Looking for a nostalgic mall experience? Here are local places great for holiday shopping

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read
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Only a few days remain until the biggest gift-giving holiday of the year. Are you ready for it?

Some of you likely waited until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping (no judgement here). But now you're making a mad dash through town to pick up the last few items on Santa's list.

Hopefully, we can make this holiday season a little less stressful for you. We compiled a list of malls (remember those?) and other great places to shop for your loved ones around the area. So, skip the online retailers and visit these local destinations instead.

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Kenwood Towne Centre

With over 60 exclusive retailers and 180 specialty shops, Kenwood Towne Centre is an ideal place for last-minute Christmas shopping in Greater Cincinnati.
With over 60 exclusive retailers and 180 specialty shops, Kenwood Towne Centre is an ideal place for last-minute Christmas shopping in Greater Cincinnati.

As noted by USA TODAY's 10Best, Kenwood Towne Centre is an ideal place for Christmas shopping in Cincinnati, especially if you're looking for luxury stores and items. With over 60 exclusive retailers and 180 specialty shops, you can likely find everything on your list. From clothing to sporting goods and electronics, Kenwood Towne Center has everything.

Notable stores: Apple Store, Coach, Dillard's, Gucci, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Macy's, Lush Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, Pandora, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co., Williams Sonoma and more.

Location: 7875 Montgomery Road, Kenwood.

Northgate Mall

Located in Colerain, Northgate Mall has been a premier shopping destination since 1972. Although it has two vacant anchor stores, once occupied by Sears and Macy's, there are plenty of businesses still open for your last-minute shopping needs.

Notable stores: Ashley Furniture, Bath & Body Works, Burlington, DSW, Finish Line, Marshalls, Ulta Beauty and more.

Location: 9501 Colerain Ave., Colerain.

Rookwood Commons & Pavilion

Rookwood Commons & Pavilion features over 70 stores and restaurants. It has a great selection of clothing and home stores, off-price retailers and more.

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Notable stores: Bed Bath & Beyond, Carhartt, DSW, GameStop, Home Goods, Joseph Beth Booksellers, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Sephora, Sierra, Gap, TJ Maxx, West Elm and more.

Location: 3805 Edwards Road, Norwood.

Eastgate Mall

With approximately 50 stores, Eastgate Mall is an excellent option for shoppers looking to avoid holiday crowds.
With approximately 50 stores, Eastgate Mall is an excellent option for shoppers looking to avoid holiday crowds.

Eastgate Mall, located in Glen Este, has approximately 50 stores. Despite its limited offerings, Eastgate is still an excellent option for shoppers looking to avoid the holiday crowds.

Notable stores: American Eagle, Claire's, Dillard's Clearance, JCPenny, Kohl's, Men's Warehouse, Rue 21, Sephora, Spencer's, White Barn and more.

Location: 4601 Eastgate Blvd., Glen Este.

Cincinnati Premium Outlets

Are you looking to ball on a budget? You may want to head to Cincinnati Premium Outlets, the largest outlet mall in Greater Cincinnati. It features several luxury and name brands at discounted prices, such as Ann Taylor, Under Armour, Lacoste and Michael Kors.

Notable stores: Adidas, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Coach Outlet, Disney Store Outlet, Guess Factory, J. Crew Factory, Kay Jewelers Outlet, Lacoste, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch and more.

Location: 400 Premium Outlets Drive, Monroe.

Oakley Square

Oakley Square, located along Madison Road, is a great place to shop for young children. As noted by USA TODAY's 10Best, it features three stores that specialize in children's toys, clothing items and books. Some also offer complimentary gift-wrapping services, story times and crafts.

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Notable stores: King Arthur's Court Toys, The Spotted Goose and Elaine B Jewelry.

Location: Madison Road, Oakley.

Liberty Center

The Lberty Center is a mixed-use complex featuring retail businesses and restaurants.
The Lberty Center is a mixed-use complex featuring retail businesses and restaurants.

Liberty Center features restaurants, stores, apartments, a movie theater and more. The multiuse center in Liberty Township has both large retail chains and local independent stores.

Notable stores: Bath & Body Works, Build-A-Bear, Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, Foot Locker, H&M, Lush, Old Navy, Pandora, White House Black Market, Zales and more.

Location: 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township.

Deerfield Towne Centre

Located in Mason, Deerfield Towne Center has over 50 national retailers, niche boutiques, furniture stores and restaurants.

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Notable stores: Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick's Sporting Goods, Five Below, Lemons & Limes Boutique, Loft, Soma, Ulta Beauty, White House Black Market and more.

Location: 5503 Deerfield Blvd., Mason.

Florence Mall

Florence Mall, serving Northern Kentucky for decades, features over 100 stores, perfect for your shopping needs.

Notable stores: 23 Sneaker Lounge, Buckle, FYE, Dakota Watch Co., Forever 21, GameStop, Hannoush Jewelers, JCPenny, Macy's, The White Barn Candle Co. and more.

Location: 2028 Florence Mall, Florence.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati malls, shopping centers great for last-minute holiday buys