Arizona Center. Phoenix, AZ. Nov, 2025. As tourists in downtown Phoenix , we continued wandering…read morearound after having visited Roosevelt Row and ended up near the Arizona Center. This is a retail shopping center and office complex that is between the Arizona State University downtown campus and the University of Arizona College of Medicine. There's also an AMC Theater, AC Hotel Downtown, restaurants, and scenic walkways. As we had been walking a lot, we greatly appreciated that there were benches to sit and just people watch for a few minutes. Foot traffic was light on a weekday afternoon. We and others also had fun taking photos in Santa's sleigh that had been set up in front of a giant Christmas tree at the entrance to the Center.

On my way to an event, I stumbled upon the Arizona Center. Located downtown, and part of or at…read moreleast next to ASU's downtown campus, I really have no idea why this entertainment district has such a low Yelp rating. It's a lovely place to explore. Here are the highlights: seating abounds where you can hang out and enjoy the weather and the sights. Making it a nice place to congregate. There's a small internal park. One of the highlights are 18 or so placards that tell a children's story. Walk from one to another and you'll get a part of the story, along with an illustration. It's a twist on a classic fairy tale. There are also quite a few shops and restaurants that are part of the Center. Admittedly, not the best selection, but there are some diamonds in the ruff. One of my favorites is Dough Boy. It's a small pizza spot where you place your order on self-service kiosks. Making it a great spot for a quick meal to go without breaking the bank. Some good value there. Service isn't really part of the experience but they will call your name when your order is ready. Beyond that, there are boba places, ColdStone, a Japanese restaurant with a solid happy hour, and more. It's a cool spot to walk around for a few minutes or to grab some food while you're downtown.

Every now and then, it's nice to stroll through the Biltmore Fashion Park. My wife and I…read moreoccasionally make it to a meal or to shop or even play at the Biltmore (or yes, a stroll). I also sometimes meet up with friends or family or even head there on my own. There's something for everyone and plenty to see and do; however, some of my favorite stores and restaurants have closed and been replaced over the years. It also happens to be where my wife and I had our first date! The Biltmore Fashion Park is known for some great restaurants. While there are some upscale and casual restaurants there, my favorites include Seasons 52 or True Food for a good meal and Frost a Gelato Shoppe for dessert. I really enjoy having several Fox restaurants at the Biltmore. There are also many other restaurants in the area. Several of the restaurants have great happy hours, too. I miss the Crepe Club though several other restaurants have opened since then. There are also plenty of shops from upscale shops to more casual ones like Lululemon and Sakes 5th Avenue. There are fancy clothing stores that my wife may enjoy though I typically enjoy the nice courtyard or seating outside some of the stores while she shops. Then, we grab a bite somewhere together. I miss the Apple Store and Sharper Image but look forward to what is opened next. There are also experiences from the Sip & Stroll (where you can enjoy a beverage from one of six restaurants and then walk around), meet-up with the Phoenix Run Club, the Art Walk, the Swiftie Liftie Outdoor Workout Class, or one of a number of galas or special events. Find more details on what is coming up at the Biltmore Fashion Park at https://www.reddevelopment.com/biltmore-fashion-park/events. While stores and restaurant hours may vary, the hours are typically 10 AM to 8 PM daily except for Sundays from 12 Noon to 6 PM. There is plenty of free parking around the Biltmore Fashion Park along with valet options. You can read more about the Biltmore Fashion Park at https://www.reddevelopment.com/biltmore-fashion-park/visit. There is also a mall map on there along with a listing of activities and experiences with events.

Went up from San Tan Valley for a well publicized "Yappy Hour" apparently held monthly in the mall…read morecourtyard. What fun even though it was 90 minute drive for me. Decent parking and I found a close handicapped space for the van. Event started promptly at 5:30. A few vendors including our very own Yelp Elite Event spot in Gilbert -Pixie sticks. They had a nice boutique there with an assortment of their items for sale. Joining them with booths were PetSmart (pup cups), a couple dog rescue orgs, and a Halloween photographer. There was also great music and really good cash bar making some excellent cocktails. It was a free event. The cocktails were $9 apiece... decent value. Topped it off with dinner at ZinBurger before I left. There's a few great restaurants up there, so will probably back despite the long drive.

We stopped by to check out Uptown Plaza, as there was a store that we wanted to pop-in…read more The business offerings, however, seems pretty limited/scarce. The plaza itself is super busy, and their parking lot is always full; just be careful as a pedestrian, as some drivers have literally lost their mind and drive around like they're in a race - like, why? +parking lot available

What a lovely plaza to shop, dine, and even get your self-care items. I attended a Yelp Event here…read moreat LATHER in 2023 and I've been frequenting the plaza a few times a year since (another great find thanks to Yelp). Love that they decorate for the holidays and just opened a Salt & Straw! I'll definitely continue to return and keep seeing new shops and eats to try. All the places I've tried have been friendly with a good selection and comparable price points to similar shops. If you are in the area, I'd definitely stop by. My perfect visit would be getting a Watermelon Iced Tea from AJ Fine Foods, Lavender & Pear hand soap/lotion from LATHER, sushi from Sushi Vibe, and end with a delicious treat at Salt & Straw.

