1/20/26 In the area…read moreand after having dinner decided to walk to the mall.. Crazy cold but needed to get our steps in. Enjoyed seeing a few familiar retailers.. Glad they are conveniently located from the hotel too.

It might seem strange to do an update review without actually changing my rating, however, a…read morecombination of today's visit and it having been over five years since my last review both lead me to revisiting this review. While I've always had a strange affection for Castleton Square, the truth is these closed-air malls are dying out in favor of mixed usage malls and open-air concepts. Fashion Mall is still around, of course, and Greenwood Park is still here even if it has done at least a modest renovation toward open-air. Washington Square? It might as well be dead. Lafayette Square? The same. Hamilton Town Center is pretty rocking, however, it largely is an open-air concept. Fashion Mall is great for luxury items and a food court vastly superior to Castleton. Both malls have movie theaters - while I love Landmark, I actually give the nod to AMC Castleton here. Castleton is still a Simon mall. It continues to have major spots vacant including the front of the mall spot recently vacated by Forever 21. This is an older mall that still has sporadic issues with violence, a fairly strong IMPD presence, and a woeful lack of major draw retailers. JC Penney is still here despite rumors of bankruptcy, though the store itself is so dirty you'll likely need a tetanus shot when you leave. Von Maur is fine. You've got Macy's with a Starbucks in it, though Cath Coffee is local and has a kiosk in the mall (the old Starbucks). The food court still has a Chick-fil-A, a Luca Pizza, and a handful of others. McAlister's still has a spot with an exterior entrance. It looks like a Mexican joint has taken the old Johnny Rocket's spot that has seen several other restaurants quickly fail. I'd recommend coming in from East 82nd Street as streets are smoother. East 86th Street is getting some attention (finally), but you'll still likely need an alignment from driving it (if you go to Costco or Saraga you know this). Parking is typically abysmal here. People argue over ADA spots (Seriously, I was yelled at today for moving too slowly to vacate one). There's a tension in the mall that seems palpable and I actually felt a sense of relief when I left. My favorite spots? The movie theater, of course. I do still like the McAlister's. I'm a fan of Earthbound Trading Company off the food court. I like FYE, Yankee Candle, and Spencer Gifts. There's a Native American goods shop that's pretty cool, as well. Four Seasons Florist is a nice spot and Grade A Tattoos has a place here. Boss Battle Games has a $15 entry and you can play all day. Lego still has a great and popular spot here. There's an exterior sign indicating Hobby Lobby is joining the mall soon - I think around the long vacant Sears spot. Accessibility is pretty decent here. Main doors are automatic. Accessible/ADA parking is plentiful (though frequently misused and nearly never enforced). The main accessible restrooms are near the food court. I'd still like to see this mall get a more practical retailer - Hobby Lobby may fill that need soon. I noticed today that there's almost an international marketplace vibe starting to happen here with a more diverse clientele and a few more indie shops noticed. Ultimately, I didn't really enjoy shopping here like I have in the past. I didn't hate it, but I didn't leave thinking "I can't wait to go back." Instead, I noticed the tension and I really felt like I'd much rather go to free-standing or open-air spots than be immersed in this tense, uncomfortable shopping experience. I'd probably go 2.5 if I could. I can't. 2 feels a little low and considering there's still some great shopping to be had here I'll stick with a 3-star rating with a slight disclaimer that Castleton Square sure seems like it's headed downhill.

