secret finds
I guess they're not really secrets since they are open to the public - but they are some of my favorite shopping "finds" that I prefer to think are known only to my family.
Forever 21 Collin Creek and XXI at Shops of Willow Bend - 21 is heavily populated with teen and young women. The looks are cool and trendy, with blocks of fashion grouped by color and style. Prices are more reasonable than are typically found in department stores, with many items less than $20. F21 Collin Creek was the first store in the area, located on the upper floor by Foley's. XXI is now open and has more space to offer more merchandise. Find them on the first floor near Dillard's. XXI will soon open a second floor for their "clubwear". Gotta go to 21 if you are a female with trendy tastes and clothes that fit your budget!
Plato's Closet - located in the shopping center in the SE corner of Alma/Spring Creek. Plato's is a consign- ment store just for Juniors Women's sizes. Definitely a place to find jeans of all kinds - and an occasional top from Abercrombie or the like.
Nordstrom Rack - located in the shopping center at the SW corner of Park/Preston, near Stein Mart. Plan to visit NR when you have a block of spare time and NO distractions. You will need to comb through every rack to find deals in your size. The merchandise is spread out - I recently got a suit for $50 - but I found the skirt on one side of the store and the matching jacket an hour later on the other side. It helps to have a good memory for matching items as you come across them. Shoes - Nordstrom is famous for shoes and there is no loss of them at the Rack. Again, you will have to spend some time going through rows of "onesies". Take the one shoe you like to the Shoe Dept. window for its match so that you can try on the pair. Prices are pretty good (but I didn't think the styles and prices were outstanding). NR offers boys', girls', women's and men's clothing & accessories, plus some home decor and cosmetics.
Shoe Cents - going so unnoticed and seemingly ordinary, Shoe Cents was a small goldmine for myself and 2 teens on our first visit. Look for it near the Kroger at Park/Preston, behind TGIFriday's. Really, you should check it out! All Women's shoes, no athletics.
Half-Price Books - HP Books has been in the Dallas area for around 20 years that I know of - from humble beginnings in a small shop on Mockingbird Lane. Now HPB has branched out to the 'burbs with a location in Plano and even near Stonebriar Mall in Frisco. HPB is, basically, a consignment store for used books and magazines - but has evolved into far more. You may also find software, video tapes, record albums (if you don't know what they are you wouldn't be interested), some DVDs and reading paraphernalia. A great place to look for books at a reduced price or to find something that has been out of circulation for a while. Fun just to spend time there, but I almost always leave the store with a purchase. Recent great buys found at HP: NFL Football game software for $12, Katharine Graham's Personal History in hardback for $8. Computer folks visit regularly to find certification materials at great savings. Stock up on videos for your kids.
In Plano, find HPB on the south side of Parker, just west of the Independence intersection. In Frisco, go north on Preston past Stonebriar Mall and look for HPB in the shopping center diagonally across from Best Buy, facing Super Target.
Mikasa - One of my favorite stores to find beautiful, thoughtful gifts that are very economical. Many selections of crystal, glassware, pottery, china, diningware and home furnishings. Easy to find attractive gifts for less than $10. Finally, a place to find gifts for teachers that don't have apples and blackboards on them! You might just find something great for your own home. Mikasa is located on Ave K, north of Spring Creek in front of the Garden Ridge mall.
Crown Shoe Warehouse - Don't go here if you must have a luxurious shopping experience. Worth a look if you are looking for shoe bargains for your entire family. Kids', Women's and Men's shoes - including athletic. Totally do-it-yourself, from finding your shoes, trying them on and taking them to the cashier. Good offering of brands, including Skechers, Steve Madden, Nina, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, New Balance and other popular brands. House slippers and beach shoes round out the style selections. Crown is located on Parker in a shopping center at the SE intersection of Alma - across from Austin Avenue.
Don't leave home - while you are all comfortable there in your chair, you might as well check out some of the online spots that I've found - the collection continues to grow::