Top Strip or Outdoor Malls in Raleigh
The Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center
This is one of the newest areas being developed off Glenwood Avenue (Highway 70) in Raleigh. You can also get there using the outer loop, I-540 and take the Glenwood Avenue exit. You can park your car on one end and just begin walking back and forth between shops. Across Glenwood Avenue (Highway 70) there are even more shops anchored by a Super Wal-Mart, but it’s not officially “the commons” at Brier Creek, it’s its own shopping area. The big department stores at the commons in Brier Creek are BJ’s wholesale club and Target. It does sport a movie theatre called Brier Creek Stadium 14.
The assortment of restaurants in this area is mind-boggling. There’s certainly something for everyone. There are Asian eateries and steakhouses, coffeehouses, health smoothies, Italian, and even Thai restaurants. This area is becoming so popular that the real estate is jumping in prices near this shopping mecca. For more information and events at the Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center go to their website at www.shopbriercreekcommons.com/.
Cameron Village
This is a very upscale and artistic shopping area, with beautiful flowering containers interspersed between brick walkways. It is not easy to find, but well worth getting there. One way is to get off at the Crabtree Valley Mall exit off I-440 and travel away from the mall until you get to Oberlin Street. Take a right. Cameron Village will be on the left down about a mile or so. Other directions are on the shops at Cameron Village website.
Cameron Village hosts over 100 shops, some quite unique. There are a myriad of galleries and fine upscale boutiques in this strip mall. Ornamental street lamps line the walkways too. There is a Seagrove Pottery shop there, which any tourist just has to visit, since North Carolina is famous for its pottery ware. A Fresh Market, a high-end organic grocer, sits on the back corner of one of the square lots in the back. Behind it is the Cameron Village Library, a new highly stylized library echoing modern architecture.
One has a choice of fine dining or regular fast food choices like McDonald’s and Quiznos Classic Sub Shop. To see events and promotions for the Cameron Village go to www.shopsofcameronvillage.com
North Hills Shopping Center
North Hills was a bit of a mystery for a while. Originally, the mall was totally enclosed and developers decided that it needed to be open air. So, they closed it down and began renovations and now it is open again, and gaining popularity. It’s a bit shocking for the locals who keep trying to find the inside of the mall, but it’s no longer there. Everything is outside now and the lower levels contain parking decks.
As you drive into the center of the district, off Six Forks Road off I-440, there is a medium size fountain to welcome visitors in the center of a rotary. To the left is an Asian-styled Starbucks Coffeehouse. The Asian motif is apparent everywhere, with minimalist design and stark white cement sidewalks which appear to be feng-shui’d with the addition of all sorts of container trees at just the right intervals, some are even Japanese maple. There are a number of style-style eateries as well. Thus, the atmosphere is very trendy and upscale.
There is a wonderful new theatre there that most teenagers have already discovered called Regional North Hills Stadium 14. Spas abound with your choice of Aveda Von Kekel, Natural Body Spa & Shoppe, and soon to arrive, Babie Me. JC Penney’s and Target are the anchor stores. Jazz concerts were also scheduled every Tuesday from May 2nd to September 26th this year. Whether that will be a tradition that continues, remains to be seen. Dining choices also include the Fox & Hound Pub & Grille, Firebird’s Rocky Mountain Grill, and Pharaoh’s. For more information on the North Hills Mall go to their website at www.northhillsraleigh.com.
