From luxury furniture shops and art galleries to indie boutiques and local liquor stores, the Valley is a shopper’s paradise.
Biltmore Fashion Park
Barnone Looking to create a shared space for maker-driven businesses, Gilbert visionary/entrepreneur Joe Johnston upcycled a 1950s grain storage building located on his ancestral family farm at Agritopia, the agrarian housing development he launched in the 2000s. Currently, 10 makers share the space, from woodworkers to machinists.
Chandler Fashion Center Chandler Fashion Center offers family-friendly mall favorites – department stores Macy’s and Dillard’s, along with food-court staples – and a few higher-end offerings, including Free People and Coach. Personal shoppers are available to guide your retail therapy – and help lug your haul from Anthropologie, lululemon and Pottery Barn. Support local with some lash pampering at Amazing Lash Studio.
Hive on 16th This collection of tiny Midtown businesses has a fresh coat of paint and a new owner, but the Hive’s reputation as one of the artsiest spots in town is holding strong, with Julia Fournier’s The Bee’s Knees vintage shop, Tennille Neilsen’s Composite Boutique and Keri Mosier’s Mer.Made Jewelry studio as well as Window Coffee Bar, Tattoo Paulski, artist studios, a performance space and, soon, a merch shop dedicated to the space itself.
Mill Avenue Park West Pemberton PHX Roosevelt Row Arts District Scottsdale Fashion Square Shopping is elevated to an art form at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The largest shopping mall in Arizona – almost 2 million square feet of retail heaven – also boasts the most amenities and complimentary services: personal shoppers, carry-out assistance, omnipresent concierge staff and valet parking with optional detailing service. It’s also the only Arizona location of several high-end emporiums, including Kate Spade, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta. A multi-year redevelopment includes a new luxury wing (anchored by Neiman Marcus and home to a Dior flagship store), custom artwork and destination restaurants including Nobu, Ocean 44 and Toca Madera.
Scottsdale Quarter Seventh Avenue/Melrose District Uptown Plaza Westgate Entertainment District
2502 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602-955-8400, shopbiltmore.com
Fashion Park is an apt moniker for this luxurious outdoor shopping center, which frames verdant lawns and sun-drenched open spaces with high-end boutiques and designer destinations, located within walking distance of the historical Arizona Biltmore resort. Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue anchor the cluster of shops, which include Ralph Lauren and Arhaus. To support local, pop into Citrine Natural Beauty Bar for cosmetics and The Clotherie for menswear. Get a local caffeine fix at Royal Coffee Bar or pop into Blanco Tacos + Tequila for lunch.
3000 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert, barnoneaz.com
3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, 480-812-0152, chandlermall.com
2222 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-756-1082, hiveon16th.com
Mill Avenue between University Drive and Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, downtowntempe.com
Mill Avenue, a walkable shopping district less than a mile long, is the epicenter of activity for college students from nearby Arizona State University. Find hipster garb at Urban Outfitters, eclectic fashions at Pitaya and sports merchandise at Cactus Sports. Yucatecan Imports, a longtime Mill mainstay, sources handcrafted treasures from around the world.
9744 W. Northern Ave., Peoria, 623-877-9771, shopparkwest.com
This outdoor mall features shops clustered around Harkins Park West 14 movie theater. An influx of West Valley outposts from local restaurant groups – Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Baker, The Sicilian Butcher, Pita Jungle – has reinvigorated the shopping complex.
1121 N. Second St., Phoenix, pembertonphx.com
This “ever-evolving collective” is situated on about 2 acres just north of the Roosevelt Row arts district. Opened in 2020, it has regular fixtures including food options (Baja Fish Tacos & More, Toduken, Saint Pasta, The Local Donut), retail (Cleo + Clementine, Goods PHX, Hilali Jewelry, Buckaroo Flower Co.), performance spaces, indoor/outdoor personal training gyms and more, many with open-air components.
Roosevelt Street, from 16th Street to Seventh Avenue, Phoenix, rooseveltrow.org
For a true taste of independent Phoenix, explore this historical corridor of boutiques, art galleries, coffee houses, shops and co-ops – many housed in renovated bungalows and 19th-century homes. Art galleries and performance spaces abound, including the Alwun House Foundation, Great Arizona Puppet Theater and Phoenix Center for the Arts. Buy local goods at MADE art boutique, Phoenix General and Now or Never. Art galleries and Phoenix Art Museum stay open late for First Fridays, a monthly art walk and crafts bazaar with food trucks. The vibrant street art alone could make for a compelling tour of “RoRo.”
7014 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, 480-941-2140, fashionsquare.com
15037 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-270-8123, scottsdalequarter.com
Scottsdale Quarter is a mixed-use, open-air center designed to resemble a city district. Major retailers Sephora, Apple, Restoration Hardware and Fabletics mix with local shops like Cheeky Chic Baby Boutique and Candle Chemistry. Re-energize with a cup of fair-trade coffee at Press Coffee and then craft your own grab bag of candy at IT’SUGAR to enjoy at The Quad, a park-like gathering spot with the largest pop-jet fountain in the region. It’s a popular play spot for families, so you’ll see kids running around in the water.
Seventh Avenue between Indian School and Camelback roads, Phoenix, 480-620-4415, melrosemerchantsassociation.com
This stretch of shops, restaurants, salons, garages and sundry businesses located just north of Downtown Phoenix is home to Modern on Melrose, Retro Ranch, Green Goddess House of Herbs and Melrose Pharmacy. The Melrose District is known for its abundance of vintage and antique shops and is a popular destination for thrift shoppers and treasure hunters. It has also been an iconic neighborhood for the Valley’s LGBTQ+ community. Its annual street fair draws big crowds.
100 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, uptownplazaphx.com
Built in 1955 by legendary developer Del E. Webb, Uptown Plaza was remodeled and rejuvenated in 2015. Now it’s once again among the top shopping centers in the state, with tenants including local boutiques (Muse Apparel, Manor, Local Nomad), salons and spas (CLOVR Life Spa, Boardroom Salon for Men and Hi, skin), and restaurants galore (Elly’s Brunch & Cafe, Chula Seafood, Flower Child, Huss Brewing Co. and Scoopwell’s Dough Bar, to name a few).
6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale, 623-385-7502, westgateaz.com
Gila River Arena, State Farm Stadium and AMC Theatres anchor this shopping complex, which brims with restaurants and bars. Pop into Wicked Vintage to browse the racks, or hit PXG for the finest in luxury sports apparel and golf gear, including custom clubs. Check the calendar for special events.
This article first appeared in the 2023 City Guide, published by PHOENIX magazine in November 2022.
Newcomers’ Guide to Retail Hub Shopping in the Valley in 2023
Editorial StaffNovember 1, 2022
