Most malls are dying. This one doesn't seem to be with the usual anchors and in between stores and very few cell phone repair shops. I only noticed one or two storefronts "in transition" and that's unusual these days. Charlottesville Fashion Square is the town shopping mall. Shaped like a large plus sign with the anchors at the main four points. JC Penney, Belk (times two) and Sears. The mall is on one level and is surrounded by parking. Most of the entrances will be through one of those anchor stores and there are three others that are not. There is also a spot in the back for local bus service. Other than being very well populated, the mall is in good condition with good lighting, smooth floors and lots of spots in the middle to sit and wait for your wife to buy her stuff. read more

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As far as malls go, Fashion Square is pretty fair. It seems better already (as far as available shops) than when I originally moved to Cville three years ago. There are still a few vacant storefronts which always feels a bit sad, but at least one or two of them have signs that something is coming soon. There is a decent selection of restaurants, though I've never eaten at any of them. I do usually prefer an actual food court, to keep the food and eating folks separate from the clothing shops, maybe just because that's what I'm used to, but it feels weird to have all the tables with people eating right outside other kinds of shops. I think Fashion Square just isn't big enough to have a full designated food court area. Otherwise the main mall areas, bathrooms and stores all seem clean and well-kept. I have only visited the mall maybe 3 or 4 times, and usually for one or two specific shops, but it's always a kinda fun blast from the past to wander around a mall for a bit of time. read more

The mall was quiet. There weren't many customers. This is a convenient stop on my way back home. The anchor stores are fewer and fewer.

Going, going, gone. We've been in the area for 5 years now and this mall has always had empty stores. There's very little left of it now with businesses moving out. Nothing to see here. Move along. There are far better shopping destinations in other parts of town. read more

Confession: I was a total mall rat in high school. The Palisades mall was where THINGS happened, from free belly button piercings in the second floor bathroom (third stall to the right), to guidance counsel-student hookups at Fridays, to sneaking into R-rated movies back when they didn't check your stubs at the door. I have a deep, all-consuming love for mall air: that combination of old carpet and teenage girl perfume. You can leave me alone at a mall for half a day, preferably with a well-stocked wallet, and I would be perfectly happy, one hand full of shopping bags, the other clutching an Auntie Anne's pretzel. So this place is a tad run-down. So it's patrolled by denizens of high schoolers in SoLow sweatpants and old peeps. You've still got a pretty nice assortment of essentials, like J. Crew, Sephora, Gap, and Ann Taylor Loft (a life-saver during interview season and that moment when you realize, crap, I start work tomorrow and I have absolutely nothing nice to wear). You've got a good food court, where you can get your Chik-Fil-A waffle fries served with an extra dollop of ignorance. Belk's has a solid range of makeup counters. Nothing really stood out to me as especially insulting or offensive. Or maybe I'm just really easy to please. Then again, I suppose that if I came here to blow some serious dough and only had Express and Body Central to choose from, I'd be pretty pissed. Where is the Herve Leger?! read more

This mall cannot compete with the many other retail options closer to campus. The Chick-fil-A is keeping it alive. I would invest in more activities or play areas for kids read more

Having visited the mall on-and-off from 2014 to this review (2020), my impression is that it is trending downwards - in a recent visit I was shocked by the number of empty storefronts and spaces. The few stores left are nice enough and the place is generally clean and very spacious. The actual facility is small with massive endless parking lots. I feel like the mall lacks traction simply because the rest of the Charlottesville area is so vibrant and stores that normally might be found in a mall like this instead choose to build out their own places in plazas or stand-alone just given the land/opportunities available. Fashion Square doesn't do anything particularly negative but it just seems to have a tough time justifying itself, as all the vacant tenant slots show. read more

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One word. Dying. This mall needs some serious love. Not many stores, very quiet, doesn't seem to be very popular.

Good selection of stores at a convenient location. We shopped here while visiting the area. Clean facility and friendly service in all of the stores we visited. read more

It's a mall. Many of the same stores in each mall you enter. Shouldn't be shocking. I will say that this mall is more interesting to walk around in than Manassas mall or the Apple Blossom mall in Winchester. More people around and it's cleaner. Mostly, I find better sales in Fashion Square too. It's not that bad. read more

A few prior reviewers did an apt job of creating clever analogies for what this mall reminds them of. I'll cut right to it; Fashion Square is a essentially a long hall way of a retailers that range from relevant to random. I usually come here when I absolutely need something from one of the larger chains, i.e. Gap, J. Crew, Clarks, or Belk, but when it comes to wanting to do an all exclusive one-stop-shopping experience I'll either head to RVA or NOVA for a larger selection. I really wanted to like this mall more, but the impending store closures and lack of additional retailers makes it difficult to want to return. I am hopeful that Simon does a revamp since it would be extremely efficient to shop in town vs. online or driving a distance to purchase things from certain retailers. I'm happy to come here but wish there was a larger variety of relevant retailers. read more

