In the 1990s and early 2000s (showing my age) the Riverchase Galleria was the best place to shop in…read morethe Birmingham area. Over time, competition from places like The Summit, the rise of online shopping, store closures (Sears, Rich's, Macy's and Belk Home and Kids), then the shootings in 2018 and 2020 led to a huge decline.For a while, it felt like the Galleria would not be able to recover. Well, now it's 2026, and the popularity of the Galleria is rising again. The mall feels brighter, cleaner and safer, due to improved management and security. It's a great spot to spend time indoors during AL's extreme heat, cold or rain (it offers covered parking too). Best of all, the iconic features remain, like the large American flag and classic carousel in the central atrium, and (best of all) Santa's workshop during the holiday season, and make it a fun alternative for young families and grandparents. So if you haven't been to the Galleria in a while, give it a try. It is worth a visit again.

Our team stopped for a bite to eat at the food court.It had chicken,Thai,Cajun,Japanese,Philly…read moresteak among other restaurants.Very nice and you could shop if you wanted too.A fill up for The Working Man Review.

I really kind of forget this place is back in behind the Summit. Every time I go the extra distance…read moreand come to this part of town I'm always happy I did. So this is the average run of the mill strip mall with a variety of shopping and dining options to keep you busy for quite some time. I had been craving a sandwich so I hit up NY Butcher Block and grabbed some lunch. I noticed then that there are about 3 other restaurants that make up this shopping center area, to go along with a cookie place (so good) a place that sells learning toys, a DQ, a Jewelry store, a bank .... and so, so much more. Several people were out enjoying the day before it got to hot and doing some shopping and grabbing some food. Plenty of tables outside to sit at if you grab a bite to eat. Plenty of parking is available on-site as well. If you get wrapped up with the Summit and want to explore a little more, swing on in here and check this place out.

Ah the Summit! Literally on top of a hill, this place has everything you could want/need. With the…read moreaddition of Trader Joes, there are grocery items, specialty items, several restaurants ranging in price, as well as a bookstore and movie theater. I will say that I try to avoid this place from Thanksgiving - Christmas, due to the sheer volume of people who are here shopping/eating. Parking can be a hassle in some areas, but don't give up! Keep circling and you're bound to find someone leaving.

The Summit... sometimes saying the name will make you shiver. Despite the parking and the traffic,…read moreyou know that sometimes you have to go there. It has great restaurants, shops, and a movie theater that make the hassle worth it. But man do you dread going there and having to fight through all the traffic for a parking spot. On the plus side, you do feel safe here - well lit, patrolled by security. Tip - Depending on what store you need to get to, it may be faster to go to the back entrance of the shopping center and deal with less traffic.

We love this place for birthday parties! Affordable prices and helpful staff! It's great, they are…read morelarge enough rooms with tables and chairs included! Big enough for a bounce castle to! Plus the city does events too; we love their breakfast with Santa! Such a beautiful building and addition to the city!

This shopping center use to be more popular than it is present day. I know there has been several…read morestores to close recently and have yet to be replaced. My one and only reason to come to this shopping center is to go to Stein Mart. I have gone to several of the other stores that make up this shopping complex but I wish there were better desirable shopping options other than what's currently located here. Overall , this shopping center is clean and there is a big parking lot available to accommodate many people. One plus side is that there are other shopping, restaurants, coffee shops in the area. Vestavia City Center is located in the heart of Vestavia so it's in a centralized location!

I often shop Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack online. I love that I can return anything that doesn't…read morework to this location of Nordstrom Rack. Returns are always easy, and the cashiers are efficient and pleasant. I do shop this location periodically. It's about a 50/50 chance on whether the stock is orderly and organized. The worst area is usually the cosmetics and accessories (to the far right in the store). If you like to dig through the additional markdowns, it's not unusual to find items broken, sampled, etc. Same for the additional mark clothing; every once in a while those racks look more like thrift racks than clearance, but once you find that diamond in the rough it can be worth it. I do wish this location got more of the special occasion pieces, but either I always miss them or they go to different Rack locations. If you've got the time, it's a great place to find great prices on everything from budget-friendly brands to designer brands.

While I frequent this Nordstrom Rack when visiting my hometown city, I know that have need to have…read morea tank full of patience! Nordstrom Rack has discounted designer and popular high end brands that haven't sold in their Nordstrom stores. It's not uncommon to have difficulty finding assistance, finding sizes in the wrong place - specifically shoes, messy racks, clothes left in changing rooms, and a long checkout line moving at a snails pace. When shopping here I expect at least a 50% discount, but it's not uncommon to only find 25%-30% on discounted items. Even with these negatives, I've found great shoes and some clothing. I will return because I love the thrill of a good hunt!

This is a larger Target, with a full grocery side. You can find most everything in one trip here,…read morebetween fresh fruits and veggies, frozen foods, clothes, vitamins, cosmetics, home wares. I was shopping for an odd mix, needed pasta, some Kiefer drinks, sheets for a new bed, a new surge protector and sunglasses. I got all but the sunglasses but only because I got distracted and forgot them. When I couldn't immediately find sheets, a friendly employee gave me accurate directions. Good service. Prices were competitive and reasonable. This location includes a built-in Starbucks so you can stop for a pick-me-up too.

I had a frustrating experience at Target. I found a blanket that was clearly marked at a certain…read moreprice on the shelf, so I brought it up to the register expecting to pay that amount, even had a picture showing them the tag and they checked and saw the same thing. At first, the cashier told me they would honor the price, which I appreciated. But then, after checking with someone else, they came back and said they wouldn't give it to me for that price after all even though i stood there for about 10 minutes while they were trying to figure it out. It was confusing and disappointing to be told one thing and then have it taken back. If an item is marked incorrectly, I understand mistakes happen, but the situation should be handled consistently and fairly, especially after already telling a customer they'll honor it. This experience left me feeling misled and frustrated.

Patton Creek offers an overall positive shopping experience to the community of Hoover, Alabama and…read moreits visitors. They have a great selection of restaurants and shopping options. Parking has never been an issue and the whole shopping plaza overall is well-maintained. Patton Crewk is also just off of a main road and a highway, making it very convenient for both the residents of Hoover, Alabama and visitors to the area.

I like Patton Creek Shopping Center!…read more They have gone through some changes, especially during COVID, but there is still quite a bit to do here. They have a nice selection of restaurants that range from Steak house to Cajun to Hibachi - and they also have some faster options like Firehouse and a brick fire pizza place. Sports clips - my primary place I go for hair cuts. An Alabama/Auburn fan store, Gamestop, Dicks Sporting Goods, World Market, Ross, Bookstore - shoe store - just a little bit of everything (sorry if I left something off). This place makes it simple. You need a haircut and want to get lunch - it can all be done here in a pretty reasonable amount of time. Highly recommend if you find yourself in the Hoover area.

A nice little shopping district laced with various restaurants and spas and artist galleries…read moreinvites you to spend a few hours and unwind. Rather than in a straight run, this, like three other shopping districts very similar to this one (the Cahaba, the Crestline, and the Mountain Brook Village), wind through the streets in their respective neighborhoods. All of these shopping villages are very close drives from one to another so plan on taking a few hours to explore them all. Each of the shop keepers or restaurant owners or staff we met were exceedingly kind and gracious. A definite southern charm area you are sure to love.