Whether you want to hop on the latest fashion trend or discover unique items at a quaint antique store, Greater Gainesville hosts a wide variety of shops, boutiques, malls, and galleries that will fill your closet with pieces that express you. Retail therapy is a thing and shopping in this area can definitely give you a boost of serotonin while checking off everything you need on your shopping list.
Take a scenic stroll through downtown Gainesville and explore the many shops for a personalized shopping experience with your friends or family. With many options from vintage at B Side Vintage to women’s clothing at Cazatura, there are plenty of options that will make you shop ‘til you drop.
Head over to The Oaks Mall, your one-stop shop for anything you need. Featuring over 100 of your favorite stores, the mall houses department stores like JCPenney, Dillard’s, and Belk as well as retail stores that appeal to individuals of all ages, including Banana Republic, Forever 21, Altar’d State, Francesca’s, Pandora, H&M, American Eagle and Express. If all the shopping worked up an appetite, you can dine in at one of the many restaurants inside, such as Ruby Tuesday, Buffalo Wild Wings, or many other options in the mall’s food court.
Enjoy the fresh air while you shop at the Tioga Town Center in Jonesville. The open-air shopping experience offers quality merchandise, excellent customer service, and an inviting community atmosphere. Shopping in this town center will certainly give you an experience that you will come back for, time and time again.
If you’re west of UF, an excellent shopping opportunity can be found in Haile Plantation. The Haile Village Center features a variety of restaurants, boutiques, shops, and pubs to appeal to every taste. There are also events to be enjoyed such as Easter Egg Hunts, Hot-Rodding for Heroes, and Oktoberfest which are almost too fun to miss.
For artisanal products and picturesque shopping experience, stop by Thornebrook Village. With beautiful landscaping and covered breezeways, the shopping plaza is a pleasant place to stroll through and window-shop while escaping the Florida sun. Savor the handmade confections of Thornebrook Chocolates, an artisanal baked croissants and breads at Uppercrust Productions or treat your eyes to some original stained-glass art at McIntyre Stained Glass Studio and Art Gallery.
If antiques and collectibles are more your style, explore Smiley’s Antique Mall in Micanopy. Open since 1994, the 25,000-square-foot mall is packed with hidden treasures. The Antique Center of High Springs and the Waldo Antique Village also offer antiquing experiences that are second to none. Dig your way through time, take your findings with you, and add a bold accent to your new home.
Located next to the Waldo Antique Village is the Waldo Farmers and Flea Market – North Central Florida’s largest flea market, where you can find everything from fresh local produce to unique arts and crafts. You never know what you will find here, but that is part of the fun. When it comes to shopping in Greater Gainesville, there’s always something new to discover.
Butler Plaza
Conveniently located along Archer Road in booming Southwest Gainesville is Butler Plaza. In the Neighborhoods at Butler, you can find over 150 stores and 2 million square- feet of retail stores and restaurants.
Butler Plaza was established in 1975 with the opening of Gainesville’s first Publix supermarket. Here you can shop at retail stores like Pink Narcissus, Agapanthus, and Gainesville Running & Walking. You can even pop into PetSmart and treat your favorite furry friends with a new treat or toy. On Saturdays at PetSmart, many local pet shelters bring dogs and cats to be adopted in the center of the store, so you can shop for a new addition to your family. In the same plaza, you can locate a Best Buy for your new electronics needs and Re-Tech if you need a quick fix for a broken cell phone.
In the past few years, Butler has expanded north along its newly constructed S. Clark Butler Blvd. In Butler North, you can shop at major national chains like Total Wine & More, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sam’s Club, and Lowe’s Home Improvement. With this area expanding more and more every day, you never know what stores will be popping up in the years to come.
Tioga Town Center
Located to the West of the Oaks Mall, Tioga Town Center is home to multiple different shops that will provide you with a unique experience inside each of them. If you are looking to dazzle yourself or your loved one, Lang Jewelers is the place to go. If you need a new nail color to complement the new pieces of jewelry, Enso Nail Boutique is located nearby and offers a relaxing and healthier nail experience.
As a boutique that began in the Florida Keys in 1998, Down To Earth brings a little piece of South Florida to the Tioga Town Center. According to Gina Fox, the owner, Down To Earth boutique strives to capture the feeling of home that they held when they first began in Islamorada. Their fashion is unique and with an “island vibe” that makes each shopper feel at home within the premises.
When discussing the Boutique’s transition to Tioga, Fox states, “We were a very small town/ local business in Islamorada, and wanted to have the same feel and relationship that we had in our previous town, with our Gainesville friends.”
Celebration Pointe
Just west of the interstate in Southwest Gainesville you will find Celebration Pointe. This 160-acre, mixed-use property includes restaurants, a movie theater, and shopping, as well as townhomes, luxury apartments, hotels, and office spaces.
In late 2016, Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center opened and welcomed thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. Within the Bass Pro Shops, shoppers can experience not only traditional shopping with a wilderness vibe but also mounted animal heads throughout the store and a 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium. Celebration Pointe is also home to other popular shops such as Nike Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Sketchers, and Palmetto Moon.
Described as the next generation of urban development, Celebration Pointe has many districts, offering a town within a town. In the center of it all is the City Walk and The Promenade, an area where pedestrians will enjoy not only dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities but residential offerings as well.
Not only does Celebration Pointe offer a variety of culinary options, ranging from fine dining to fast food, but the 10-screen theater also boasts king-size recliners and a full bar and lounge, as well as Regal Premium Experience (RPX) technology. You can also reconnect with the origins of your food at the Celebration Pointe Farmers Market, recently relocated from Downtown Gainesville, where you can purchase locally grown produce every Wednesday.
For a complete retail listing in Greater Gainesville visit guidetogreatergainesville.com/directory.