I live within walking distance of this mall, so that warranted an extra star! =D Heh, really though, it's a nice mall - decent selection of big stores (Sears, Belk, etc) and good clothing options for work and casual wear (American Eagle, GAP, NY&CO - I am not too picky!) The food court-esque area leaves a little to be desired (just a Sbarro, two Asian fast food options, and a suprisingly big Chickfila) but the mall does redeem itself with Red Robin and Auntie Anne's pretzels - I am a sucker for those cinnamon sugar carb-parties-in-a-twist! read more

Like most malls that were hugely popular in the 80s, this mall is past its prime. Needs to find a way to redevelop and stay relevant. It's like a ghost town. read more

I've been in not-so-great malls before, and this one isn't the worst of them. However, it definitely isn't the best of them, either. The main problem with this mall is size and the stores they have chosen to put in this limited size. There are three, very large department stores in a relatively small space. This space could hold so many other retailers that shoppers could benefit from for variety's sake. Overall, I make a stop here every once in awhile for JC Penney or Gap, but really, even these stores don't have the best selection compared to ones I've seen at other malls. But hey, if all else fails, at least there is a Starbucks and a Chic-fil-a! read more

There are many times when I stop here on my way from DC. It has a couple restaurants but I would usually go to like Chick-fil-A . Clothing stores are definitely out of their league. However one time I asked the person who was fixing phones if he can repair my iPod touch second generation . He made me wait 10 minutes so he can get in touch with his boss just to tell me that the screen cannot be fixed . read more

I like this Chic Fil A. It's not big, fancy, or anything of the sort. But, when you are working a part-time shift at the mall or near the mall it is CLUTCH! I typically get a number 1 or a 6 piece kids meal. The food is always hot, the food comes out quick, and the staff is always polite (even when the line is out the restaurant) when I'm on my short breaks. I have no complaints! Thanks for great food and a great experience. read more

This is like running into a classmate in high school who is still wearing their letter jacket....a sad, lonely, shell of their former selves but still trying to look the part. This mall has moments of medocrity with the Belk stores and the Red Robin...but honestly, the best thing there is the Jimmy Johns across the street. Beware the walkers who will knock you out of the way to make their 'laps' around the mall..if they don't get you the ones who walk 20 feet/hour will serve as obstacles to just continue to piss you off. They define the 'walking dead'. My word of advice is: Walk through there one time, try not to laugh at the people working the kiosks and the kids who are 15 and trying to look 25 and see if you think it's worth visiting again. read more

Wow...I know the Mall is 40 years old but it looks like a ghost town inside. The mall is so dated it just looks like it could use a huge makeover. read more

This mall is not showing interest in taking care of the bug problems in the restaurants. As summer approaches it is becoming more apparent the negligence to the facility. The floors are a wreck, the employees are still nice, but it's not a great experience to come to our bring my child to. read more

Average best describes this mall to me. It is decent, but there's nothing spectacular about it. I had a few things to get and was able to find most of them here. It was clean and has a good amount of shops. Not great, but not bad read more

I will be filing a complaint against the mall, I was harassed about being in a wheelchair after I had surgery on my left foot not only once but twice! Have never Bn so embarrassed makes me regret serving my country to protect idiots! read more

There's a nice variety of stores here, but the outside of the mall definitely needs a facelift. The parking lot is bumpy and the structures look dingy. I know I should individually rate each store I visited, but I am just going to say that most of the associates I dealt with here had poor attitudes. I too was once a teenager working in a mall, but I at least knew how to say "Thank you". Inside, the mall is well maintained and pleasant looking. There's a very small food court with a Chinese spot, a Japanese spot, Sbarro, Chick-Fil-A, and Starbucks. There's a cupcake stand in one of the corridors as well. read more

I was craving a really good sandwich and made the mistake of ordering Chickfila's chicken salad sandwich. I almost disposed of it but decided not to as I dislike wasting BOTH food , money and time. It tasted like an egg sandwich. It was really strange. On the other hand, their customer service is always top notch and they were fast considering it was drivethru and there was all of CVILLE there. read more

The parking lot and driveways need help. The outside needs reconstructing. Needs a little bit more variety of stores if you ask me. The food court doesn't really seem like one. I would only go here if I absolutely had no other choice. read more

Gosh I don't know why but I love this little mall. It's really not that big and it doesn't have A TON but it has awesome people working at almost all the stores and an easy going atmosphere. Nice holiday spirit and activity stuff during the seasons. read more

this mall stinks. then again, its charlottesville. but now that i think about it, dont a lot of rich people live here? get a better mall!!! when my sorority had formals/semi formals, people would have to drive an HOUR to richmond to get a nice dress. very stupid. the only thing decent about it is they had a department store that sold some makeup. that was helpful. other than that, blech, read more

Don't waist your time, get in your car and drive to short pump, fashion square is empty. Most of the decent stores have moved, nice enough shoe stores still exist but stay away from foot locker, their employees are miserable. read more

I love this mall. express is my favorite store!! They got the milkshake that brings all the boys to the yard!