The Cotton Exchange holds a lot of history in its eight 19th-century buildings. Each of the eight…read morebrick buildings originally served a different industrial purpose. For instance, the Sprunt building started as a flour mill and a hominy mill. The structure was renovated in 1919 and became the central trading office for cotton bales, eventually growing into one of the world's largest and busiest cotton-exporting companies. The bales left the Cape Fear River port's docks to be shipped directly to England, Europe, and other parts of the United States, and remained fully operational until 1950. After the shipping port declined, the complex was abandoned and deteriorated to the point that it was scheduled for complete demolition. Fortunately, local developers stepped in to save the buildings, preserving the original architecture, heart pine beams, and exposed brickwork. The marketplace officially opened in 1976. It was the very first successful "adaptive reuse" historic preservation project in the state. Today, the Cotton Exchange is a wonderful, bustling mixture of locally owned restaurants and specialty shops. While exploring the multi-level halls, I really enjoyed viewing the built-in hallway exhibits filled with vintage photographs, educational storyboards, and antique tools tracing the complex's port history. I have since learned of a few treasures I missed while visiting, so I am already planning a return trip to find the rest and explicitly check out the Wilmington Walk of Fame installation out in the courtyards! It is a fantastic destination for exploring downtown, offering a large parking lot where merchants will validate your parking ticket with a purchase.

Didn't really see any shops that interested me here. Of those I did stop into, the people were…read morefriendly, but the prices were a bit overboard. And I was surprise with the lack of local goods (eg olive oil place is all imported but no info on the labels). I parked in their lot because I figured I would easily find something I'd like, support local, and validate my parking. Probably could have enjoyed a light meal here but not my kind of place - too tourist trappy.

Overall, I was very happy with my experience in Independence Mall. I found and purchased items in…read moreDillards, Rainbow, American Eagle, Earthbound, and Hot Topic. The service I received in these stores were good to exemplary. Dillards and Earthbound were my favorite stores in the mall and where I received the best discounts, got hard to find or rare items, free gifts with purchase at Lancome in Dillards, and had the most exemplary customer service from Caroline at Lancome & Robert in men's shoes at Dillards and Sarah in Earthbound. I wish I was able to spend more time in the mall to see Ulta and Five Below yet my time was limited there. I purchased items at discounted prices in all of the stores I mentioned. I would definitely come back to this mall again.

We actually had a destination in mind when we pulled into the lot at Independence Mall, which felt…read morelike a small victory. Mrs. K. was on a mission for a few things from Bath & Body Works, and after navigating the lumpy terrain of a Wilmington cemetery earlier, she was ready for some smooth, level walking. Having a purpose gave the visit a bit more shape, and that was welcome. Independence Mall has been around since 1979, opening in the heyday of American mall culture with Belk-Beery, JCPenney, and Sears as its original anchors. A fourth wing came along in 2001 to make room for Dillard's, and the place has seen a fair bit of redesign since then. These days, it leans more open and airy, with nods to Wilmington's coastal vibe. We weren't in a hurry, so we mostly wandered just taking it in. We ducked into a couple of shops, browsed a bit, and yes, came away with the Bath & Body Works haul we'd hoped for. All in all, a relaxed and satisfying stop. [Review 1352 of 2025 - 4471 in North Carolina - 24904 overall]

Kimber was a great help in helping me determine how much fabric I needed for my dining room chairs…read moreand discussing the fabrics with me. They have a great selection of fabrics with a large price range to choose from. I ended up getting some very good quality fabric for $14.99 and am absolutely thrilled. I can't wait to have the chairs use this beautiful fabric and appreciate the recommendations for people who can help out with that.

The service has always been cumberson because if you're a customer wanting a sample, need fabric…read morehelp, or have a question, they don't have enough staff or checkouts. So, you almost always have to wait. But generally, all of their staff have always been attentive and helpful as possible. Unfortunately, today was so shocking and disappointing because of one very rude and nasty salesperson. I hope we get another fabric store back in town! We need one and this store needs the competition.

Same concept as Blue Moon, with booths for individual sellers. The store is huge and has a great…read moreselection of all kinds of items. Clothes, jewelry, painting, various artists items, some prepackaged food, etc.. Majority of the items are boutique items that you don't find at a large chain store. Warning for the guys. If you go with your girlfriend or wife, they could spend half the day in the store. Summary - Great selection of items from local/regional merchants - Excellent place to find a unique present for someone special - They take cash, cards and Apple Pay - Parking can be very challenging

Bazar is really good with their vendor stalls and reminds me of Blue Moon. I would definitely go…read moreback for gift buying but the addition of Out Of My Closet is a WINNER!!! Best second hand store I have been to anywhere!! I bout 3 really nice things for amazing prices. I will be going back regularly to check out their new items. I also saw they had classes there that I want to check out. Really nice combination of things there to draw people in. Might be my favorite store in the area.

Even though we only went to a couple of shops here, this town center is super impressive! The sheer…read morenumber of shops is incredible. There seriously is nearly any type of shop you could need. We went to "My Sister's Cottage" and Buckle but there were like a hundred more. This is an outdoor shopping center so it's nice in beautiful weather but when it's raining... bring your umbrella. Parking can be a bit tricky. If you only have ONE or two stores to go to, you're not guaranteed a spot near the store. But maybe you'll get lucky! Highly recommend!

Very big mall- outside walkways. Late in Sept., very hot…read moreOK Lots of stores- didn't see much in way of a deal.

Lumina Station is a beautiful shopping and eating place near Wrightsville Beach. They have a…read morenightlife scene at 1900, and several delicious restaurants. This is an upscale place and is pricey for food and shops but if that is what you are looking for you will love it. There is free parking which is nice and beautiful trees and a pond. There are office buildings in there, too. If you are looking for a nice little place to walk around and to grab a bite to eat, definitely try out Brasserie Du Soleil , Grand Cru, 1900, or Portland Grille.

