty happening place, especially for UCR/RCC students. Give it a try - I think you'll like this little out-of-the-way pleasure. read more

Sometimes you got give credit where credit is do. The CCTC has always been a hidden jewel in the city of Riverside, for over 30 years that I know of anyway. In the past 2-3 years they have been remodeling, expanding and improving the center. They did a great job too. It appears that they have done just about everything at this point and it's pretty much seamless. I'd say there's something for everyone in this nice little neighborhood center now. There was a nice Cinema here originally. Instead of trying to bring it up to speed they tore it down and used the space to bring in more retail & fast food space, definitely the right decision. Just the typical stuff like, KFC/A&W, Pick-up Stix, Cold Stone, Starbucks, etc. Plus, they picked up a few new independent restaurants and shops too. If I lived nearby the Only negatives for me would be: 1. The Car Wash/Gas Station here has always been insanely expensive. 2. The Ralph's here is a "Fresh Fare" store and it's insanely expensive, nice though. If you live around here you already know all this. If your passing through then this is a hidden jewel not too far off the 60 Fwy. Way nicer than ANYTHING you will find in nearby Mo Valley. Actually better than anything along the 60 Fwy for many miles. read more

Good array of stores and variety of ammenities. Centrally located with some of me favorites and my necessities. Everything from banking and groceries to the gym and a speciality cupcake. Kids stores and great BBQ. Only complaint is the gas is overpriced but at least they have it if you need it. read more

Canyon Crest Towne Centre - Shopping Centers Near Me - Riverside, California

This place is just all around nice. It's really improved since I moved here 6 years ago. It was nice then but with all the recent renovations and scenery (fountains, etc) that they've been adding, it just adds to the overall charm of this place. In it you'll find your staple stores. You have your grocery store, drug store, a few fast food places, a couple restaurants, etc etc. Best place I could recommend to eat here is the Smokey Canyon BBQ. It has some awesome grub. The only minor nitpick I'd have about this place is the gas is more expensive here than around the surrounding area. read more

The town center has a nice mix of almost everything. It's a great place to walk to if you live in the area and it has lots of nice places to relax once you arrive. My only request would be for an independent coffee shop. Yes, there's a Starbucks but I think that a place with better coffee would really do well here. Many of the restaurants seem to be constantly changing as well. The best (and probably one of the longer lasting) restaurant here is Romano's for sure. They also have quite a few community events here- wine walks, Santa pictures, Easter events for kids, and more. read more

I grew up going to the Town Center. I remember when there was a movie theater there and Straw Hat pizza now Romanos. The selection of stores and restaurants is wonderful. The quaint streams and grassy areas are charming for pictures. They recently added a water play area for families. Some of my monumental life memories happened at the Town Center! My first date, my first movie, my first time ordering a glass of wine, I even got to see some great bands at Romanos!..this place is a well kept and maintained hub for the residents and locals as well as visitors and near by students. read more

I love this place. I go out of my way to use the Rite Aid for the occasional 'scripts just so I have an excuse to go here. The candy shop is great. There's an A&W/KFC combo here, could care less about the KFC, but A&W's are few and far between that alone makes the trip worth it. I was sad to see that Starbucks mushed itself into such a quaint place, there is already a great local coffee shop here. I don't go often, but I know there used to be a Papi's Taco al Carbon here as well, some of the best tacos around. The Ralph's has the longest aisle of self serve candy I've ever seen outside of Knotts Berry Farm [the kind you scoop up and weigh by the pound]. There is a wonderful children's book store here, very worth checking out even if you only have nieces/nephews/godkids. read more

This is definitely a quaint little center--a very expensive Ralph's and lots of small (not franchised) shops. The thing I don't like- the layout ---good grief where am I---how do I get from A to B---it will make you dizzy just navigating this place! read more

I drove out here to meet a client. I needed to pick something up quickly and came across the shopping area here. It was nice and quiet. Lots of places to look at and not only pick up some lunch with my client but I picked up some extra goodies to take home. I definitely will stop by here again when I am in the area. Parking is good depending on what part of the shopping center you are at. Friendly people and just a nice quaint shopping area all around... read more

Finally a wonderful break from all the bright colored, stuccoed, cookie-cuttered, development owned, shopping centers that plaque this area. This place is warm, friendly, unique, and convenient. Every building is rustic, with aged wood with carved wooden signs. They hold all the convenience stores you would need like Ralph's, Rite AID, 3 banks, an animal hospital, a dry cleaners, dental office, travel agent, tailor, shoe repair, smoke shop, and camera store. They also offer unique shopping with a florist, clothing, pet specialty, gift, beauty supply, day spa, and book store. Some of our most trusted chains are also here such as Starbucks, Subway, Pick-Up-Stix, and Cold Stone Creamery, as well as independent greats such as Romanos, 42Nd Street Bagel Cafe, Jammin' Bread, Crest Cafe, and Subs-N-Spuds. They offer the perfect combination of chain and independent. This is my favorite shopping center in all of the Inland Empire! read more

See all

One of my favorite plaza-type spots in Riverside. I usually come here to shop at Ralph's or Hallmark, but every now and then I'll check out their events going on. There's actually quite a few events happening here throughout the year. I enjoy Tuesday nights during the summer when they have live music and the aroma from Burritos & Co is amazing! They have seats for you or you can bring your own lawn chairs. Bring snacks and drinks or grab dinner from one of the surrounding restaurants. A family-friendly environment that I'd recommend to all if you're in the area. read more