I am truly very disappointed in the renovation of the new Park Central Mall, especially the tacky…read moreoverhead white strips, what the h@ll! it looks so unfinished, & tragic to me. And, the lack of shade, esp, upfront where First Watch is, there used to at least be an overhead roof for shade when The Good Egg used to be there, but they took that away. Shade is Vital, here in the hot months!! Duh!!

If you're looking for the mall, isn't it obvious? 3121, it's right there, duh! Between Children's…read moreRehabilitative Services and Dignity Health! ...smh ... Srsly though, this "mall" is closed. Shuttered up. Move along.

This is a true vintage place. If you're really into vintage clothing this place is for you. If…read moreyou're a general thrifter, you may not have a lot to enjoy. A good place overall.

I was walking around from DTPHX up into this area and randomly stumbled on this very cute store…read morethat carries a lot of vintage, retro and unique pieces. I know about Cobra Arcade next door but when I saw a sign at the corner with an arrow pointing to a store called Antique Sugar, my curiosity got the best of me and I came in to check this place out! I loved the store and all the unique pieces they have, especially all the different kind of hats! I saw one hat that was an old flight attendant style hat and really really liked it! I needed a pair of sunglasses so got a fun pair here, but no idea if they are going to protect me from the UV rays. I'll definitely come back here again as I love their one of a kind finds!

It's okay if you don't mind a 45 minute wait to get out of the parking garage. I pre paid but they…read morestop everyone to scan ticket and collect fees for extra time not paid. I wont be using this garage unless they change the exit plan.4/8/25

Nice place downtown to park your car while attending local events. Can be pricey though.read more

I gave Arizona Mills a four because there's so much to do at this mall. They have a wide array of…read moreshops and restaurants (food court), as well as an IMAX Theatre, Legoland, and the aquarium. There is also an arcade and a carousel in the middle of the mall today they had free interactions with the Easter bunny, and you can take pictures for purchase. They do have nice bathrooms, including the family bathroom however it was locked so you do have to call security to have them come unlock it for you, but someone was there in a matter of minutes. It wasn't dirty, but it could have been cleaner. I also have heard it can get a little bit rough here at night time, but I did not experience that while here around 10 AM to noon on a Saturday.

This is a huge family friendly indoor mall with more than 150 retailers including a lot of outlet…read morestores such as American Eagle, Chico's, Old Navyx Levi's and more, 27 dining options including a food court, and a Harkins theatre with IMAX that boasts Arizona's largest and only full size IMAX screen. It's a fun place for kids as they also have the Legoland Discovery Center, Sea Life Arizona Aquarium, Tilt Studio- 40,000 sq ft arcade with more than 150 arcade and video games as well as laser tag and virtual reality experiences. Also, the Rainforest Cafe is always a fun place to eat and shop. The carousel seems to be pretty popular every time I've been here. The one thing I found kinda strange is that they don't have a Panda Express here, haha! I think it's like the only mall I've been to without Panda. Other than that, they have a lot of the typical mall eateries like Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Cinnabon, Dairy Queen, Haagen-Dazs, Sbarro, and Wetzel's Pretzels. They're open everyday from 9AM and is one mile from start to end so it's a great place to get some steps and stay cool during the hot summer months!

A definite hidden treasure!!! Quaint little shopping area off Missouri Avenue that has everything…read morefor a one stop shopping experience. Clothing stores, gifts, coffee and sweets, charcuterie items, cookie shop, jewelry, skin care and more!!! And a fabulous cafe and marketplace!!! Outdoor seating spots scattered around. Their own parking lot.

Amazing outdoor little "small business" shopping center. From a cute boutique, to a charcuterie…read moreshop, to a skincare and jewelry store, and a coffee and vintage shop, it's the perfect little area for all your go-tos. The stores are women owned and always have amazing selections. Every business owner is so friendly and makes shopping there even better!

This outdoor Center has many useful businesses and restaurants. I visited two of the businesses…read morewithin who open early. Lots of parking available and WiFi in the larger businesses.

I was robbed in their parking garage after leaving the LA Fitness. There was zero security on the…read moreproperty (I looked for 15 minutes) so I went to Twin Peaks and the manager helped me. Eventually ten cop cruisers came and cops were everywhere looking for the guy. In that hour there wasn't a single security person who showed up to investigate why the property was swarming with cops. I then called the Town & Country owners and left a message asking to be called back, explaining I was robbed in their garage, there was no security ever, and they should know what happened. No returned call. So I left another message two days later. No response. This is an "upscale" mall and I'm sure tenants pay through the nose, but the owners don't give a shit about the security or the safety of their tenant's customers. If I were a tenant I'd want some answers.