I have been paying premium rent there for years and like clockwork the elevator breaks down 1-2x a…read moreweek. They make tens of thousands in rent monthly and refuse to fix this! I've lost handicap clients, I've hurt myself carting heavy things up the stairs. It may be a prime location but the maintenance is shotty at best!

This shopping center is right next to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center…read more The Shopping Center has Music, Grocery, Florist, Nail, Pet, Drug, Medical, Office, and more stores. The Eiffel tower is the landmark for Bordeaux on the corner. The parking is excellent and it is easy to get into and out.

Good Chinese and Japanese restaurant next door to each other. The Chinese restaurant Is a little…read moreoutdated with the orange seats and drab carpet. the halfway to the bathroom is creepy and feels unsafe. The subway near the Eiffel tower has always been good and they have a drive-thru menu.

Most exemplary experience and professional & kindest service in Dillards ever. I received…read moreassistance in two departments in this Dillards: Caroline for Lancome in cosmetics & fragrances department and Robert "Preacher" in the men's shoes department. Caroline, the makeup artist for Lancome, was very charming , kind, and assisted me in sampling all these new fragrances from Lancome. I loved her French accent and spending time with her sampling the products. It was first time in Dillards and rare throughout my life for a salesperson in cosmetics to be very patient and kind to me without treating me like I might not make a purchase or disregard me for other customers. The fragrance collection box was priced at $37.50 instead of the regular price for $50. I had to purchase $39.50 worth of Lancome to get the free gift with purchase from Lancome , so I purchased more products. The free gift was Lancome Free 7-Piece Brightening and Revitalizing Absolue . I purchased LANCÔME'S IRRESISTIBLE LIP IDÔLE LIP DUO, Absolue Les Parfums fragrance collection, and DUAL FINISH POWDER FOUNDATION. The fragrance collection is a great way to sample $280 bottles of perfume. My favorite scents were the exotic, incense, & oriental and gourmand perfumes: Oud Bouquet, Rose on the Moon, and Rose or Die. Rose or Die was not available to sample yet it became my favorite after buying and smelling it for the first time. Absolue Les Parfums is a bold new niche fragrance collection from Lancôme's Absolue line, revealing the Rose like you've never experienced it before. Eleven scents are shaped around this iconic ingredient, crafted by master perfumers. Each niche fragrance evokes an unexpected encounter between the rose and the Domaine's powerful natural elements. This Limited-Edition Discovery Gift Set Includes: Rose on the Moon: Centifolia Rose, Vanilla Essence, Santal Essence (0.06 fl. oz.) 1001 Roses: Centifolia Rose, Damascena Rose, Musk Accord (0.06 fl. oz.) Storm & Roses: Centifolia Rose, Patchouli Essence, Blackcurrant Absolute (0.06 fl. oz.) Not Your Rose: Centifolia Rose, Musk, Moss Accord (0.06 fl. oz.) 6AM Rose: Centifolia Rose, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley Accord (0.06 fl. oz.) Le Parfum: Centifolia Rose, White Tea Accord, Musk (0.06 fl. oz.) Hot as Rose: Centifolia Rose, Patchouli, Aromatic Bouquet (0.06 fl. oz.) I Flamed a Rose: Centifolia Rose, Patchouli, Ambrox (0.06 fl. oz.) Rose or Die: Centifolia Rose, Black Tea Extract, Guaiac Wood (0.06 fl. oz.) Hell of a Rose: Centifolia Rose, Vetiver Essence, Ambrette Absolute (0.06 fl. oz.) Oud Bouquet: Centifolia Rose, Oud Wood, Praline Accord (0.06 fl. oz.) LANCÔME'S IRRESISTIBLE LIP IDÔLE LIP DUO description: This Limited-Edition Mini Lip Duo Includes: Mini Lip Idôle Squalane-12 Butterglow™ Hydrating Lip Balm in Shade 10 Keep it Glowy - 0.02 oz (0.8g) MIni Lip Idôle Lip Shaper in Shade 53 The Tea is Hot - 0.028 oz (0.80g) Lip Idôle Squalane-12 Butterglow™ Hydrating Lip Balm is a buttery, hydrating Lip Balm is supercharged with 12% squalane, providing instant shine, buildable color, and up to 24H hydration. The lightweight, non-sticky formula improves the look of vertical lip lines and lip smoothness after 7 days*. Lip Idôle Lip Shaper is a creamy, soft matte lip pencil that is waterproof and provides up to 8H wear. Robert "Preacher" assisted me in finding me the most comfortable yet dressy business & work shoes for my husband in the shoes department. He showed me Johnston & Murphy and Flag brands as the best shoes with memory foam technology for the foot inserts to insure comfort . My husband has needed nice work shoes for over a year and walks a lot of mileage for his job and travel. His shoes were very old and uncomfortable yet he never bought new shoes to replace them. I told him that I found nice shoes in Dillards, sent him photos, and told him I didn't mind buying them at full price instead of waiting for a sale. I thought it was imperative to find shoes he would use and walk a lot of mileage in his everyday work life. He didn't want to come and try them despite my sales pitch to him on the phone. Before the mall & Dillards closed, he surprised me and secretly went there in person and purchased two pairs of dress shoes from Preacher. I was very pleased and liked that he took the initiative to go and try the shoes for himself. I am thinking of going back and buying similar shoes for my father in law.

Thank you Mariah for your great help and wonderful interaction as I purchased hosiery yesterday…read more I had just been through an awful situation at Belk and you salvaged the day for me. Thank you again...you are a terrific asset to Dillards!