After years of being characterized as an underserved retail market, the Triangle has enjoyed a shopping explosion in the past decade. Two new megamalls opened up -- The Streets at Southpoint in South Durham and Triangle Town Center in North Raleigh. Power centers are cropping up everywhere with their big box outlets. For years, we've been hearing that retail follows rooftops, and the rapid population growth of the Triangle has finally brought the stores.
Here are the major shopping destinations in the Triangle:
Wake County
Where: Inside the Beltline in Raleigh, on Oberlin Road between Hillsborough Street and Wade Avenue.
What: A collection of locally owned and national boutiques and restaurants, including Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Cherry Modern Design, The Globetrotter, Uniquities, Nelson's, Chico’s, Talbots and the Village Draft House. The shopping center also has one of the area’s largest Harris Teeter grocery stores and Rite Aid.
Why go: Cameron Village has one of the area’s largest selection of locally owned shops that you won’t find anywhere else in the region, including Accipiter, Beanie + Cecil, Fleur and Frances T. King Stationery.
Where: Off Interstate 40 at exit 291, on Walnut Street in Cary
What: Cary’s largest mall with 140 stores, anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Sears and J.C. Penney.
Why go: While smaller than some of the other regional malls in the area, Cary Towne Center is conveniently located in the heart of Cary, offering plenty of shopping and dining options from national chains such as Ann Taylor Loft, Talbots, Coldwater Creek and Jos. A Bank.
Crabtree Valley Mall
Where: Off the Beltline in Raleigh off Glenwood Avenue
What: One of the area’s oldest and largest malls, Crabtree has more than 200 stores, mostly national chains and restaurants, including Old Navy, Pottery Barn, Best Buy, Coach, The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s. The mall is anchored by Belk, Sears, and Macy’s.
Why go: Crabtree has the area’s only Crate & Barrel, and in December, it will have the area’s only Forever XXI. Belk is one of the top stores in the department store chain, with a wide selection of upper end brands not found in all Belk stores such as Betsey Johnson, Elie Tahari and Theory.
North Hills
Where: Off the Beltline in Raleigh off Six Forks Road and Lassiter Mill Road.
What: Once the area’s first mall, North Hills has been remade into an open-air shopping village, with locally owned boutiques, national chains, restaurants, bars and a movie theater.
Why go: North Hills is known for its fashion boutiques, with stores such as Vermillion, Gena Chandler and Scout & Molly’s, which carry some of the most well-known names in fashion. The center also has Jolly’s Jewelers, one of area’s oldest stores.
Where: Off Interstate 540, on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh
What: Triangle Town Center is one of the largest malls in the area with more than 165 stores, including the anchors Belk, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Sears and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Why go: Triangle Town Center has the state’s only Saks Fifth Avenue, and it’s the only mall where you’ll find the home decor store Z Galleries and the restaurant Twisted Fork.
Other major shopping centers in Wake County include Brier Creek Commons (Raleigh), Crossroads Plaza (Cary), The Shops at Seaboard Station (Raleigh), and White Oak Crossing (Garner).
Durham County
Where: Off Interstate 85 at exit 176, on West Club Boulevard in Durham
What: One of the oldest malls in Durham, Northgate is anchored by the department stores Macy’s and Sears. It also has a 10-screen movie theater.
Why go: Northgate is conveniently located near central Durham, offering locals easy access to national chains such as Charlotte Russe, Great Outdoor Provision Co. and Office Depot.
Where: Off Interstate 40 at exit 276, on Fayetteville Road in Durham
What: One of the area’s newest and biggest malls with more than 140 stores, Southpoint is anchored by Belk, Sears, J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Nordstrom. It also has a 16-screen movie theater.
Why go: Southpoint has several stores you won’t find anywhere else in the area, including Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Cole Haan, L’Occitane en Provence and Metropolitan Deluxe. You’ll also find plenty of dining options, including California Pizza Kitchen, Rockfish Seafood Grill, and Maggiano’s Little Italy.
Find more information here
Also in Durham: Brightleaf Square
Where: Off Estes Drive in Chapel Hill
What: University Mall, Chapel Hill’s only mall, has a varied collection of locally owned boutiques and national chains. The mall is anchored by Dillard’s, A Southern Season and Roses.
Why go: University Mall is best known for its unique shopping, including boutiques such as Dina Porter, Cameron’s, Modern Times and Night Gallery. You’ll also discover a world of new tastes at A Southern Season, one of the only gourmet food and kitchen stores of its kind in the state.
Also in Orange County: Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro
Carolina Premium Outlets off I-95 in Smithfield is a popular shopping destination for locals and tourists alike.
For the latest on the shopping scene, read Sue Stock's "Taking Stock" blog and her Retailing column in The News & Observer.
