Shopaholics beware! Kansas City has enough reasonably priced, locally owned and nationally known retailers to feed your addiction.

Kansas City is a world-class shopping area. We do have the first shopping mall ever built, after all! Residents, as well as visitors, enjoy a vast selection of retail possibilities, whether it’s a local specialty shop, residential shopping center, outlet mall or an expansive, full-service mall. You’ll find that something special you’ve been searching for or you’ll find something you never even knew you wanted.

Mighty Malls

Crown Center. Crown Center. Grand and Pershing, downtown. This “city within a city” features two hotels, a residential neighborhood and several office buildings. But the main attraction to the center is the shopping. Crown Center showcases three levels of shopping, with national retailers as well as specialty merchants and local chains. The complex also features a variety of restaurants ranging from fast food to the utmost in fine dining. Among the highlights are the world’s only Crayola Café, The American Restaurant (the city’s only Mobil Four-Star dining experience) and the train-themed Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant. Plus, it’s a mecca of entertainment with the American Heartland Theatre and The Coterie Theatre. Free exhibits and events are featured throughout the year. During the winter, you’ll want to sharpen your skates and head down to the Crown Center Ice Terrace, Kansas City’s only public outdoor ice skating rink. Also housed within the complex is the Hallmark Visitors Center, which offers a look at the history of Hallmark Cards, and Kaleidoscope, a free creative workshop for children ages 5-12. 816/274-8444 or www.crowncenter.com.

Independence Center. I-70 and Hwy. 291 in Independence. Set within a lively and luminous atmosphere, 130 specialty shops anchored by Dillard’s, Macy’s and Sears provide ample shopping opportunities with a pleasurable ambiance spread over two spacious levels. A third level is dedicated to a food-themed children’s play area, including a double-decker carousel complementing a remodeled food court. Independence Center also has an Applebee’s and retailers like American Eagle and Old Navy. 816/795-8600 or www.simon.com.

Metro North Mall. 169 Hwy. and Barry Road in the Northland. Macy’s, JCPenney and Dillard’s anchor this mall, which also includes a large variety of other shops and services, such as Bath and Body Works, Foot Locker and Kelso’s Pizza. Great activities are always going on, including a free kids club, bridal shows and sports card shows. 816/436-7800 or www.metronorthmallkc.com.

Oak Park Mall. 95th & Quivira Road in Overland Park. Kansas City’s largest enclosed shopping center, Oak Park Mall features more than 185 shops; a state-of-the-art children’s play area and carousel; and four prominent anchors, including the area’s only Nordstrom, Dillard’s, JCPenney and Macy’s. A variety of restaurants round out the mall, such as Rainforest Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, Panera Bread, Chick-fil-A, On the Border and a large food court. Oak Park Mall is home to unique stores like Sephora, Puma, XXI Forever, Lacoste, Hollister Co. and Bare Escentuals, plus favorites like Coach, Arden B, bebe, Guess, Banana Republic, Talbots, Journey’s and more. 913/888-4400 or www.thenewoakparkmall.com.

Ward Parkway Shopping Center.8600 Ward Pkwy. in Kansas City, Mo. Ward Parkway provides shoppers with more than 750,000 square feet of choices. The unique mix of indoor and outdoor merchants, in addition to the combination of big box, local shops and national chains, sets Ward Parkway apart from other malls in Kansas City. It features Dillard’s, Old Navy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, AMC Parkway 14 Theaters, Starbucks, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Target, 24-Hour Fitness, T.J. Maxx and more. 816/363-3545 or www.wardparkwaycenter.com

Mallternatives

Briarcliff Village. Located off 169 Hwy. and Briarcliff Pkwy. The 13,000-square-foot Tuscan-themed Briarcliff Village offers upscale shops, restaurants and office space from the Northland. It includes local, elegant restaurants like Piropos and Trezo Mare Seafood with fashionable boutiques like L&L Home Goods and Gifts, Urban Arts + Crafts, Moda Domani, Nolte’s and Nell Hill’s. The Green Acres Organic Market gives consumers a shopping alternative. 816/741-8540 or www.briarcliffkc.com

Country Club Plaza. 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Pwky in Kansas City, Mo. Designed in 1922, the Plaza is a living monument to Mediterranean architecture and is modeled after Seville, Spain, featuring many outdoor statues and fountains. Year-round, this outdoor shopping and restaurant destination is alive with activity, from live music in the summer to a Thanksgiving evening blowout when thousands of colorful lights outline the Old World architecture.
Nationally known for its world-class shopping, the Plaza is home to Anthropologie, BCBG and Betsey Johnson, plus local boutiques like Hemline, lilibele and Pinstripes, to name a few of the 150 shops. Also recognized for being one of the top dining destinations in the area, plan to have dinner at any of the fabulous restaurants on the Plaza. Don’t forget to take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage. 816/753-0100 orwww.countryclubplaza.com.

