If I could give zero stars, I would. All because of an encounter in the parking lot involving…read moresomeone associated with Little Elephant named Jaidyn. This girl brought so much unnecessary drama to a minor accident that it felt like I had been dropped into a low-budget reality show. I'm not exaggerating! This was the most chaotic, immature, and unprofessional interaction I've ever had in public. Here's what happened: I was trying to park outside of a store to get some items. The parking lot layout was tight and poorly designed, but I managed to fit in. After picking up my items and walking back to my car, I began to reverse out only to hear a slight scrape. I realized our cars had lightly scraped against each others. As soon as I got out to assess the damage and observe, I noticed someone was sitting in the passenger seat. I made sure to check both cars, then calmly tried to address the situation. Shortly after, the driver came out of a nearby restaurant, her name was Jaidyn, and she was holding takeout from a sushi spot. I explained the situation and offered to exchange insurance. That's when the entire interaction shifted from mature to chaotic. She immediately switched into "mean girl" mode. You know the type: smug, dismissive, eye-rolling attitude, like everything and everyone is beneath her. She made it unnecessarily difficult, demanding my information but refusing to hand hers over. She also held onto my insurance card like it was hers to keep. That alone told me I was dealing with someone whose maturity level was somewhere between "kindergarten & high school hallway drama" and "Instagram Live meltdown." At this point, another woman came out of the same restaurant, asking if I hit her car too (I didn't). Her tone was playful but condescending, and I was already sensing the energy around this girl group was anything but good. I continued trying to de-escalate and even asked for my insurance card back, as she still hadn't provided hers. Her response? "Back off. I'm looking for it," with a sarcastic, annoyed tone like I was interrupting her big moment. So I matched her energy (she couldn't handle it). Then, things escalated. She pulled out her phone and began recording me, not for documentation, but clearly to try and embarrass me for social media clout. She had the phone angled just right, waving it around with her Hello Kitty case, barking threats while filming, like she was trying to create a viral clip. This wasn't someone who wanted to resolve an issue, this was someone who saw an opportunity to perform. She kept screaming, getting in my face, acting like she was auditioning for some knockoff influencer drama series. Meanwhile, her car "Venom": a dusty, beat-up black Ford Fusion sat there like the real victim. Let's be honest: if you name your car after a Marvel villain but it looks like it's been through five car washes and still smells like vape pens and disappointment, maybe tone it down on the theatrics. Let's also talk about Jaidyn's appearance, since it seemed she put more effort into looking chaotic than being civil. She had on one of those cheap synthetic wigs from the bottom shelf of a beauty supply, crooked and frizzed like it lost a fight with a hairdryer. Her random facial piercings looked like they were done at a house party, and her fashion sense was a mix of clearance rack mall goth and "look at me" desperation. Not someone you'd take seriously in a professional setting, let alone during a legal exchange. I eventually felt unsafe and overwhelmed. So, I did what any logical person would do. I left the scene and immediately called the police to report what had happened and why I left. The dispatcher told me to return if I could and that officers would meet me near the area. I followed instructions and came back, parking nearby to avoid further confrontation. And here's the twist: the officers were incredibly professional, respectful, and calm. I explained everything from start to finish. How I attempted to do the right thing, how Jaidyn escalated it, and how I felt threatened by her behavior. They listened attentively, asked questions, and showed more patience in 10 minutes than Jaidyn did in the entire encounter. Here's where karma comes in: one officer noticed that Jaidyn had been illegally parked, taking up both a regular space and a handicap spot. So while she was trying to play social media hero, she was actually violating parking laws. The officers facilitated the insurance exchange properly, and I was cleared to leave while Jaidyn stayed behind, likely receiving a ticket and a reality check. In the end, I left with my dignity intact and her 15 seconds of fake internet fame permanently denied. Having someone like Jaidyn linked to your business is not just a liability, it's a red flag. If she acts like this over a light scrape, imagine how she treats real customers! Avoid this place if you don't want to deal with a sushi-eating Hello Kitty gangster.

What to say? A gloriously vintage monument to the magnificent days of the Mall's heydays…read more Immaculately kept, cool and nicely lit with a lowered oasis in the center under the mall's atrium, it was nice to stop in, stroll, and pretend I was back in the 80's and things were awesome again. Applebees was delicious and the anchor stores had plenty of Roll Tide merchandise, but I felt like the rest of the stores (stores with names that end in 'Z' like 'Fashionz' ), might fare better in Brooklyn than in college town Tuscaloosa, and that's why most were empty or out of business. My recommendations? Bring in the go-to Mall staples: a movie theatre, T.G.I. Fridays, Gap, Apple, Banana Republic, an arcade. Make Malls Fun Again!

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.

Nice walking mall with popular chain stores and restaurants, such as Victoria's Secret, American…read moreEagle, Buckle, Men's Warehouse, Bonefish Grill and First Watch. The mall is also beautifully landscaped with Southern Magnolia trees, Willow Oak, and shrubs. I also enjoyed the bronze statues of children and dogs around the mall!

The place was spotless. They have a ton of options to choose from as well. We went on a nice walk…read morethrough different business and we found a few pieces we liked. Most of the places had really good service and the price weren't bad.

This is for Snug Mug Coffee Co and them only because they don't have a Yelp page as of yet (you can…read morelook them up on social media). This coffee trailer has the sweetest workers that came from Nashville and have ranted and raved about their experience and transition to Bham. I was obsessed with apple butter as a child and saw they had a signature drink with it as an ingredient. This was a no brainer for me to order and I'm glad I did. "The Eve" - toasted apple butter latter with caramel drizzle. I got mine iced. My Mom said she didn't want anything, tasted mine after we walked away and had us turn around so she could order something for herself. She ended up ordering "The Joshua" - shortbread latte with milk and honey and cookie crumbles. Hers was too sweet for me. She loved it though.

The best shopping area in the metro area! From upscale boutiques, to fine eateries, there's a place…read morefor everyone here that has the patience to fight through the Hwy 280 traffic to get here. The area is very clean and during busier seasons like Christmas, the area offers police to manage traffic. I do most of my shopping online now but I love to come to The Summit as a special treat to myself because it feels like just that when I visit one of their stores or restaurants. My favorite stores here include Belk and Sephora.