If you’re on your way to the Scottsdale Fashion Square, be sure to wear your best make-up and slip on your Jimmy Choos, because this mall is not just a dream shopper’s Mecca – it’s also a social event! It famously boasts 40 of the most exclusive brand names and has a reputation for its high-end stores; however, these are countered by a variety of lower-end retailers suitable for the average shopper. And far from espousing the shallow flash and glam found in most elite malls, the Scottsdale Fashion Square exudes the demure sense of refinement of a high-society lady who wears her years well.
Among the explosion of retail centres and dining establishments in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun, Scottsdale Fashion Square stands out as much by virtue of its long history as by its sheer size. Covering 2 million square feet of retail space, it is the largest shopping centre of the American Southwest and one of the 30 largest malls in the U.S. Now owned by Westcor, the complex as it now stands is a result of conjoining at least two other major shopping centres. The mall seems to lead a charmed life, turning in record profits and continuing to expand regardless of the ebb and flow of the luxury market as a whole and economic recession.
In 2004, the gargantuan shopping centre joined forced with 7 other Macerich malls and formed the Lumenati Brand, with the aim of reaching even grander heights of luxury retail shopping. In addition to the established stores of Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and St. John, this merger brought in international brands such as Lacoste and Burberry. Today, the mall boasts an occupancy rate of 95%. The mall’s sheer size should not intimidate the prospective visitor – of the 12 million tourists it draws annually, most of them compliment the venue as being one of the area’s “most walkable” malls, referring to the easy-access floor plan.
Tourists who wish for access to all the best retail action are advised to find accommodation at a Scottsdale hotel not far from the city center. Many a Scottsdale resort situated against the backdrop of the majestic McDowell Mountains offer prime access to the city hub. Millennium Resort, Scottsdale, McCormick Ranch in particular is the city’s only lakeside boutique resort and offers the best of luxury leisure living while being only 5 minutes from the Scottsdale city center.