I used to come here a lot when I was in college. This is probably my favorite family shopping center of all time. The center has a very vintage look and when you walk around, there is always classical music playing! Also, during Christmas, they light up the area near Subway and those antique stores, and a big tree is near the Hallmark store... which is really nice and festive. Awesome. Some noteworthy places here are Starbucks, Cold Stone, Extreme Pita, Crest Cafe, Tortilla Grille, Great Clips, Jammin Bread, Subway, Smokey Canyon BBQ, KFC, Bank of America, Subs and Spuds, Rite Aid, Carl's JR, Ice Cream and Water, a bunch of little stores, and Ralphs. Out of all the ones I mentioned: 1. Subs and Spuds have the best Chinese Chicken Salad ever! 2. Bank of America has 2 drive thrus... I usually go to this one since the one on University seems ghetto 3. This is the nicest Ralphs I've been to 4. There is a water play area for kids to go to near Cold Stone and Starbucks. 5. The ice cream and water place sells ice cream sandwiches for like a $1.50, I believe. There used to be Coffee Roasters and I used to frequent it all the time until they closed it recently... that is the reason why I started coming here alot. RIP Coffee Roasters... Overall, a really great shopping center for locals in Riverside. It is nice, quiet, safe and very convenient place for your shopping & dining needs. read more

I have been coming to this center since I was a kid, and now I bring my kids. A normal Saturday for us is head to the gym located at the Center, (http://www.yelp.com/biz/canyon-crest-athletic-club-riverside) to meet with my trainer or take a Zumba or Bodypump class. My 3 boys play in the child care that they love going to and play with friends, then we usually head to the donunt shop or Taco station for breakfast. After we usually go to ralphs, rite aide and sometimes Blockbuster. The center has everything and I do 95% of my shopping there. It is beautiful to walk around, the piped music is so nice, and the landscaping is superb. I really enjoy coming here and so do my kids...10 stars! read more

I'd have to say I am bitter-sweet about this place. So much to do around here. I am always finding myself in this shopping centre. Expensive area,too. One thing I wish would change...the dumb,careless drivers...common courtesy would be to wait on the parked driver that is half way out of their parking spot instead of trying to squeeze your way through....is that too much to ask for?! read more

I seriously love this shopping center. They have a lot of different food options from pizza, sushi, Mexican, sandwiches, froyo and a cupcake bakery. I come here several times a week because of the convenience and nice atmosphere. They even have a new age store which I love! read more

I love Extreme Pita the food is amazing it feels my appetite and well-worth eating for lunch or dinner :-)

Basically, this is one of the 3 or so places in Riverside that I actually like. It`s super pretty and well designed. You can probably get most of your errands done here what with Ralphs, eye doctors and much more there. I wish it were where the University Village was instead so that it would be more of a walking distance. I don`t really study but it`s definitely a nice place to go get some work done. read more

I love walking around Canyon Crest Town Center! There are so many interesting and unique shops. The grounds are immaculate. Plenty of dining options are available. It's so convenient. read more

hah..well, i am tickled freaking pink that there is an entry for good old canyon crest!! back in the day, the theatre here was the best one around. we'd ride the bus here, get our parents to drop us off, whatever it took, man. there was a rad candy shop over by the thrifty's that had cheap sugary treats, and we were pretty much set. see's coffee was on a prime corner back then, drawing in what could only be the prehistoric predecessors of todays hipsters. oh, see's, you were also rad. i hear that ananda is also gone with the wind. too bad, they were also great. and, once upon a time, forever ago, i worked at the carl's jr here, and bought my comics at a joint sandwiched betwixt the theatres. gee, i must be around 100 by now. read more

Bring cash because not all stores accept plastic, and you'll find many things you'll want to buy! New shops have sprouted and this is my new favorite place to just spend a weekend morning. Yummy cupcakes (last weekend i had a maple bacon, YUM!!!), bagels, ice cream, coffee, bookstore with lots of children's books, boutiques and it's all surrounded by beautiful landscaping. After reading just reading the reviews below, I've realized that i haven't seen everything! Oh, and a shop owner told me that there's live music in the Summer :) read more

This place used to be great with the Movie Theater and the Pizza Hut. Now they are all gone. We all used to hang out there and have dates at the Movies back in Junior High. Really miss the old Riverside. read more

Definitely the best looking shopping center that I've been to in Riverside, this center caters to almost everyones needs. It has a 24hr Rite Aid which is a definite plus to us college kids. A downside would be the chevron station located; it seems to be more expensive compared to others around the area. The center contains specialty shops and boasts an array of ethnic eateries. Check it out read more

Best shopping center in town. Such a pretty place with fun stores and restaurants. New stuff all the time. I'm so glad I live here.

The town center is probably one of my favorite little spots in riverside, not super busy a lot of quick shops to hit

I am been coming here for more than 10+ years my favorite places are Extreme Pita,Great Cleaps and the cigar Lounge. at the food court the do have a little water play area for kids and plenty outside seating, great place to come with kids and even your dog..... read more

xdeffinaly 4+ it' got a rediculously large Array of stores. Albeit, it's no galleria mall but more than graciouly covers the essentials and not to mention, the midnight muchies and all inbetween. I will say a taco ell/ del taco / jack in the box would truly make this place. Security's pretty accepting but still have respect for their jobs, good job guys!! Convinience at it most efficient! !! read more

Fun and pretty place that have brought together almost everything you might need in your neighborhood. Sometimes you can enjoy the performances they hold here usually around Holiday time, I do like have it so close to my apartment. read more