Some of my out-of-town friends ask me which of the DFW malls are the best to visit when they come in for a shopping weekend. That’s kind of like asking, “Which of your children do you love the most?”
I like them all.
It’s hard for me to choose, since they each have a particular atmosphere, unique combinations of merchants, and even architecture.
Yet my friends would be expecting me to answer their question and help them out. As their friend, I would do my best. So I’m going to do my best for you.
We looked at things like architecture, variety of merchants, number of perimeter stores, but I also considered the “WOW” factor. It’s about an experience, not just shopping. So here is our opinion of the 6 must-see shopping center malls of DFW; 3 in the Dallas area and 3 in the Fort Worth area, in no particular order:
Galleria Dallas (Dallas area – Dallas): For sheer “Wow” factor, Galleria Dallas is impressive. Modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy, it’s four levels ooze élan and luxury. There are one-of-a-kind high-end stores, but also a good variety of mainstream merchants.
Stonebriar Centre (Dallas area – Frisco): Stonebriar may have the most interesting exterior architecture of any shopping center mall in DFW. This open, bright mall has it all, and has the most children’s apparel merchants of any other mall.
Town East Mall (Dallas area – Mesquite): Town East is instantly recognizable by its large center structure that covers the center part of this huge shopping mall. Remodeling in 2005 added many stores and updated the interior. Town East resembles a large wheel, with the Food Court its center hub.
Grapevine Mills (Fort Worth area – Grapevine): Grapevine Mills has more merchants than any other shopping mall in DFW – 237 of them! If you can’t find it here, it probably isn’t made. Wear comfortable shoes, as the rectangular concourse is almost one mile around.
Southlake Town Square (Fort Worth area – Southlake): Although not an enclosed mall, it’s uniqueness makes it an experience unlike any other in this list. Southlake Town Square is designed to resemble a small town square, with the stores branching off onto small side streets. The best way to enjoy Southlake Town Square is to park your car, and take your time walking around, soaking it all in.
The Parks at Arlington (Fort Worth area – Arlington): In 2002, The Parks added 400,000 square feet of space, making it one of the largest shopping malls in DFW. More than just a place to shop, The Parks is a place to have fun, with an ice-skating rink, theaters and a carousel ride. Traffic around The Parks can be heavy at times, but the trip is worth it.
There are our top 6 recommendations – now it’s time for you to hit the mall trail and have fun!