Just a quick review on my experience at this hispanic indoor "mall" in Indy. I was cravaing ice…read morecream and we had some time to kill so I made my bf pull over to get ice cream at this random Yelp find about 5 minutes from where we were when I suddenly desired ice cream. Now... I took 8 years of Spanish but my brain went haywire and I couldn't say a single word of Spanish. That was a problem as everyone spoke Spanish. And not everyone spoke English. That's not a problem, of course. I should have been more prepared but my big dumb dumb brain failed me. There are at least two places to order ice cream inside. We got ice cream from the stand right by the entrance. That was the wrong one as I had wanted to try the stand with the unique flavors like corn and horchata. The one we went to had like a dozen basic flavors and milkshakes. Do a little bit of wandering inside if you want to find the stand with the unique flavors. There are dozens of other stalls inside, selling all sorts of stuff from cheap garbage to even dishwashers and hot tubs! We didn't see what the food trucks outside had. My bf got 2 scoops of ice cream ($5.50) and I panicked ordered a massive size of an oreo milkshake ($8.75 and 80000 calories). It was okay. Not as good as a DQ Blizzard which is top tier in the oreo mix em up game. Prices are barely on anything so make sure to brush up on your basic Spanish. As for the bathroom, it was messy, busy, and well worn. Also, parking was near impossible and potholes are abundant. Yikes. I am glad we tried this interesting experience, but I don't think I will ever go back.

I popped over here on Saturday to check it out; since many of my students had mentioned it to me…read more It's located on the west side, I honestly just browsed around and took in all the sights. There is something for everyone at this location, clothes, shoes, accessories, appliances! I'm glad I got the chance to check it out, I ended up purchasing an evil eye bracelet as well as an our lady of Guadalupe bracelet. I'd visit again, especially to check out the restaurant in the back!

I'm so glad we have an outlet mall close to home! I'm always on the hunt for a good bargain, and…read morethis is one of my favorite places to shop. The outlet is set up like a strip mall with lots of different stores, so be prepared to do a lot of walking. There is plenty of parking throughout the property, so you can park near whichever stores you plan to visit. We usually end up walking all over because I like to browse as many stores as possible. One thing I appreciate is that many stores offer additional discounts beyond the outlet prices. When you walk in, the employees will often let you know about any extra sales or promotions happening that day, which can make the deals even better. We come here frequently, especially for the Nike store since my kids love shopping there. I was looking for stuff for my vacation, but didn't find anything in the Nike store. Over the years, I've noticed that some stores have come and gone, and it's always nice to see new additions. One of the newest and most popular stores is Lululemon. If you're planning a trip, it's worth checking the outlet's website beforehand for a complete list of stores so you can plan your shopping route. It's's a great place to spend a few hours bargain hunting, and I'll definitely keep coming back.

We went on Monday of Memorial Day weekend and it was super packed! This outdoor mall is sure to…read morehave something for everyone. Parking can be a bit crazy, but I've never visited when I couldn't find a spot somewhere. It just may not be super close to the store you'd like to visit! Today there were food trucks setup for all to enjoy. They also have a small area for kids to play.

This mall has changed so much over the last 6 years. Stores have come and gone. Locally owned…read morebusinesses come in and stay for a couple months and then leave. The food options have changed and dwindled. The big department stores stay the same. TGIF Friday's is gone after many years. The one thing that seems to remain and allow parents some relaxation and the kids some fun is the play area. My son could spend hours here if I let him lol. He climbs, he walks, and he plays. There are comfy chairs and sofas to sit in. They have a charging station, and they have hand sanitizer!! The bathroom near the play area is family friendly and has a hard changing area. It would be nice if there was a lip there to ensure children didn't fall. The bathroom in the food courts is a whole different story. It is a FAMILY bathroom. There is no buckle on the changing table and the changing table tilts down. Perfect setting for a child to fall. The mall is light and vibrant in most spaces. It's a good place to just walk around and window shop. Mostly I miss all stores having dressing rooms.

had great store and amazing food selection, however if your visiting from out of town and happen…read moreto leave an item behind just know you will not get your items back unless you go in person. Steve in the main office for the mall states the mall has a policy that they won't send via mail lost items even if you describe the items and provide proof of payment. Steve got very defensive and rude when I asked if there was a way to get my money back for the items that were left there then or if I can prove they are my items if we can ship them at my cost. hope in the future this policy is changed as I reached out to corporate which is Simon property group.

Love this outdoor mall. Unfortunately, as everywhere, brick and mortar stores are dwindling, but…read morethere are still quite a lot of store left to peruse. Since this is an open air location, there is not food court, but plenty of restaurants at the mall as well as the surroundings. You will not go hungry here. And of course there is a movie theater and even event spaces to rent. I hope it survives the declining retail climate, because this is a very convenient location for me.

