During our time in Chapel Hill, from June 2020 through July 2024, my wife and I visited University…read morePlace for: 1. bartaco - one of our go-to restaurants, recommended https://www.yelp.com/biz/bartaco-chapel-hill-chapel-hill 2. Hawkers Asian Street Food - good https://www.yelp.com/biz/hawkers-asian-street-food-chapel-hill-5 3. Harris Teeter - better than the Meadowmont and Hope Valley Harris Teeter locations https://www.yelp.com/biz/harris-teeter-chapel-hill University Place used to be known as University Mall. When we first visited University Place in 2020, it was evident it was an old-school indoor American shopping mall that had seen better days. University Mall opened in 1973. It was cut in the same mold as malls across the country, the kind that have become ghost towns and been closing over the past 20+ years. However, it was also evident *this* mall was trying to change with the times and not just die out like the others. For example, the additions of tenants like bartaco and Hawkers, with outward-facing storefronts and outdoor spaces, give the property a more modern look and feel. Silverspot Cinema, with 13 screens and stadium seating, still brings a lot of visitors to University Place. Every time we ate at bartaco, I always saw folks coming and going from the movie theater. When I ran errands on Saturday mornings and drove by, I noticed the Chapel Hill Farmers' Market in the mall's parking lot. Currently, the farmers' market is open every Saturday 8am-12pm and every Tuesday 3pm-6pm. In the winter (November-March), the farmers' market is open Saturday only, 9am-12pm. According to a January 2024 video by the News & Observer ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huEoZCpBX-E ), plans are underway to transform University Place into "an open-air shopping center with 350,000 square feet of retail space" and "60,000 square feet of offices, apartments and hotel." The farmers' market will move to a large public lawn called the Commons (the Commons per ABC11). A new Chick-fil-A will open on the site previously occupied by K&W Cafeteria. Also according to ABC11, in a March 2024 report ( https://abc11.com/university-place-in-chapel-hill-construction-temporarily-close-mall-entrance-set-to-welcome-new-tenants/14561741/ ), a location of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is on the way as is a new parking garage, with local art, that will add 150 spaces.

Inside of mall is closed! Only restaurants around outside. No clothing shops even though they still…read morepop up in searches or on maps. Frustrating

Brightleaf Square is a quaint retail development located in the center of the Brightleaf…read moreneighborhood in downtown Durham. I'd call it a "shopping center," but it's not like a typical suburban shopping center. The development consists of two repurposed brick warehouses, originally built in 1904, that used to store bright leaf tobacco (that's where the name comes from). So, Brightleaf Square looks and feels historic, and that's what makes it charming. That said, the development is kind of small and there's not that much here. If you want to walk across the street to, say, Rose's or Jeni's, then yes, the neighborhood (also known as the Brightleaf District) has more to offer. I highly recommend Rose's, by the way, for their ramen and ice cream sandwiches. Strictly speaking, within the square, Emmy Squared Pizza is terrific for their Detroit-style pizza. It's among the best deep-dish pizza anywhere, in my opinion. There's also Clouds Brewing, which is a craft brewery and restaurant. Other businesses are local/boutique shops, such as Bull City Art & Frame Company and Mill & Meadow Stationery Shop, and private offices. The brick/stone walkway, old-fashioned lamp posts, string lights, trees, benches, and early-1900s buildings can make for a fun, whimsical stroll with friends and family before or after lunch or dinner. It's also a good date spot, especially if you incorporate the larger neighborhood (e.g., pizza at Emmy Squared followed by ice cream sandwiches at Rose's). For parking, I suggest parking in the surface lot at the corner of W Main St and S Gregson St. You can enter the lot from either of those streets. Pay attention to signs as you may have to pay during certain days and times. Fun fact: Durham's infamous "Can Opener Bridge" is located on the south end of Brightleaf Square. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the bridge's Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Southern%E2%80%93Gregson_Street_Overpass Also, watch some of the videos on this YouTube channel to see the Can Opener in action: https://www.youtube.com/@11foot8plus8 The camera that captures those videos is mounted on one of the buildings at Brightleaf Square.

Brightleaf Square looks like it'd be cute and fun to walk around in, but that's really all it is…read more Pretty market lights and small shops but nothing actually to do..? Hopefully they add better restaurants and more variety of boutiques here because the square is not living up to its potential. Basically, I'd skip this and head over to ATC.

