Shopping in Charlotte

Being the largest city in North Carolina, it's not surprising that Charlotte offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the state. There are diverse shops, retailers, and malls that meet the needs of more than 650,000 local residents and tens of thousands of weekly visitors.

Malls are without a doubt the premier shopping destinations in Charlotte. Carolina Place, SouthPark, and Northlake are some names that must be mentioned when talking about the largest malls in the city. Combined together, they offer more than 400 total shops that sell products ranging from apparel and shoes to electronics and gifts. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about these malls, as they fit the standard model of a modern mall. Just as in any typical mall in the United States, shoppers can also enjoy dining and entertainment all under one roof.

Carolina Place Mall is actually located about a dozen miles south of Charlotte, in the suburban community of Pineville. This mall can be reached by taking exit 64B off Interstate 485. It's also worth noting there is another large shopping plaza right across the street, called The Centrum. Carolina Place Mall has five total anchors, including department stores Belk, Sears, JCPenny, Macy's, and Dillard's. Barnes & Nobles is the fifth anchor.

The Belk department store at the Carolina Place Mall is a popular choice among many local shoppers because the company is headquartered in Charlotte. Shoppers proudly buy at the 173,000 square foot 2 story Belk store. This truly supports the local economy in the Charlotte metropolitan area. There are more than 130 stores at this mall, and more than a dozen of them sell jewelry. Many tourists opt for the jewelry shops to get some great deals on gold necklaces and diamond rings rather than discounted t-shirts.

Located about six miles from downtown Charlotte, SouthPark Mall is another major shopping destination. The mall is anchored by six stores including Dillard's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Dick's Sporting Goods. The 375,000 square foot Belk store offers an even grander shopping experience that the one at the Carolina Place. The SouthPark Mall is well known for hosting exclusive retailers that don't sell anywhere else in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Shoppers can explore upscale designer stores such as Burberry, Kate Space, Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, and many more. This mall offers a vivid and sophisticated atmosphere that caters to shoppers looking for the latest fashion trends.