This used to be a great spot. All of the good stores moved out. If Spencer's is your jam this is…read morethe place for you!!

I don't spend a whole lot of time up in Hamilton County, however, a recent work conference gave me…read morethe opportunity to spend some time at Hamilton Town Center. Hamilton Town Center is essentially an open-air mall. Developed by Indy-based Simon & Associates, Hamilton Town Center opened in 2008 right on the cusp of when the more traditional shopping mall was starting to wane in popularity and developers were exploring options. Hamilton Town center features over 85 shops/restaurants and is designed to resemble a streetscape. Some of the dining options, in particular, are free-standing buildings in outlots. While I think it's pretty common to associate Hamilton County with a more affluent clientele, one of the things I like about Hamilton Town Center is that it has a nice diversity within its shops - from definite high end options to more "ordinary joe" type outlets. Hamilton Town Center also hosts Emagine Theatre (the former Hamilton 16 IMAX). I suppose a minor quibble would be that the vast majority of the options here are national chains, though I noticed a lot of the national chains tend to be smaller chains that might surprise you they're a chain. Being a Simon Mall, Hamilton Town Center has a rewards club and there are some online shopping options. Like most malls, Hamilton Town Center tends to host holiday events and has a Santa every holiday. Generally speaking, accessible parking is plentiful and curb cuts are well done. There's at least one very nice greenery area that seems to draw the kids quite a bit with its various playground-lite equipment. There's a definite "sprawl" here in terms of the landscape. If you have mobility issues, you may have difficulty if you want to go to several different stores at opposite ends of the "mall." In terms of accessibility, it works. It's just a bit tiring. I considered going a 4-star and a 4.5 is probably more accurate, however, the real clincher for me is that I like the diversity of shops more than Castleton and I like the economic variation more than Fashion Mall. I just feel like there's something for everyone here. While the mall generally opens at 10am, I do kind of wish they had a decent breakfast/brunch option. However, that's pretty easy to find within a mile of this growing area. If we're being honest, Castleton is okay but has definitely declined. Fashion Mall is just fine, and I definitely like the food options, but it's more than a wee bit pretentious. Greenwood Park Mall is probably the closest comparison, though Glendale Town Center is weaving together the hybrid experience these days. Washington Square and Lafayette Square? Um, yeah. No. While Central Indiana has other options, this is definitely one of the better mall experiences in Central Indiana and it's an easy drive from pretty much anywhere in Marion and surrounding counties.

This is a good place to go if you want to shop but don't want to leave your dogs behind! A lot of…read morethe stores allow dogs, you can find the list online and I heard they also have it in the mall office. We took our fashionable dog to American eagle, francescas, bath and body works, and of course three dog bakery. All of the staff at the stores were really nice to us and our dog and we felt comfortable in the stores. I also appreciated all of the safety measures at the stores like masks and outside lines. This is also just a pretty mall to walk around on a nice day. We rounded out the day with lunch at Pies and PInts in the mall which is dog friendly as well! We had an awesome sweet corn pizza and the dog was given some water and they were really kind to him.

I visited Circle Center Mall a couple weeks ago when I was downtown, and figured I'd visit another…read moremall that has been in the news in recent weeks, Lafayette Square. The current management of Lafayette Square claims they're on a path to redevelopment including adding buildings, amenities, and businesses. And they claim they can do it all without tax incentives. So I wanted to stop by and see the progress. All in all, I'd say Lafayette Square is about 70% leased, though it only has one anchor filled and that is a Shopper's World. Compared to Circle Center which is in a central part of town and has a lot more money backing it, I'd say that's pretty good. I didn't take any pictures of this part, but the front part of the mall off of Lafayette Square as well as that specific part of the parking lot probably look better now than they have at all in the past 20 years. As someone who grew up on the northwest side and frequently visited the mall when I was younger, seeing this mall and walking inside bought back a lot of memories. I vividly remember some of the tenants from my youth, and many of the storefronts such as the old bookstore look exactly the same. There is evidence of the mall's former glory days all over, with signs of former tenants that have never been removed, or aging amenities that are still there, but no longer functional. For a fairly dead mall, I'd say it was also fairly clean and I felt safe. There were families with children in the mall, either to grab some food or shop at the several clothing stores. The rest of the property besides the part that faces Lafayette Road though, is in pretty dire condition and I think it'll take a lot of luck to pull off this re-development.