I loved that they have real needohs. and it's only 18 dollars. Starbucks has such good service.read more

Nice mall that has two levels and plenty of stores to choose from! I come here often to shop with…read moremy son because he loves Hollister and H&M. There is plenty of free parking here but the mall can get busy especially during the weekend. There are stores inside and outside. There is also a movie theater here and plenty of nice restaurants.

Eastgate Crossing is a modest shopping center, anchored by stores such as Aldi, Petco, Trader…read moreJoe's, and Ulta, on the northeast side of Chapel Hill. Surrounded by Village Plaza (anchored by Whole Foods) to the south and Rams Plaza (anchored by Food Lion) to the east, this predominantly retail area is known as the Blue Hill District, formerly the Ephesus Fordham District: https://www.townofchapelhill.org/government/departments-services/chapel-hill-2020/future-focus-areas/the-blue-hill-district. According to Kite Realty, the Trader Joe's here is the "highest-performing" Trader Joe's in North Carolina. At the time of writing this, there are nine Trader Joe's locations in the state, going as far west as Asheville and as far east as Wilmington. Businesses my wife and I have visited here include Trader Joe's, Chipotle, Chopt, Kipos, and Starbucks. The business we've been to the most is Kipos. It's a great local Greek restaurant and I believe one of only two local restaurants at Eastgate Crossing, the other being Twisted Noodles. There's also Guglhupf Bake Shop which sells food from Guglhupf Bakery in Durham. Other than that, everything else here is a chain and/or big-box retailer. Aside from the aforementioned, examples include Bruegger's Bagels, Rise (biscuits, chicken sandwiches), Shake Shack (relatively new), and Snooze (breakfast) (food), and Dollar Tree, Great Outdoor Provision Co., and Talbots (retail). We don't shop at Trader Joe's much so the main reason for us to come here is for the restaurants. Not the best lineup, but not bad either.

Oct 2025: Still closed from July 2025 flooding. Repairs appear to be in progress. It was a good…read morestore and I hope they come back soon.

Bottom line: Park West Village is a great shopping complex offering a wide variety of shops,…read morestores, dining opportunities, residential areas, and a movie theater. Big retailers and smaller businesses as well as many services can be found here. Plenty of parking. The Morrisville Smart Shuttle stops here if not driving. Pretty large in size but not too big to explore. The Deets: Park West Village has been around for a few years here in Morrisville and is a vast sprawling complex, located in the area between Morrisville Parkway and Cary Parkway along Chapel Hill Rd. Within its many roundabout traffic circle-accessible areas and multiple buildings, one can find many good restaurants & eateries, large retailers (Target, TJ Maxx, PetSmart, Bath & Body Works, Trader Joe's, multiple others), banking institutions, electronic/gaming shops, craft shops, phone stores, health & beauty stops, home furnishing stores, and other places to shop. It also has residential as well as retail spaces, even a movie theater. If it would be any bigger it would be a challenge to walk around but I think it just hit the sweet spot between having multiple good shopping/services that's walkable and being too big to get around. The Morrisville Smart Shuttle (town provided free transportation service) even has stops there if you don't feel like battling traffic or parking, but they do provide plenty of parking if you do drive. I like this shopping center for what it offers and accessibility, I'm here frequently because of it.

Park West Village is an ENORMOUS go-to destination for shopping, dining, and services in…read moreMorrisville, NC!!! It is a huge shopping AND residential area. Park West Village features a unique mix of national retailers, contemporary brands, and distinctive shops and dining. It literally has everything for you, whether you live there or not - all kinds of apparel, crafts, eateries, education, electronics, fitness, general merchandise, health and beauty, home furnishings, pet supplies, services, shoes, specialty, sporting goods stores, etc. I want to walk into every store! For example Piada Italian Street Food is one restaurant that caught my eye tonight - if I hadn't already eaten dinner I would have liked to try one of their unique piadas that they hand-roll in front of you, or one of their salad or pasta bowls. As a shopping area, Park West Village is a lively, great place to hang out, take a stroll, and/or socialize with family and friends or visit on your own! The plaza looks shiny new and modern and is very clean and well-maintained. As a residential area, each of its THREE different neighborhoods is also loaded with the nicest amenities. They have, for example, swimming pools and brand new playgrounds! They all look so modern shiny and new and enjoyable to live in. Park West Village really is a lifestyle! In addition, Park West Village hosts events every day - they often have live music and good food at Open Mic Nights or at Acoustic Nights on Fridays - it can get very lively there! They also have an upcoming fall festival as well as Winter Wonderland. There are so many activities and things to see, buy, eat, explore at Park West Village - I would definitely recommend enjoying quality time there!!!

