Our hometown of Scottsdale is well-known throughout the world, providing a summer experience for travelers while also offering up world-class cuisine, a peek into the golden days of the Wild, Wild West, and being known as a shopping haven for everyone who finds their joy at the other end of a credit card. Today, we at I Love Scottsdale want to take a few moments from your day to discuss the benefits of retail therapy during your stay in “the West’s Most Western Town,” taking you on a tour of shops, stores, and boutiques that are destined to become your newest obsession. And when your credit card is wincing, your arms are aching from the weight of your packages, you will soon discover that coming home to our vacation sanctuaries is guaranteed to be the best way to rest, recuperate, and recharge for the next day’s shopping adventures.
The Mall of Your Dreams
There once was a time when a visit to the mall made everything better, but with the advent of the internet, the world has turned to online stores to get in their shopping fixes, leaving the malls slowly dying, one by one. In Scottsdale, however, the online trend hasn’t affected the mall situation all that much, and the malls listed below are all perfect examples.
Kierland Commons, 15205 N Kierland Boulevard
There’s always something going on at Kierland Commons, an outdoor mall that feels like a small-town community. Offering special events that include holiday celebrations (pictures with Santa, Easter egg hunts with the Easter Bunny) and fine art and wine festivals, the restaurants attached to the mall will bring you joy. It’s the stores we want to discuss today, the places that welcome you with stylish clothing, creative art masterpieces, and every variety of merchandise that you can imagine. Offering 74+ stores that include your favorite places such as Crate & Barrel, Chanel, and Anthropologie, Kierland Commons springs from the desert landscape like a phoenix rising.
Scottsdale Quarter, 15279 N Scottsdale Road
A relative newcomer to the mall landscape, Scottsdale Quarter is another open-air mall that proves how important malls are to our souls. Established just 10 years ago, this is where we take our tiny toddlers to play on a hot summer’s day, as their splash pad never ceases to amaze. Offering a tech-infused mini golf experience at Puttshack, a movie theater playing all the latest releases, and some of the Valley’s most delicious restaurants, the Quarter is a popular date-night spot as well as a haven to shopping fashionistas who can’t live another day without exploring its fashion landscape. This is also the mall our teens frequent, offering shops they love, including Free People, Van’s, and Sephora.
Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E Camelback Road
As malls all over the nation have slowly shut their doors, Scottsdale Fashion Square has thrived, offering new ways to shop for luxury items as well as making other towns scratch their heads in wonder. THIS is where the other half shops, featuring over two million square feet of shopping, dining, and entertainment space and offering more than 225 retailers. Learn your shopping ABCs by shopping at stores such as Armani, Burberry, and Cartier, and discover just how long it will take to cover the entire alphabet of shops and boutiques found here. (Probably more time than you have, but you will enjoy the effort, we promise!) Also featuring haute cuisine restaurants—Ocean 44 for seafood, Francine for French cuisine, and Tocaya Modern Mexican for an authentic taste of the town—Scottsdale Fashion Square will be the mall you only dreamed could exist.
Old Town Is Where It’s At
The malls aren’t the only place to shop in Scottsdale, not by a long shot, and for those of you who have chosen our I Love Scottsdale Old Town escapes for your vacation abodes, the shops listed below could very well be within walking distance. There are a lot of shops in this area—Old Town is home to over 320 retail shops and 84 galleries, after all! We will start with the shops that are close to most traveler’s hearts, the top souvenir stores in the area.
Chantelle Southwest Gifts, 7223 E Main Street
Offering a southwestern slant to your typical souvenirs, Chantelle Southwest Gifts is a colorful shop filled with fun things you won’t be able to resist. Shoppers can even purchase a cactus to take home with them, serving as a reminder of the fantastic times they had during their desert vacation.
The Purple Saguaro, 7121 E 5th Avenue
The gifts and souvenirs found in the Purple Saguaro are different than the stereotypical magnets and shot glasses travelers often purchase (you can get either of those at the shops in Sky Harbor International Airport) and can be wonderful gifts for those you left behind watering your plants, feeding your dogs, or gathering your mail. Many of the wares in this charming shop are art pieces created by local artists and will be a beautiful addition to your midwestern home.
Old Town Candy & Toys, 4000 N Scottsdale Road Suite 101-102
This next shop is definitely unique, one that we aren’t quite sure fits into the souvenir category, but we are placing it here anyway. Offering a trip back in time with its old school candies, toys, books, and games, they do offer a small souvenir section stocked with the standard shot glasses, magnets, and a variety of Arizona-themed items, we can assure you that the entire family will have a great time shopping here.
Southwestern Reflections, 7221 E 1st Avenue
Family owned and offering a stunning selection of Southwestern-themed gifts, Southwestern Reflections is known for their exquisite and one-of-a-kind gifts that will bring joy to whoever receives them. The family that runs this charming shop has been doing so for two generations, providing a much-loved continuity in the community.
