Take Some Time to Shop Around Tyler, TX
New arrivals and old favorites make Tyler's shopping scene one of a kind.
With a mix of malls and boutiques, Tyler has long been the retail hub for the east Texas region. But when the city’s population surpassed 100,000 people in 2014, it really solidified its retail reputation. Even more stores opened, offering a diverse mix of retail – with new arrivals joining the city’s beloved mainstays.
Here are seven shopping experiences in Tyler today that weren’t available a decade ago, plus some of the city’s iconic shopping spots.
In This Article
Home Décor
Whether you’re making over your master bedroom or finally defining hat spare bedroom, channel your inner interior designer at one of Tyler’s home stores.
Mainstay: Swann’s Furniture & Design has been a staple in Tyler for more than a century. The store has furniture and décor for every part of your house and outdoor living space, too. Gray’s Home Fashion Gallery is also iconic, bringing quality furniture into the area’s homes since 1950, with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary.
New: If you love the thrill of a hunt (and a great deal), frequent trips to HomeGoods are in order. Opening soon in Broadway Square Mall, you can expect the HomeGoods inventory to be ever-changing, and the store is a treasure chest for unique rugs, furniture and décor. With the mantra “expect the unexpected,†you just might find, say, a chartreuse bud vase that’s just right for your mantle.
Produce
Whoever says grocery shopping is a chore will change their minds after visiting – actually, experiencing – one of these produce-forward stores in Tyler.
Mainstay: The FRESH by Brookshire’s store opened in 2011 as a concept of Brookshires Grocery Company, a Tyler institution since 1928. A favorite for its fresh produce, the grocer also has a popular outdoor patio dining area that has live entertainment during the summer.
New: Sprouts has garnered fans nationwide who love the store’s house-brand products, like chocolate-covered strawberries, crispy coconut rolls from Thailand and freeze-dried blueberries. The grocer sells affordable produce as well as bulk nuts, candies, seafood and cheeses, and there’s an on-site butcher.
Steak Dinner
A great steak dinner should be considered a rite of passage for Texas residents. Here’s where to indulge in Tyler.
Mainstay: Ranked one of the best steak and seafood restaurants in the country, Dakotas serves prime steaks, seafood and chops. To really get your steak order right, add on a lobster tail and indulge in steakhouse side dishes like gourmet mac and cheese.
New: Experience all-you-can-eat, carved-at-your-table meats (and much more) at Texas de Brazil, which is part of an international chain of Brazilian-style steakhouses founded here in Texas. And vegetarians, fret not – there’s a chef-crafted salad bar, too.
Gifts
Skip the gift card; you can find gifts galore in Tyler at local shops.
Mainstay: The Potpourri House is a popular place to buy gifts in town. The shop carries a little bit of everything, including gourmet foods, women’s clothes, soap, lotions and a great selection of Tyler Candles.
New: 903 Handmade is moving to south Tyler after four years downtown, and the shop will be expanding its concept to offer DIY classes so you can craft your own gifts, like painted earrings. The family-owned shop also sells locally made gifts.
Fashion
Fashion-forward retailers have you stylishly covered, from head to toe.
Mainstay: Step foot into Bridgette’s and find chic goods from designers like Rebecca Minkoff, Milly, and Equipment. The store, which has been keeping Tylerites stylish since 1984, is also known for its footwear and accessories. For men who have a penchant for dressing sharp, the selection at Harley’s is timeless and trendy. The menswear shop carries formal wear, sportswear and casual lifestyle apparel.
New: Stocked with on-trend clothing and accessories, H&M opened a location in Tyler in 2017. The 20,000-square-foot store at The Village at Cumberland Park has collections for men and women and a kid’s department.
Malls
Shop til you drop? You’ve got options.
Mainstay: Broadway Square Mall, which originally opened in 1975, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar expansion, adding Dick’s Sporting Goods as a new anchor. The mall also added a 1,000-square-foot play area for children, with interactive games.
New: The Village at Cumberland Park is a walkable outdoor shopping center that has a mix of national and local stores and restaurants as well as family-friendly entertainment and a playground. It’s the largest shopping center in Tyler and one of the largest in the state.
Resale Shops
Stay up to date on the latest trends, but for less, by shopping at these retail stores.
Mainstay: Flamingo’s Upscale Resale sells women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, plus furniture, household goods and home décor. Sales from the store benefit the East Texas Crisis Center.
New: Plato’s Closet sells gently used, on-trend clothes for up to 70% off retail prices. Clothes Mentor, an upscale resale store, is stocked with gently used women’s clothes from brands like Anthropologie, Kate Spade, Ann Taylor and more.
If you’d like to learn more about the Tyler area, check out the latest issue of Livability: Tyler, TX.