Meadowmont Village is the place my wife and I have visited the most during our time in Chapel Hill…read more(2020-2024), mainly because of the Harris Teeter here, but also because of the property's restaurants and other businesses. This is a nice mixed-use development on the east side of Chapel Hill, close to the Durham border. It's just a short drive down highway 54 from I-40 exit 273 and it's not far from 15-501 either. Meadowmont Village sets itself apart from competition in the area by simply being nicer with a cleaner and more elevated atmosphere. The architectural design, layout, and landscaping make it a quaint, relaxing place to walk around. The tenant mix is a good combination of chain and local. This isn't a bigger, destination-type development like Fenton in Cary. Instead, it's smaller and quieter, and that's part of the appeal. It's never felt crowded or uncomfortable all the times I've been here. It's easy to get in and out and there always seems to be just the right amount of people, even when it's busy (e.g., active patios at Brixx, Bluebird, and Kahlovera). There's a pond and trails nearby and overall, the entire neighborhood is well-kept. When we first moved to the area, my wife and I frequented the Harris Teeter up 54 at Hope Valley Commons in Durham. We then switched to the Harris Teeter at Meadowmont Village because it's more secluded and has a calmer, more peaceful environment (inside and out). While I think the Harris Teeter at Hope Valley Commons is a little bigger with a slightly wider variety of inventory, that difference hasn't been big enough for us to switch back to the Hope Valley Commons Harris Teeter as our primary Harris Teeter. Below is a list of businesses at Meadowmont Village that we've been to so far. I've left Yelp reviews for most of them. Restaurants and Cafes * Bluebird - French bistro, one of our favorite restaurants in Chapel Hill. https://www.yelp.com/biz/bluebird-chapel-hill * Brixx Wood Fired Pizza + Craft Bar https://www.yelp.com/biz/brixx-wood-fired-pizza-craft-bar-chapel-hill * Fusion Fish - sushi restaurant, now closed (replaced by Lime & Lemon). https://www.yelp.com/biz/fusion-fish-chapel-hill-2 * Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill - great for tacos and margaritas (replaced Chronic Tacos). https://www.yelp.com/biz/kahlovera-mexican-bar-and-grill-chapel-hill-3 * Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - one of our favorite Indian restaurants in the Triangle and the restaurant we go to the most at Meadowmont Village. https://www.yelp.com/biz/lime-and-lemon-indian-grill-and-bar-chapel-hill * Meet Fresh - yummy Taiwanese desserts, the first and so far only Meet Fresh in the entire state. https://www.yelp.com/biz/meet-fresh-chapel-hill * Quickly - bubble tea and Taiwanese snacks. https://www.yelp.com/biz/quickly-chapel-hill-chapel-hill * Starbucks https://www.yelp.com/biz/starbucks-chapel-hill-4 Other * ABC Store - I got my groomsmen bottles of Jack Daniels from this store, part of the Orange County ABC Store network. https://www.yelp.com/biz/abc-store-chapel-hill-3 * Bell Meadowmont - my wife and I toured the apartments and considered living here. https://www.yelp.com/biz/bell-meadowmont-apartments-chapel-hill * Harris Teeter https://www.yelp.com/biz/harris-teeter-chapel-hill-5 * Meadowmont Dentistry https://www.yelp.com/biz/meadowmont-dentistry-chapel-hill * Monkee's of Chapel Hill - my wife bought a sundress here. https://www.yelp.com/biz/monkees-of-chapel-hill-chapel-hill * The UPS Store - I've swung by this location several times to ship things. https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ups-store-chapel-hill Not far from Meadowmont Village is the Rizzo Center. It contains a conference center and hotel and is home to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School's Executive Development programs and the historic DuBose Home: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rizzo-center-chapel-hill

If you got laid last night and the person who got on top of you was not particularly good in bed,…read morethen that was a Mediocremount, and you should go to Mediocremount Village instead. But if that doesn't apply to you then this fancy shopping area will work out fine. They're trying to be European and stuff, and it's cute. Reminds me of some of the fancier parts of Northern Virginia or Maryland, but it's not cheap here. It's a cute brand-new shiny shopping center with some boba tea and some desserts and some food and a lot of high-end shops. They tried to make it like a little shopping Village and while it does seem fake it and contrived, it also is a really nice place to hang out and get some stuff - and it's peaceful and safe and quiet and reminds me of Virginia in some ways.