The Boutiques You Will Love
Although everyone loves shopping, the fashion maven in your life will be thrilled to visit these charming boutiques, bringing back armloads full of the latest fashions. Scottsdale is known for its sense of style, and the shops listed below will never disappoint.
Carmen on 5th, 7126 E 5th Avenue A
Scottsdale is famous for a lot of things, but it is generally not known as a discount town, which makes the low prices at Carmen on 5th a fantastic anomaly—but even better, the clothing inside is stylish as well. Also offering a selection of gifts, accessories, and décor items, this special shop should be placed at the top of your list.
FOMO-AZ, 7094 E 5th Avenue
Everyone suffers from a little bit of FOMO (fear of missing out), but you won’t be missing a thing when you visit FOMO on 5th Avenue in Old Town. Offering an intimate collection of women’s wear, the clothing offered here could grace the pages of the latest fashion magazines and includes colorful baby doll dresses, rompers, and silky gowns that look even better worn than they do on the hanger.
Garage Boutique & Concept Store, 7144 E Stetson Drive #110
All the best dressed kids of Scottsdale start their shopping experiences with a visit to Garage Boutique & Concept Store, featuring high style clothing from the most prestigious design houses. Also offering clothing for young adult women as well, this store is a must-visit; just be sure you have room in your luggage, because once you see all they have to offer, you will NEED to add the clothing to your collection.
Old Town Gypsy, 3950 N Brown Avenue
Selling handmade designer clothing, home décor, and a selection of gifts that anyone would be thrilled to receive, Old Town Gypsy offers a funky flair that will speak loudly to the deeply buried gypsy in your soul. The shop is cozy, but is filled to the brim with lovely items, ensuring that you will need to take more than a few minutes examining all they sell.
All That Glitters
The best souvenirs are the ones that are shiny and glittery, and the jewelry stores of Scottsdale offer a peek into how the other half lives. Our silver stores are an authentic reflection of our southwestern region and are plentiful in the Old Town area, but there are also shops selling precious and semi-precious gems as well as gold jewelry, and your jewelry box will appreciate the boost of ice you provide it.
Silver Star Jewelry, 7257 E 1st Avenue
Since the Native Americans who were the original settlers of the Southwest were first introduced to the beauty and style of silver in the 1600s, they have taken the art as their own, raising the creation of silver jewelry to new levels of wonderful, and Silver Star Jewelry offers an excellent representation of the art. Specializing in Native American and Southwestern pieces, this is a great spot to purchase turquoise, they also sell fashion jewelry, local art, and a variety of other jewelry pieces.
J. Eriksson Jewelers, 7041 E 1st Avenue
For over 50 years, J. Eriksson has been the place to visit when seeking unique jewelry, and if you are thinking of using your upcoming Arizona vacation to ask the biggest question of your life, this shop would be the perfect spot to purchase the accompanying piece of jewelry. Designing jewelry for over 50 years in Old Town Scottsdale, everything they sell is made on the premises.
Native Traditions, 7233 E Main Street B
The last of our Old Town jewelry shops, Native Traditions, specializes in the art of silver and turquoise, offering a distinctly Arizonan vibe that will serve as beautiful souvenirs of your Southwest adventures. Also selling a selection of locally created art, Native Traditions provides the perfect transition into our next selection of shops in Old Town.
The Art of Arizona
You may have noticed some of the art that decorates the walls and shelves of your I Love Scottsdale sanctuary, perhaps falling in love with some of the more colorful pieces. We can’t offer any of that art for sale, but we can direct you to the local galleries where we and our owners have done a large majority of our shopping. The shops below are some of our favorites, but if you happen to be wandering along the sidewalks of Old Town Scottsdale and see a gallery that isn’t on our list but captures your eye, please be sure to go in. The artists of Arizona are all a talented bunch, and you may find the perfect masterpiece for your home.
Cowboy Legacy Gallery, 7077 E Main Street #10
Offering the largest selection of cowboy art and artifacts, it only seems appropriate that you purchase cowboy art in the “West’s Most Western Town.”. Their emphasis is on Western landscapes, but they also offer Western saddles, pottery, and bronze statues.
Esses Rare Objects d’ Art, 7169 E Main Street #4315
Specializing in 19th century fine arts and antiques, we at I Love Scottsdale can spend hours in the and never have the same experience twice. Esses Rare Objects d’ Art is always on the hunt for new—er, old—pieces to line their shelves, and your visit will never fail to fascinate.
King Galleries, 7077 E Main Street #17-20
The Native American art sold at King Galleries comes from all over the Southwest, as they offer another gallery located in the heart of Santa Fe. They sell classic pieces that may include wedding vases, paintings, and sculpture pieces that will add color to your life.
The Comfort of Home
After a day spent exploring the shops of Scottsdale, coming home to the comforts of our I Love Scottsdale vacation sanctuaries will be a welcome relief to your tired feet and aching arms. Kick off your shoes and sink into the depths of our plush sofas, soothe your tired muscles by soaking in hot tubs on the deck, and sleep deep in our cloud soft beds, waking every morning ready for a new day of shopping adventures. Reserve your favorite property with us today!
