Retail therapy awaits — from outlet malls to smaller boutiques

McALLEN — In the Rio Grande Valley, the shopping never stops.

From the big box retailers and outlet stores that have invaded in recent years to the historic charm of downtown McAllen, the Valley is a shopper’s paradise.

Only 30 minutes from downtown McAllen, Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets has been a boon for the tiny town of Mercedes.

The shopping center, which opened in 2006, hosts more than 140 outlet stores including, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Nike and Sony.

The center draws a large crowd on most days, but the weekdays are best to avoid other shoppers. On the weekends, Mexican nationals flood local hotels and swamp the mall, making a shopping a bit more frustrating.

Along Expressway 83 throughout Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, several new stores have opened or are in the process of building, including Rooms to Go.

In Edinburg, the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley offer a sporting goods store, a J.C. Penny and a Burlington Coat Factory.

And then there’s always McAllen’s La Plaza Mall, with more than 150 shops and kiosks.

There’s also shopping across the river in Nuevo Progreso and Reynosa. About a 15-minute walk from the Hidalgo-Reynosa bridge, and just off the zocalo, or main square, of Reynosa’s downtown, is Calle Hidalgo. The shopping district is lined with shops selling shoes, boots, clothing, furniture and even appliances. Street performers occasionally entertain shoppers.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, venture toward the western outskirts of town along the highway to Monterrey to the modern shopping mall, Plaza Periférico. Near the maquiladora parks, Periférico is a slice of American suburbia in Reynosa.

The often dusty main drag of Nuevo Progreso is lined with shops — some serving beer and margaritas — that cater to American shoppers. It’s also a major destination to buy prescription drugs in Mexico.

Although big names are beginning to dominate the Valley, dozens of small retailers line not just the streets in downtown McAllen but also the flea markets in South McAllen, Mission and Alamo.

The Valley also continues to boast a thriving second hand and consignment market. At the McAllen Potter’s Consignment and More, 1005 Vine Ave., offers a range of consignment wares from furniture to jewelry and other trinkets.

Sean Gaffney covers business, the economy and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.