If malls are your thing, you’ll have plenty of shopping options within Jacksonville. The two largest are The Avenues Mall located on Southside Blvd. near I95 and Orange Park Mall. There’s also a mall in St. Augustine, 20 minutes south of Jacksonville, if you’re on a budget.
They say the day of the indoor mall is fading and Jacksonville’s two newest and largest malls seem to back this theory up. St. Johns Town Center is an open-air mall featuring 11 anchor stores and 150 brand name retail stores. You’ll also find many restaurants to choose from including The Cheese Factory, PF Chang’s, Cantina Laredo and many more. There are also apartments and condominiums nearby.
River City Marketplace is on the north side of Jacksonville, near the airport. Built in 2006, it has an 18-screen movie theater and a variety of retail stores, including a huge Wal-Mart Super Center, Best Buy, Michaels, Office Depot and many others. Restaurants include; Olive Garden, Chili’s, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, and many other types of restaurants to satisfy your palate and budget.
If you want something a bit more picturesque and historical, then you should visit St. Mark’s Square. This is an upscale shopping area just south of downtown Jacksonville. There is an eclectic mix of local shops, cafes and restaurants. Be sure not to miss the Peterbrook chocolatiers. They have everything from chocolate covered popcorn to chocolate covered potato chips! Also located in the San Marco area is The Little Theatre. It opened in 1937 and claims to be the oldest continuously operating community theater in the nation. There is also a movie theater that sells pizza and sandwiches, allowing you to eat at tables while you watch your movie.
If you decide you need to eat healthier, try The Farmer’s Market. It is open every day of the year and offers more than 200 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh produce. It is located at 1810 West Beaver Street, which has been its home since 1938. Jacksonville Farmers Market is known to be the oldest farmers market in Florida.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, George Street in St. Augustine offers a variety of small shops and delis offering unique menu items. Taking a trip to Center Street on Amelia Island makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Enjoy the specialty shops, then grab a cup of coffee at Seattle’s Best or stop by the bakery for a freshly baked dessert.
No matter what kind of shopping experience you enjoy, you’ll never be short of places to shop in Jacksonville.