Shopping Delights

Asheville may not be known for its shopping, but it stands up to its larger cousins quite notably!  Most recently, we’ve added to our repetoire a large outlet mall, and our downtown shops have a formidable presence in our small city.  We’ve put together a brief introduction to these area resources below. Looking for something a bit more standard that what we’ve highlighted here? Fear not! We have all the usual places too - including 5 Walmarts (three within Asheville city limits, 2 in surrounding towns), 2 Targets, 2 Best Buy’s, and several Lowes and Home Depot locations.

The Outlet Mall

The Outlet Mall

The Asheville Outlet Mall is a new addition to our community, having just opened a selection of its stores in May of 2015. It has a focus on major label brand stores, such as J Crew, The Gap, Ann Taylor, Coach, Nike, and many more. The design of the spread is quite charming - breaking perhaps from similar outlet malls that have a cold, hard design. In keeping with the local architectural style, there are indoor and outdoor settings, buildings that incorporate stone, stucco, shingle roofs, and open trusses. There is even an area set aside for pups to rehydrate!

Downtown Shops and Boutiques

Asheville is one of the most charming cities in the nation and our Downtown area reflects that. There is a major emphasis on art, local clothing stores, independent restaurants, and eclectic boutiques. And because the heart of the city takes up such a small square footage (relatively speaking), it’s all easily viewed on foot in a day. We recommend parking up by Pack Square and heading south across town (about the equivalent to 5 city blocks) to Haywood Street. Along the way you’ll pass quite a few restaurants, bars, and art galleries. Haywood and the surrounding streets are home to a plethora of vibrant, small businesses. Clothing stores, toy stores, music stores, book stores, leather shops, and so many more are at your fingertips.

Kress Emporium and Woolworth Walk

Kress Emporium and Woolworth Walk are two very uniquely Ashevillean galleries that are home to the work of some of our best local artists. Perfect for those visiting the area for just a short amount of time, stopping by these galleries is a fantastic way to taste the local art scene and leave with a small piece of memorabilia. Visitors can expect to see amazing, creative pieces made with love and attention. You’ll also be introduced to a great many artists in a small amount of time, so visiting these two locations is sure to open you up to even more in depth experiences on your next trip to the area!

The Art Galleries

Asheville is home to more than 2 dozen art galleries, each with its own personality and style. They range from high-end to more casual and they house furniture, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, glass, wood, and more. One of our favorite pastimes is just strolling about town, peaking in the windows and going in for a closer look when we see something that catches our eye.  Another fantastic way to become intimate with the galleries is to take an art tour.

River Arts District (RAD)

The River Arts District is the heart and soul of the Asheville Art Scene. The former industrial district of Asheville turned Art Mecca is home to 185 artists in 25 buildings. The former warehouses have been transformed into fully functioning studios that churn out thoughtful, provocative art unlike any other. Several times a year, the RAD artists open their studio doors to art lovers who are interested in learning more about the craft, but the galleries attached to the studios are open year-round. Visiting the District is sure to leave you feeling engaged, enthralled, and enthusiastic about what the communities of Asheville are creating and sharing with the world.