Any Mall/Shopping Complex in downtown? (Houston, Dallas: appointed, hotels, townhouses)

[vk999]

Is there any Mall or Department Store in downtown Austin? Thanks.

[southwest1230]

The closest would be the Arboretum and the Domain, per full fledged bona fide malls
with theaters, big-box stores on the loop adjoining roads, and such. Both of those are
located in the near NW, just outside of the university a few miles. Sad to say, there
is no mall or department store in downtown Austin. Many years ago DT austin was a
shopping district and had dept. stores and such, but with its decay in the 60's-70's, things moved to the outskirts, like most cities. South Austin has a few large outdoorstrip malls and I believe they have a few modern lifestyle-type outdoor malls with townhouses and such on the drawing board. Austin isn't really a shopping city like Dallas and Houston, and, until the new Domain opened, had nothing even close to Houston's Galleria, or the glitzy shopping in North Dallas. It's a somewhat unusual city, actually, but in a good way. People shop local here, and shopping is far from the spectator sport it is in most other cities. Here, people shop pretty much pragmatically, when they actually need something, like myself. I abhor malls and such, which is prob why I'm here in Austin in the first place. Here you are more likely to find singular shopping "experiences", like the world market run by HEB, or the whole foods stuff, and such, with live bands playing. Our population is primarily either young singles or young families, and we have an abject lack of the 30-50 something females that typically patronize a mall. In a nutshell, you can blame it on demographics and lifestyle. People just aren't into the recreational shopping vegging zombies you see in most major cities, and I thank God for it!

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by southwest1230

The closest would be the Arboretum and the Domain, per full fledged bona fide malls
with theaters, big-box stores on the loop adjoining roads, and such. Both of those are
located in the near NW, just outside of the university a few miles. Sad to say, there
is no mall or department store in downtown Austin. Many years ago DT austin was a
shopping district and had dept. stores and such, but with its decay in the 60's-70's, things moved to the outskirts, like most cities. South Austin has a few large outdoorstrip malls and I believe they have a few modern lifestyle-type outdoor malls with townhouses and such on the drawing board. Austin isn't really a shopping city like Dallas and Houston, and, until the new Domain opened, had nothing even close to Houston's Galleria, or the glitzy shopping in North Dallas. It's a somewhat unusual city, actually, but in a good way. People shop local here, and shopping is far from the spectator sport it is in most other cities. Here, people shop pretty much pragmatically, when they actually need something, like myself. I abhor malls and such, which is prob why I'm here in Austin in the first place. Here you are more likely to find singular shopping "experiences", like the world market run by HEB, or the whole foods stuff, and such, with live bands playing. Our population is primarily either young singles or young families, and we have an abject lack of the 30-50 something females that typically patronize a mall. In a nutshell, you can blame it on demographics and lifestyle. People just aren't into the recreational shopping vegging zombies you see in most major cities, and I thank God for it!

Ahhh, I don't even want to tell you what is wrong with that comment. Austin is growing with more and more families and people are aging. This isn't some kind of science fiction town with ageless people. So, I guess you hit 30 and you move away from Austin. Who agrees that this comment is bad?

[southwest1230]

llkltk, did your cat give you your handle by taking a stroll on the keyboard? LOL!
Hey, evidentally you've never heard of CAROUSAL. It's this really creepy vortex that
we must all approach and get sucked into on our 30th birthday here in Austin.
We are not sure at this point where the people go, but I've been told that its a fine
place, and not to worry. Hope that explains the lack of soccer Mums and middle age mall
zombies in Austin! And thank you, Logans run, for the concept of carousal...........

[southwest1230]

Beware of CAROUSAL......it definitely gives "don't trust anyone over thirty" a new meaning......

[mimimomx3]

Downtown Austin has shopping 'areas', but not 'malls' or department stores. Don't know if you're talking about women's clothes, but the Lamar/5th Street area has great shopping..By George, Girl Next Door, Emeralds, Anthropologie, etc. If you go over to 2nd Street and Congress there are other neat boutiques there. South First (I love Kickpleat!) and South Congress are packed full of great boutiques. Are you looking for Macy's kind of stuff? That would be about 10 minutes away from downtown in Barton Creek Mall. I think that a Target is supposed to come into downtown...I heard that a while back, but haven't seen any progress there.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by southwest1230