Hawthorne Plaza. 119th and Roe in Overland Park. This is one of Kansas City’s most charming and original shopping centers. The architecturally pleasing, open-air plaza features upscale boutiques, unique specialty shops, one of the largest Talbots stores in the nation and two dining establishments. 816/756-3535 or www.hawthorneplazashopping.com

The Legends at Village West. I-435 and Parallel Pkwy in Kansas City, Kan. One of the area’s fastest-growing communities in the metro area has added to its repertoire of family-friendly entertainment at The Legends at Village West. The 1.1 million square-foot lifestyle center is at the epicenter of Kansas’ No. 1 tourism district, which also includes outdoor retailer Cabela’s and Nebraska Furniture Mart. Tenants include Gap Outlet, Ann Taylor Factory Store, BCBG, Forever 21 and Nike Factory, among many other
specialty stores. Restaurants include Dave & Busters, The Yard House, Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise and “edutainment” concept T-REX Cafe. 913/788-3700 or www.legendsshopping.com.

Town Center Plaza. 119th Street between Roe and Nall in Leawood. This unique, upscale lifestyle center features more than 90 national and specialty shops, including Coldwater Creek, Pottery Barn, Standard Style Boutique, Macy’s, AMC Town Center 20 Theaters and several restaurants, including Hereford House, Bristol Bar & Grill, Bravo! Cucina Italiana and Yahooz. 913/498-1111 or www.towncenterplaza.com.

Tuileries Plaza. I-29 and NW 64th Street in the Northland. Tuileries Plaza is Kansas City’s most distinguishing new mixed-use lifestyle center. It hosts a total of 28 specialty shops and unique restaurants like Bonefish Grill; Em Chamas Brazilian Grill; drive-thru, full-service Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop; Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; and Caribou Coffee, along with boutique fashion retailers like Posh, La de da, Curtains Bedding and Fabric Gallery, and Enix Ornamental Iron. The trend toward local ownership makes up a large part of this unique mix of tenants, as the open-air concept creates a pedestrian-friendly shopping environment with 150,000 square feet completed and a grand total of 330,000 square feet of mixed-use office and retail upon completion. Truly unique amenities include the glass and stone tower monument with a night-time light show and The Children’s Garden, which is an enchanting area tucked in between the lake and the courtyard area.

Zona Rosa.1-29 & Barry Road in the Northland. This destination location offers a shopping, dining and entertainment community nestled within upscale neighborhoods in north Kansas City, minutes from KCI and downtown Kansas City. Since opening in 2004, this new urban environment has welcomed millions of visitors to enjoy its old-fashioned charm. atmosphere. Zona Rosais home to many well-known merchants, including Barnes & Noble, Ann Taylor Loft, DSW,Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, and more. Dining options include Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Hereford House, Mimi’s Café, Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy and Ted’s Montana Grill, to name a few. 816/587-8180 or www.zonarosa.com.

Westport.Located at Westport Road in Midtown. The historic Westport district provides a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere with cultural landmarks and eclectic shops and eateries. Some favorite restaurants are Californos and Papa Keno’s, while shoppers like to stop at Pryde’s Old Westport, Rerun’s and World Market, among many shops. Westport is also known for its entertainment and nightlife. www.WestportKCMO.com

Outlet Options

Great Mall of the Great Plains. I-35 and 151st Street in Olathe. Nearly a million square feet make this one of the largest enclosed value mega malls in America. Plus, it’s all conveniently located on one level. Some of the stores include VF Outlet, Nautica, Children’s Place Outlet, Aeropostale, Burlington Coat Factory, Brooklyn Fashions, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Bath & Body Works and The Limited Too. Dozens of specialty shops and a marketplace food court keep you energized, or you can relax at the 16-screen Dickinson theater. www.greatmallgreatplains.com