Winston Salem stores attract shoppers from all of the surrounding counties. The variety of shopping experiences, from one of the largest malls in the Southeast to the quaint specialty shops at Reynolda Village or the city’s downtown district, guarantees that holiday shopping needs can be easily met in the heart of Forsyth County.
Major Shopping Areas in Winston Salem
- Hanes Mall, between Business 40 and I 40 across from Forsyth Medical Center
- Thruway Shopping Center, located on Stratford Road off Business 40
- Reynolda Village, nestled between Reynolda House and Wake Forest University on Reynolda Road
- Hanes Mall Boulevard, an extended stretch of various stores and restaurants adjacent to Hanes Mall off I-40
- Marketplace Mall, located on Peters Creek Parkway next to the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center
- Winston Salem’s downtown district
Hanes Mall
Throughout the November-December holiday shopping season the parking lots at Hanes Mall are full. With over 200 stores and kiosks, Winston Salem’s largest one-stop shopping experience has a wide selection of apparel, jewelry, and specialty shops like Yankee Candle. The mall is anchored by:
- J.C. Penny
- Sears
- Macy’s
- Belk’s
- Dillard’s
- H & M (opened November 2011)
Reynolda Village
You expect to find small specialty shops hidden away in Reynolda Village. Stores sell fine men’s clothing, unusual giftware, and jewelry. RingMaster Jewelers designs jewelry and is the official sales representative for handmade Demon Deacon jewelry. It also sells a superb collection of diamonds. Reynolda Village is also home to the Village Tavern restaurant, which has two locations in Winston Salem and has expanded to other cities such as Greensboro, NC. Linda Weaver's Portraits is an example of the unique shops only found at Reynolda Village.
Thruway Shopping Center
Thruway Center is located on Stratford Road off Business 40. Winston Salem’s oldest shopping center, Thruway’s largest store is Stein Mart. Hanesbrands Outlet features clothing at 50% reductions. The center has numerous restaurants such as The Carving Board, Bonefish Grill, and Fox and Hound sports pub. Dewey’s Bakery, a long time Winston Salem landmark, maintains one of several area stores at the center.
Thruway commercials advertise the center’s stores as being able to satisfy every shopping need. Given the wide selection of merchandise and the diversity of many stores, the claim is accurate. Additionally, Thruway is bordered by a string of other retail merchants and restaurants on Stratford Road.
Hanes Mall Boulevard
If holiday shopping is characterized as exasperating, Hanes Mall Boulevard is the best example: road construction has not kept pace with business expansion, resulting in long traffic lines getting in and out of the shopping areas. The best times to shop at these merchants is on a weekday when traffic is minimal and parking optimal.
Hanes Mall Boulevard, accessible from I-40 and Stratford Road (near Hanes Mall), is home to all of the “big box” stores as well as many smaller shops. Merchants include Target, Sam’s, Costco, World Market, Lowes, Home Depot, Michael’s, and dozens of other major retailers. In most cases, parking is inadequate and requires patience.
The shopping area is within minutes of Hanes Mall, making it a popular destination, particularly for people coming from western and northern counties on highway 421 and Interstate 40. For shoppers arriving on 421, the most direct exit is at Jonestown Road, immediately following the Peace Haven exit.
Other Shopping Experiences in Winston Salem
Other Winston Salem shopping areas include a downtown enclave of specialty shops as well as the Marketplace Mall on Peters Creek Parkway. Although Marketplace has few stores, it is anchored by Hamrick’s, an outlet store with low prices on men’s and women’s apparel, including shoes. Hamrick’s will be open on Thanksgiving from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. and gives senior discounts throughout the year.
For central North Carolina, Winston Salem, part of the Triad that includes Greensboro and High Point, is a shopper’s destination. All of the shopping areas are easy to find. A good shopping plan will enable customers to visit several centers in one day.
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