The closest would be the Arboretum and the Domain, per full fledged bona fide malls
with theaters, big-box stores on the loop adjoining roads, and such. Both of those are
located in the near NW, just outside of the university a few miles. Sad to say, there
is no mall or department store in downtown Austin. Many years ago DT austin was a
shopping district and had dept. stores and such, but with its decay in the 60's-70's, things moved to the outskirts, like most cities. South Austin has a few large outdoorstrip malls and I believe they have a few modern lifestyle-type outdoor malls with townhouses and such on the drawing board. Austin isn't really a shopping city like Dallas and Houston, and, until the new Domain opened, had nothing even close to Houston's Galleria, or the glitzy shopping in North Dallas. It's a somewhat unusual city, actually, but in a good way. People shop local here, and shopping is far from the spectator sport it is in most other cities. Here, people shop pretty much pragmatically, when they actually need something, like myself. I abhor malls and such, which is prob why I'm here in Austin in the first place. Here you are more likely to find singular shopping "experiences", like the world market run by HEB, or the whole foods stuff, and such, with live bands playing. Our population is primarily either young singles or young families, and we have an abject lack of the 30-50 something females that typically patronize a mall. In a nutshell, you can blame it on demographics and lifestyle. People just aren't into the recreational shopping vegging zombies you see in most major cities, and I thank God for it!

I'm not a big fan of malls, but I do love shopping. And judging from all the people (men and women, all ages!) I see doing it right along with me, Austin is not shy about shopping. You, llktkl, may not enjoy shopping, but plenty of people in Austin DO! Barton Creek Mall, Highland Mall and Lakeline Mall are all fairly respectable malls...not in the Galleria league, but then again, this isn't Houston! For 'upscale' shopping, yes, the Domain (Neimans, Burberry, Tiffany, Mac store- cosmetics and ipods!- , and a soon to come Nordstrom) and also the Arboretum (Saks). Don't forget the outlet malls in San Marcos (HUGE!). Then there are all the fashion districts...2nd st., 5th and Lamar, Burnet, South Lamar, South 1st, South Congress. Austin not being a shopping town? ARE you kidding?

[southwest1230]

Sure, Austin shops, but they have a very strong bent towards supporting unique and one-of-a-kind stores
and boutiques. We have great weather 9 months of the year, the population is the youngest of any major city by far, and they simply have better things to do than recreational shopping. Many people complain on here about the lack of high end, and/or bona-fide mall shopping, like they left behind in Houston, Dallas, and California.
All I can say is the charm that mimimom mentioned of south lamar, congress, and such is what people here are interested in. Malls, whether the classic enclosed 70's -80's type, or the newer outdoor lifestyle malls, are simply controlled environments, when all is said and done. Folks out here like to feel like they are discovering something unique, which they are, and look for something special, and will go out of their way to patronize it, ala all the outdoor eateries on south congress or west riverside. I swear, this is the ONLY city I've ever seen with hundreds of folks enjoying themselves outside at eateries, or shopping at funky boutique areas that go on for blocks. I hope that explains why you don't see the typical malls out here, and I hope never will. I presume folks are trying to get out of that vegging mall mindset in the city the left, and should be thrilled to see they proactive and eclectic shopping environment we have here.

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by southwest1230

I swear, this is the ONLY city I've ever seen with hundreds of folks enjoying themselves outside at eateries, or shopping at funky boutique areas that go on for blocks.

Huh? Really? I love Austin as much as the next guy, but many other cities put Austin to shame in this department. In fact, I'm generally disappointed in how small our funky shopping strips and eatery clusters are compared to most other cities I've lived in and visited.

[southwest1230]

Austin isn't really that large.....we are only talking 700,000 or so, while, not a small town, isn't a world-class city like chicago with michigan avenue or such. Also, like I said, if there was a demand for it it would be there. Don't you think the corporation man or small business would fill in the vacuum if the demand was there? Up to now, there wasn't, but we have just enough folks with money per tech and all to warrant the Domain right now.....I think you might be referring to NW Austin and the NW burbs, which indeed are pretty bad per shopping and eateries, but thats just the typical sprawling layouts that texas cities seem to favor, along with much of the rest of the nation. Me personally, I think shopping is a classic waste of good time. We have a short life on this earth, and time ticks faster each year. Why would I want to waste it walking around recreational shopping? Most of Austin feels the same, which is why you don't see it. If there was a demand, again, it would be there.