There's something vaguely nostalgic about an outdoor shopping arcade, in contrast to the monolithic…read moreglass complexes that now dominate the world of consumerism. In a world of that, The Forestville Centre is a bastion of olde-worlde charm.. sort of. It's a grouping of shops in the local area, with a strange distribution - three dentists? Really? But you can find most things you'd need to run to the shops for there - chemists, dentists, cafes, Coles, a bottle shop and yes, three different dentists. Most of the affiliated businesses are small and locally owned, adding to the overall non-mall like vibe of the place; Coles being the obvious exception, as well as Vintage Cellors and Michels Patisserie. This is added to by the friendliness of everyone - many of the business owners are on first-name basis with their customers, and you can't help but notice the amount of people saying hi to each other in the arcade.

Garden bed in front of Centre sign is terrible. Full of weeds. Better to have concrete than weeds…read more Is there no Centre Manager? Common areas need attention and sweeping, hosing. Not fair to collect rent and neglect the place.

NO SKATEBOARDS. NO SMOKING…read more NO ROLLERBLADING. Rollerblading? Really? What does this look like, 1982? That sign is just one of the reasons I love the Quadrangle. It's been there forever, and as far as I know id the only Quadrangle shopping village in the world. There's some deeply unfashionable (yet reassuringly expensive) ladies fashion boutiques, an IGA (that used to be a Jewels, then a Franklins, then a Coles) with a crappy range, an amazing Butcher Boys, some kid of cafe that keeps changing hands, the Flavours of Peking Chinese restaurant that's been going since time immemorial, and a rather clean bathroom. I love it because it screams village, community, small-town suburban life of the kind that's dying and won't be around in 100 years. So come one, come all, eat and drink and make merry. But if you're on rollerblades, God help you, you take your business elsewhere. We don't want your kind around here.

Once upon a time, the Forest area had two great shopping centres - Forest Way Shopping Centre, and…read moreGlenrose Shopping Centre. Now that Glenrose is all but shut for renovations, Forest Way has emerged victorious from this age-old battle, if only by default. Forest Way is a large suburban shopping centre with many of the major players well represented; Woolworths, Flight Centre, Liquorland, McDonalds, Gloria Jeans and Franklins all get a look in. As what has been called a raging communist, I prefer to support locally-owned businesses - and Forest Way Shopping Centre has them in abundance too. Fancy a pet? A haircut? A dress? A coffee? A piece of fruit? All of these products are readily available from independent retailers throughout Forest Way. The opening hours are pretty standard, although Forest Way has one major convenience that others perhaps lack - a transport interchange. All buses to and from the area go through here. However, this has led to one major inconvenience for shoppers and commuters alike; a lack of parking. Despite the extensive car park, I can rarely find a spot to leave my car while I grab my dry cleaning or (more realistically) wander into McDonalds with a raging hangover. But the closure of Glenrose has left Forest residents with little choice - if you want to eat/get a haircut/clean your clothes/see KindiFarm/book a flight, you must suffer the indignity of driving around for forty minutes looking for a park. Not happy, jan!

From the owner: We are your local shopping centre for all your daily needs with over 50 stores and services under…read moreone roof including Woolworths, Aldi, Liquorland, McDonalds, Commonwelath Bank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, St George, Australia Post, Roads & Maritime Services, F45, a Pharmacy, Newsagency, Butcher, Seafood, Fashion, Cafes, Takeaway, Optometrists, Hairdressers, Florist, Travel Agencies, Cobbler, Jewellery, Mobile Phone Accessories & Repairs, Car Wash, Dry Cleaners and Alterations Service, Solicitors, Kids OT, Physcologists, Learning Centres.

Stocklands Belrose, or Glenrose as everyone from the area refers to it, is in a state. The centre…read morewas purchased by the Stocklands Group in 2009 on the premise of massive renovations.. which are currently halfway there. And have been for over 8 months. The majority of the centre's businesses have closed, relocated or tried to make do in less than half of the space that was there before. Stocklands Belrose's current lineup features Woolworths, a butcher, a café, a bakery, a newsagent, a dry cleaner, a fish and chips shop, a post office, a travel agent and a pool shop. Not tooooo bad - most things that you need day to day are available there. But compared to its former self, Stocklands Belrose is suffering. Where's the Indian takeaway? The chicken shop? The beautician? The little homewares shop? The fruit shop? For God's sake, where is the bottle shop? Stocklands is not a shopping centre that many would go out of the way for. Many of its former clientele have left, going to other shopping centres in the area where they can get a bottle of wine for dinner, some fresh fruit or have a choice in the cup of coffee that they buy. Sadly, the smaller businesses have been victim to the "renovations" taking place at Stocklands Belrose; Woolworths is eternally busy and continues to enjoy the monopoly of the centre's business. Others, however, are not so lucky.

This is a giant mall! At the pace I walk, it would take all day for me to see everything. It looks…read morelike it was built in phases over time because there are so many different design themes. It has more than 350 stores and services including grocers, bookshops, lots of coffee shops, clothing stores, home stores, shoe stores and much, much more. There are children's play areas, food courts, bakeries, and at least one dentist. Numerous public art installations and water features are found throughout. As entertainment, it's great for people watching. If you're shopping and can't find it here, it probably does not exist.

