The Enclosed Mall

Northern transplants and visitors will feel right at home at Independence Mall on Oleander Drive and Independence Boulevard. Anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, JC Penney and Sears, the area’s only totally enclosed shopping mall has approximately 120 stores that can keep you occupied for an entire rainy day. Having changed hands several times since 1983 and undergone an extensive remodeling and expansion in the ‘90s, the mall has the usual assortment of national chain stores from Abercrombie to Zales Jewelers, plus a good selection of independents and numerous kiosks. An ample food court, vendors and several popular restaurants meet the needs of hungry (and thirsty) shoppers. Morning walkers are invited.

Carolina Designer Rugs

One of the newest stores at Independence Mall is Carolina Designer Rugs, located at the entrance by Ruby Tuesday. The store features fine hand made rugs of all types at a fraction of the cost of what other stores in Wilmington are charging. Many of these rugs are works of art in themselves, but are durable enough to last 100 years or more. Hard to find sizes and round rugs are on display too and the choices runs the gamut from antique, classical designs to very contemporary selections.

The rest of us are quite accustomed to what locals refer to as strip malls, strip plazas or shopping plazas, which have entrances from outdoor sidewalks (some covered, some not). We’ve got lots of those. They can be found in every community and come in all sizes from only two or three stores to 20-30 businesses.

A Mall In Itself

One store almost qualifies as a strip mall unto itself. DDT Outlet, with two locations on Market Street (one in Ogden, one in Hampstead) is chock full of unique merchandise for home and beach. From whimsical to practical, there is something for nearly everyone there.