Lafayette Square Mall is a former Simon Mall that was abandoned by the company and over the years…read morehas fallen into something resembling disrepair and a rather sad lack of use. The mall, which is in the area where I grew up, has 1.2 million square feet of shopping space. I'm unclear on just how much of it is actually utilized, but it's definitely not that much. There's 113 acres of land and plenty of parking. There are still signs of the terrific mall it used to be - and, I must say, it's still vastly superior to Washington Square (another Simon abandoned mall). This area is now known as International Marketplace precisely because of the tremendous diversity in terms of residents and businesses. If you can't find ethnic food in this area, you're not actually looking. I believe that Shopper's World is now the only true "big box" store to occupy the mall. The mall has a mixed history in terms of violence, though I'll be honest and say I've never felt unsafe here. That said, even the area I grew up in near 43rd & Moller Road is a much rougher area than it was when I was growing up. The area around Lafayette Square still has a pretty healthy business cycle to it. There's a fairly new Wal-Mart Supercenter not far away. At Home is fairly close by and there are several other major chains within a mile. However, this area really has worked to re-establish itself to celebrate its diversity. The stores in Lafayette Square are mostly independently owned shops now. The same is true for the handful of restaurants. I do believe Philly Cheesesteak is still in here and it's not locally owned. The mall has generally the same layout it used to have, though decor is pretty barebones these days. I used to really love wheeling these wide paths from one end to the other. Growing up, Lafayette Square was my favorite mall. I certainly can't say that anymore, though I think it still has its charm. I believe nearly all of the parking lot businesses are closed now. For a while, a pizza joint was here. Movie theaters existed for a while. Heck, I'm old enough that I remember when there was a photo developing place in the parking lot. Lafayette Square still gets a surprising amount of business. I was by here today and while the anchor spots are empty there were still pockets with quite a few cars and the halls had some definite business. While Finish Line is still listed on their website, I'm pretty sure they left a little while back. Overall, I do think Lafayette Square gets a bit of a bad rap. That said, there's also not a lot of reasons to come here as there's no major national retailers beyond Shoppers World and no major attractions outside the indie shops. While I've always felt safe here, Lafayette Square has definitely had some issues and I'd be hard-pressed to call it family friendly at this point. Still, this place has potential. Here's hoping that one day someone comes in and really uses this space well and it doesn't go the way of Eastgate or Washington Square.

As a tourist visiting for a weekend: having lived in Silver Lake (LA, CA) for a few years and…read morehaving walked around a bit and dined in this area (Fountain Square), I think it's safe to say that this is the or at least one of the hipster areas in the Circle City. The area feels artsy and very pedestrian/bike friendly. The restaurants look nice, but not overly expensive or unapproachable. It's funny because when I visit new cities, I tend to gravitate towards the restaurants in these type of areas. On this trip, I ate at both Milktooth and Bluebeard - both wonderful places to eat. I also had drinks at Four Finger Distillery and Inferno Room. It's located really close to the main downtown Indianapolis area. I actually parked in the area between here and the downtown area when I went to the Colts game on the Sunday I was here.

It has changed from an artsy community to a more heavily food focused area. Not that I am…read morecomplaining. I thoroughly enjoy all sorts of foods. I take my foodie group to this area to dine out a lot. And you can take a nice walk around the area and admire the murals of this area. There are so many, gorgeous and from such talented artists. I often take a stroll before or after dinner to see the murals or peruse through the little shops. One of the big plus points had always been the free parking. Unfortunately it seems to be changing as I have ended up in a couple of paylots lately. I am not amused. So do yourself a favor and double check your parking spot to see if you need to pay.