Bottom line: Waverly Place is pretty nice, and hardly your run of the mill shopping center/strip…read moremall type of feel. Many shops, dining, health, beauty, office, and entertainment opportunities to explore and experience with a nice courtyard common area. I like this newest version a lot. The Deets: Waverly Place in its current status is not really what I would consider a conventional shopping center. True, it does have a Whole Foods, Triangle Wine Company, a few shops but it mainly houses many good restaurant/food opportunities as well as offices/services. It may be more business complex/shopping experience hybrid but recently with new life and a very appealing aesthetic to it on its two main levels. Hardly the usual strip mall setup, the commons area as well as the shops layout are very eye pleasing, which I tried to capture in my pics. The variety offered there can be from many different types of dining opportunities to please many palates, barber shop/salons, realty, wine shop, cafes, workout centers, health and beauty, grocery, and other retail/business/entertainment. There is usually plenty of parking available here as well. The visits I've had there this year make me look at it in a new way, and I like this newer retooled Waverly Place...it's definitely not your usual type of shopping center.

Lots of places to eat and shop! Nice play area for kids. Convenient and easy to get too. Get your…read moregroceries, have lunch or dinner, a massage or a manicure! One stop shopping!

Raleigh's City Market reflects urban resilience, with its deep civic history and enduring…read morearchitecture. Architect James Matthew Kennedy designed a modern, "fireproof and sanitary" facility on East Martin Street that officially opened on October 1, 1914. Kennedy engineered a Spanish Mission-style building, built with solid brick walls, a grand red clay tile roof, and beautiful exposed interior wood trusses. The open-air walls were lined with pristine, white-glazed ceramic tiles, and the floors were poured with smooth concrete, allowing 1914 merchants to hose down the entire open cavity at the end of every business day. City Market is part of Raleigh's cultural history. During the Jim Crow segregation in the 1920s and 1930s, City Market functioned as a stark social and physical boundary line in downtown as African Americans were legally barred from operating or shopping within the primary white business sectors. So they set up shop at East Hargett Street and established "Black Main Street"--a sanctuary of Black-owned medical offices, hotels, pharmacies, and the historic Farmers and Mechanics Bank. Despite the era's rigid segregation, these two districts created a unique commercial crossroads. Black patrons could shop for essential groceries inside City Market under strict racial etiquette, while white buyers routinely crossed over to East Hargett Street to purchase raw agricultural goods or hire premium Black tailors and craftsmen. The market stalls remained one of Raleigh's few truly integrated public spaces, where Black entrepreneurs, farmers, and patrons could do business side by side with the rest of the community. The pavement has a legacy too, the 19th-century ballast cobblestones running through the heart of City Market on Blake Street and Wolfe Street, they were originally brought over from Europe in the 19th century as ballast stones in the hulls of sailing ships, dumped at North Carolina ports. They were later transported inland to pave Raleigh's streets. City Market is now an arts hub, home to Artspace and the City Market Art Collective. Independent boutiques include the woman-owned Blackbird Books & Coffee. Social Status sells upscale footwear and apparel. Unleashed sells pet supplies. Reign Luxury Salon handles your beauty needs. For dining, get a country breakfast at Big Ed's; City Market Sushi has fresh rolls; Woody's is a sports bar; and Vic's Italian Market has pasta and pizza. Kokoro Ramen & Izakaya offers Japanese dishes. City Market is an absolute must-visit destination that beautifully bridges Raleigh's physical heritage with a thriving, active community life!

Bottom line: City Market is still that nostalgic early 1900's market area in DTR, but to me feels…read morelike it's projecting as a bit tired-looking these days. Still a neat change from the usual downtown atmosphere but with a bit of attention it could be even more in my opinion. The Deets: City Market is an area in downtown Raleigh (DTR) with different types of offerings such as restaurants, bars, specialty shops, etc. The district also hosts certain outside markets and special events from time to time. It has a long history of being a couple or so blocks with cobblestone streets/pedestrian areas and that early 1900's type charm blended in. But with my latest visit in there, it felt a bit lackluster to me these days. There are some empty/vacant looking shop spaces and the area itself also looking a bit run down in a not-so-charming way. It's still a cool break for the usual downtown aesthetic but the feeling to me is that it needs a bit of TLC to get that ol' spark of nostalgic charm back. I hope this DTR district gets a bit of attention that I feel it needs to stand out as it should in the future.