Fantastic mall for the Northern Beaches. It has everything you need from high end to dollar stores…read more Hairdressers, cinema, travel agents, multiple food courts, kids play areas, plus Coles and Woolies. Good amount of outdoor and undercover parking. Very accessible by bus and on a major corridor to and fro servicing the Northern beaches suburbs.

Orderly. That's Stockland Balgowlah. The sort of place that is particularly appealing on a 42…read moredegree day when the humidity hits 85 percent and you just want to be somewhere clean, cool and organised. Oh - and you can shop there. It has the basics. A big Coles, a bottle shop, a fruit and veg market, a bakery, a few clothes shops, a dry cleaner, a newsagent, somewhere to buy a phone top-up card and maybe a few small gifts. Mostly chains, not very much to distinguish is from any other shopping mall. It's easy to park, you can have coffee without risk of losing a small child in the traffic, and with a premier Fitness First upstairs its just the job for doing your groceries and your workout in a single stop. Just don't go here looking for character or quirk.

I like to call stockland balgowlah 'rich housewives heaven'. It's a great shopping centre if you…read morehave a lot of time and money on your hands! With loads of women's clothing stores and gourmet food outlets it's a great place to pop in and grab something for dinner or go have a coffee. The Coles here is AMAZING! It even has a self serve olive bar- how is that real life? There aren't many stores but they have pretty much everything you would need ie. chemist, travel agent, supermarket, butchers, fish monger, gourmet take away, florist, kids clothing, women's clothing etc.

Kennedy's is the sort of shop my mum walks past and looks adoringly at everything in the window…read more Kennedy's is the kind of shop that she even comes home to tell me about the lovely things that they have on offer at the moment. Consequently, Kennedy's is the kind of shop I try and avoid. If I were pushing 50, I'd probably adore all things Kennedys too. But I'm 22. So I haven't made a habit of shopping there.... Until recently, that it. Because Kennedy's was going off last week. This season's maroon colour? Tick! This season's midi-length skirts? Tick! Prices so reasonable it makes Glassons look dear? Tick! I was amazed; a new devotee, I promised my dear Mummy that I would never again slag Kennedy's off. But then. This week. Old woman blouses reappeared in the windows. Dresses more suited to dolls popped back in. And the trendiness that I'd witnessed disappeared. I had heard about this - shops that sometimes happen to carry great stuff, and others make you want to poke your eyes out. Not because the clothes are ugly, but because they are not YOU. Not your generation; better suited to someone else. Kennedy's doesn't carry ugly clothes, nor does it carry clothes I'd not be caught dead it. What it does carry are clothes suited to the mum-types that hang around Forest Way drinking coffee waiting for school pick up. Some of these mum's are obscenely trendy and well dressed - hence the maroon I delighted in. And some are rockin' the same look that they were in the 1990's. So for the younger "trendy" crowd, Kennedy's is probably not your friend. Your Mum will love it, though.

This treasure trove of wonderfully unique bits and pieces is a great find on an otherwise…read moreuninspiring Penthurst Street. The big purple throne in the window gives you an indication that you'll be looking at some pretty interesting things if you enter inside. The store is a well put together mish mash of vintage, antique and new furniture. I clocked a vintage globe that I can't seem to stop thinking about. I was surprised by the reasonable price at $150. It is worth popping in here on a continual basis because the stock is always rotating so there is always the chance to snare that once in a lifetime piece.

This little shopping centre has loads of parking. Not many shops..... but lots of parking. A small…read moreWoolworths, a post office, a bakery, some coffee spots, a newsagent & some clothing for women. Add a chemist, travel agency, dry cleaner & a butcher it is a convenient pop in spot I guess.

Confessions of a Shopaholic who either lives near or in Chatswood...welcome home! Look no further,…read morethis is the shopping centre of choice in Chaddy...let alone the entire North Shore :) Great food downstairs as you enter from Victoria Avenue. On the other hand, Chatswood Chase has forged a reputation for itself as the "fashion retail" capital of the area. Who could not agree more. There are an abundance of fashion styling and shopping night events on in this locale from time to time. A few new stores have recently opened here too. Even my favourite Lululemon. Chaddy Chase also has a pretty cool Apple store, and a mini kids playground in their kid-friendly area. If you're in the mood for shopping, a coffee break and lunch intertwined...then this is your place to "play."

I cannot sing enough praise about Chatswood Chase. Having worked at the David Jones Department…read morestore within the building, I have sampled food from almost every eatery and have shopped at almost every store. The food court is very clean, with plenty of variety on offer from Indian to fast food. The sushi is super fresh and extra tasty. There is less of a crowd compared to Chatswood Westfield, which provides relief for those who dislike crowds (which I am sure is most of us). With less traffic, it is easier to shop and navigate your way around the centre. Chatswood Chase houses a number of high street and haute couture stores from Alannah Hill and Zimmermann to Lisa Ho and Veronika Maine. If you're looking for evening wear, Chatswood Chase is the place to go. Having forgotten where I parked my car, I asked the valet attendant to help me locate my car. He was very friendly and gave me ample instructions and directions. Overall, the thumbs up for Chatswood Chase.