Shop till you drop

McALLEN — If shopping is what your heart desires, then look no further than the Rio Grande Valley. There are plenty of retail plazas, malls, downtown areas and outlet stores available throughout the area.
La Plaza Mall in McAllen is the leading destination for both domestic and international shoppers. It is anchored by Dillard’s, Macy’s, JC Penney, Joe Brand, and Sears. There you will be able to shop indoors without having to worry about the weather.
A few miles west of the mall, you’ll find another shopping plaza owned by Simon Property Group, Palms Crossing Shopping Center. The 396,000 square foot area, located adjacent to the McAllen Convention Center, provides upscale retail and dining opportunities for Winter Texans. Some of the restaurants include P. F. Changs, B.J.’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Cheddar’s and Mimi’s Café. Stores include DSW Shoe Warehouse, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Barnes & Noble.
If you’re on the north side of McAllen, you can find an array of retailers along Trenton Road and 10th Street, including Ross, Dress Barn, Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s and Hobby Lobby. Olive Garden and a new Red Lobster are also near the vicinity.
The Centro Mall in Pharr, anchored by Luby’s Restaurant, Radio Shack and several other smaller stores, may soon see a renovation. City leaders are working with the property owner to revamp their mall and revitalize the area near the new Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen restaurant.
If what you’re looking for is to save a couple of dollars on high-end fashion brands, then Mercedes’ Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets is the place for you. A 30-minute drive from McAllen will find you impressive savings for brands such as Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Coach, Gap, Guess, Lacoste, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and more. Weslaco also offers a new JC Penny along the expressway.
Remember that each town has a downtown area where you can experience unique shopping and dining experiences you won’t be able to find anywhere else.