When you think of cities in the US that are the preeminent spots to hunker down and get serious about spending some money -- shopaholic style -- what do you see? New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Los Angeles perhaps?
I guess I can sort of see that, for obvious reasons.
Personally, I have visions of cattle drives, Disneyesque rat mazes, and the whole thing amounting to little more than being a crashing bore. But that’s just me.
The proof, however, is in the pudding, as they say. Neither these swanky metropolitan areas (with the exception of San Francisco), nor my Gloomy-Gus perspective on the exercise, fall into a majority ruling.
Nope… according to Bundle.com – an aggregator of consumer spending data in the US – ARLINGON is at the TOP of the food chain in shopaholic-style, spending jags!! Okay, I lied a little. Actually Washington DC is #1 (which is strange enough) with Arlington being a close #2… BUT GO FIGURE!
Besides... standing in DC, dawning your ruby slippers, clicking your heels three times, and continuously repeating, “There’s no place like Arlington,” will land you in Arlington in a heartbeat. Of course, carry on too much and you might find yourself en route to the local psychiatric amusement park. So, keep your chickens in the barn.
In this study, Bundle looked at the top 100 cities by population to figure out which spent the most on clothes, shoes, and other garments.They sourced their data from the US government, Citi, and “third party data providers.” After examination of a year's worth of data (from 2010 to 2011), they were able to determine the ten cities that shop the most.
Frankly, I find the list a little suspect in that Bakersfield, CA came in at #10 which I have a hard time swallowing unless there was a major year-long fire-sale on burlap. Anyway, who am I to argue with the experts? (A rhetorical question, to be sure.)
But keep in mind that we’re talking about average daily shopping here, not an examination of the band of firearm-wielding lunatics that descend on a designated Black Friday, or a Cyber Monday, or a Squirrel-Nut Wednesday, or a Don’t-Even-Think-About-It Sunday. This is just how we roll in NoVa, every day! And, subsequent to getting over the shock or it all, further consideration of the distinction is actually not that tough of a nut to swallow.
The fact is, Arlington features a lot of fantastic (i.e. World-Class) shopping venues, and peripheral other “stuff” to do to enhance the experience.
In addition to the plethora of stand-alone shopping opportunities dotted around the city, there are a number of larger, organized venues in which you can kill several birds with one stone – or more appropriately – burn lots more cash with one match
Ballston Common Mall
4238 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA
Metro: Orange Line to Ballston Station.
Ballston Common is a 578,000-square-foot, four-level, enclosed, urban mixed-use development located at the corner of Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard, just four miles from downtown DC. Ballston is redefining itself as Arlington's "new downtown,” and in the heart of it is Ballston Common Mall. The mall features Macy's, Macy's Furniture Gallery, a 12-screen, stadium seating Regal Cinema, a Sport & Health Club - Washington's premier health club chain, and more than 230,000 square feet of other retail space.
Crystal City Shops
23rd Street and Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA
Metro: Yellow or Blue Lines to Crystal City Station.
The Crystal City Shops comprise an interesting mix of highly acclaimed restaurants and over one hundred stores and service providers. Located just off Jefferson Davis Highway, the Crystal City Shops stretch several blocks along Crystal Drive between 12th and 23rd Streets, and just five minutes from downtown DC, Old Town Alexandria, and Reagan National Airport.
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
1100 South Hayes Street
Arlington, VA
Metro:Yellow or Blue Lines to Pentagon City Station.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, also located just moments from the nation's capital, offers a world-class shopping experience where avenues of fashions and boulevards of style await. A scenic glass elevator ride to the Third Level reveals more than 170 fascinating stores and restaurants including Macy's, Nordstrom, The Ritz-Carlton, Ann Taylor, Apple, Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, BCBG, bebe, Club Monaco, Coach, Cole Haan, Francesca's Collections, Guess, and much, much more. And, don't forget those requisite up-scale bars / restaurants to enhance the whole epic experience.
Market Common: Clarendon
2800 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia
Metro: Orange Line to Clarendon Station.
Take a stroll through the courtyard, shop, meet with friends, and discover all that Market Common: Clarendon has to offer…from national name-brand retailers to regional and local boutiques. And when you need a break from shopping or just want to catch up with friends, relax and enjoy dining at its best at any one of the venue’s eight dining experiences, with delectable offerings that span four corners of the globe.
Pentagon Row
Army Navy Drive and South Joyce Street
Arlington, VA
Metro: Yellow or Blue Lines to Pentagon City Station.
Pentagon Row is a vibrant shopping and entertainment destination with a unique combination of specialty retail stores, exciting restaurants and amenities that include Harris Teeter, Bally Total Fitness, a central plaza with outdoor cafes, and an ice-skating rink (November through March). Pentagon Row also offers exciting outdoor events, including a 13-week Summer Concert Series, Thursday evenings, June 7-August 30, 2011, 7-9pm.
The Village at Shirlington
2700 South Quincy Street
Arlington, VA
Metro: The only one of our shopaholic, rockaholic destinations without direct Metro service, there is direct bus service to and from the Yellow or Blue Lines to Pentagon Station and rush hour service to Pentagon City Station.
The Village at Shirlington opened in 1944, and was the first large shopping center to open in the Washington DC suburbs and one of the earliest in the United States. It is located along Campbell Avenue at the intersection of Shirley Highway and Quaker Lane / Shirlington Road. Shirlington Village is now an urban village boasting shopping, restaurants, theaters, and a pedestrian friendly promenade. It also features a wider variety of businesses than the typical shopping mall. In addition to more of a concentration of specialty shops and service providers, you ca also find lodging and LOADS of restaurants and pubs / bars to help you get over it all.
More Information
For more information on any of these shopping meccas, I suggest you command your computer, pad, or smart phone to travel to…
… for detail on specific retailers, restaurants, cafés, pubs, and some of that other “stuff” to do. This site has it all.
And, with such great proximity to Metro transportation, pop into a few of ‘em and make a day – or more – of it. You won’t be disappointed!
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