SouthPark Mall

 A “shopping mall” is categorized with this generic tag when “one or more buildings form a complex of shops with interconnecting walkways.” Defined as a modern, indoor version of the traditional marketplace, some monstrous retail centers are only called “malls” when no other title will suffice.

The SouthPark Mall is one of these super-centers — an attraction to residents and travelers throughout the Charlotte region.

The 1.6 million-square-foot shopping complex has 177 stores, and is the epicenter of the posh South Park area of Charlotte — located five miles south of Uptown at the corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads.

Although the SouthPark mall has brand-name stores any other mall would have — The Gap, Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch — the complex is well-known for its number of high-end stores that are found in Las Vegas Casinos and on 5th Avenue in New York City. Some of these stores serve a wealthier clientele such as Tiffany’s & Co., Louis Vuitton and Burberry.

In order to better serve these shoppers, the mall offers valet parking service for $5 at its East entrance. If you drive a Lexus, the valet service is free as the service is provided by the Hendrick Lexus car dealership.

If leaving your car at a valet stand sounds a little too rich for your blood, the mall offers free parking in one of its 7,600 other spaces.

The SouthPark Mall also has a few specialty stores not typically found in all malls across the country, including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and the Apple Store — which is only one of four Apple Stores in North Carolina. It’s not uncommon to overhear someone tell one of the Apple Geniuses that they drove more than an hour to help troubleshoot a problem they may have with their iPhone, iPod or iMac. 

Like any typical mall, SouthPark has a fine food court with a Sbarros, Subway and a Chick-fil-a, but for bigger appetites, many patrons prefer to eat at one of the attached restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s Little Italy or McCormick & Schmick’s.

The mall has grown tremendously since it opened in 1970 and will remain a highlight for residents and visitors of Charlotte, proving that the Queen City has upscale shopping and fine dining all under one giant roof.

- by Mike D'Avria, Charlotte Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

He worked for the daily newspaper, The Athens Banner-Herald in Athens, Ga. before turning to freelance writing and video production.

Mike is the Executive Editor of CampLeadership.org, and has lived in Charlotte for four years.