Reno shopping: Top locations for great goods

The big malls:

• Meadowood Mall
Meadowood is Reno's go-to mall, with stores like Macy's (two, in fact ... one for men, one for women), Sears and JC Penney's offering a great selection. More than 100 stores make this the place for one-stop shopping when you know what you want and who's going to carry it. Good for the whole family, and the large food court doesn't hurt either.

5000 Meadowood Mall Circle
Located at South Virginia Street and South McCarran Boulevard
Exit 63, So. Virginia ramp from I-395 South.
(775) 827-8450
Hours: Mon..-Sat.., 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun.., 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Summit Sierra
Reno's newest mall is outdoors, which allows shoppers to experience the beauty of Reno while having access to such stores as Dillard's, White House/Black Market, Sephora and Pottery Barn. A shuttle is available, which makes outdoor shopping in colder weather a dream. Fire pits help, too. It's spread out, but there's ample parking in front of each storefront.

13925 S. Virginia St.
South Virginia at Mt. Rose Hwy.
Exit 57B off I-395 South, enter from South Virginia Street
(775) 853-7800
Hours: Mon..-Sat.., 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun.., 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• The Legends at Sparks Marina
The Legends at Sparks Marina contains a unique mix of entertainment venues, restaurants and retail offerings designed to attract visitors from out-of-state to northern Nevada. Shops such as the Gap, Volcom, Banana Republic Outlet and many others draw a mix of ages and styles to the area's newest retail venue.

1555 E. Lincoln Way
Intersection of I-80 and Sparks Blvd.
(775) 358-3800
Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Some stores and hours may vary

Shopping enclaves:

Each of these shopping hubs offers a balance of stores, services (salons, or shoe repair) and restaurants. The one thing you won't find is a shop you'd see anywhere else; these are one-of-a kinds.

• Franktown Corners
This small (about a dozen stores) mall is a local's favorite, mostly because it has yet to be discovered by tourists. There are no chain stores here; you'll find original shops with one-of-a-kind items and owners on hand to help you make your purchases. Visit Best Wishes, a fantastic Christmas shop with tons of greeting cards and fun gifts.
2303 Kietzke Lane, Reno
Hours vary by store. Best Wishes' hours are Mon..-Fri., 10a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat.., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun..11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• The Riverwalk District
Defined as the area between Arlington Ave. and Lake St. along the Truckee River in downtown, the Riverwalk is also Reno's artist hub, so expect to find lots of galleries and eclectic boutiques. Shopping here is as much about the ambiance of downtown Reno as it is about the creative goods you can score. You'll also find great local goods at Reno eNVy, one of Reno's best antique shops (more on that below) and wildly creative fashions at Parasols On The Riverwalk and eco-friendly goods at La Terre Verte. For information, call (775) 825-WALK.
Hours vary by shop.

• Cal Ave District
A bit further to the southwest of the Riverwalk area is the California Avenue shopping district, locally known as CalAve. The central area is, you guessed it, California Avenue, but the merchant's association encompasses a much wider area, all of it pedestrian friendly. Baboo showcases designer clothes for the kids. Call (775) 323-3115 ext. 104 for more info on the Cal Ave shops.
Hours vary by shop.

• Vassar Street Merchants
The Vassar Street shops are located in southeast Reno, predominantly between Virginia Street and Wells Avenue, but with a few shops east of Wells. This old Reno neighborhood looks like mostly houses, but the signs out front tell you these decades-old bungalows are now home to some of Reno's most eclectic shops. You'll find hookah pipes and art, clothes and games at Art Dogs and Grace; Des Idees Nouvelle is now a tax-free, nonprofit shop selling great kitchen and bath items, many that are eco-friendly; Medio Mundo has the greatest items made by women around the globe - knickknacks, clothing and jewelry you won't find elsewhere.
Hours vary by store.
Art Dogs and Grace is open Mon.-Sun.: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sun.: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Medio Mundo is open Tues.-Sat.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A couple of standalone behemoths:

Reno scored a couple of the nations' biggest retailers in the last year, both big crowd pleasers and jaw-dropping adventures as much as they are stores.

• Cabela's
The nation's foremost sportsman's outfitter settled into its 125,000-square-foot retail showroom on the western edge of Reno last November. It's a megastore in every sense of the word; everything you need to hunt, fish, camp, shoot, play or roam the great outdoors mingles with a fudge shop, big-game animal dioramas, indoor archery range, gun library, shooting gallery, deli and a giant freshwater aquarium. Whether or not you ever go into the wild, this is still a great place to spend an afternoon. Right off the freeway, with a city of parking spaces.

8650 Boomtown Road, Verdi
Take Hwy 1-80, west, to exit 4 (Boomtown)
(775) 829-4100
Hours:Mon.- Sat.: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sundays: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Scheels
Where Cabela's caters to the outdoorsman, Scheels is for the sportsman in all of us, whether we're treadmill warriors or rec league softball giants. The largest sporting goods store in the world (248,000 feet of retail space!) hosts Nevada's largest retail gun selection, so there's plenty of ‘serious' sportsman equipment, but there's also a massive selection of running shoes, active apparel, mountain bikes, not to mention a 65-foot Ferris wheel, two 16,000 gallon aquariums (one fresh, one salt), a deli and candy shop, and simulators that allow customers to test their skills at hockey, golf, etc. Lots of parking, and easy access. Expect crowds!

1200 Scheels Drive, Sparks
(775) 331-2700
Hours: Mon-Sat.: 9a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.