Both of my kids have an inexplicable fascination with the mall. It doesn’t matter which mall. If they are ever given the option to decide our plans for the day, their unanimous response 9 times out of 10 is “LET’S GO TO THE MALL!”
When you think about it, the mall has some appeal. Being indoors, they offer a nice escape from unpleasant weather. If you have picky eaters, the food courts usually have options that will appeal to everyone. You can get in your steps walking around shopping for things you may need or simply window shopping. For little ones, most malls these days also provide a free enclosed play area with padded flooring and small climbing structures.
Below we’ve outlined what each of our two Raleigh malls offer, along with feedback and tips provided by local parents who responded to a recent poll we posted in Raleigh Moms Group on Facebook!
Triangle Town Center
5959 Triangle Town Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27616
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Features:
Barnes & Noble
This branch of B&N is one of the largest in our area. It is two stories with a huge selection of books. The children’s area has a train table and weekly storytimes. It also has a door that connects directly to the mall.
Free Play Area
The play area at Triangle Town Center is larger than the play area at Crabtree Valley Mall. There are several soft play climbing structures perfect for kids under 5 years old.
Train Ride + Coin Rides
For $4 per person (cash), take a quick train ride around the mall! The line for the train is near the play area, along with a section of coin-operated ride on toys.
Popular Stores
Saks Fifth Avenue
Dillards
Game Stop
The Children’s Place
GO! Calendar Toys
Extraordinaire Emporium
What’s to Love:
Local parents who prefer Triangle Town Center cite that it is never very crowded, making shopping and walking around a pleasant experience. Ample parking with easy access was also a mentioned as a benefit of this mall, along with easy access to/from I-540 & Capital Blvd. The mall maintains clean and attractive interior and exterior areas and is conveniently located to other big box stores like Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Hobby Lobby. Several points of entry and exits.
Areas for Improvement:
Local parents mention that this mall seems to be “dying”. It’s hard to ignore the several abandoned restaurant buildings outside and inside vacant storefronts. There are very limited dining options now and many parents agree they would love to see an overhaul of this mall to maximize its great location!
Crabtree Valley Mall
4325 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612
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Features:
Several sit-down dining options
P.F. Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Brio and Kanki are among the several dining options available, most have their own separate entrance, with entryways that also adjoin directly to the mall.
Free Play Area
This play area is quite a bit smaller than the Triangle Town Center Mall, but still offers some room for little ones to run around and climb in an enclosed, padded environment.
Popular Stores
Belk
Tic-Tac-Toys
The Lego Store
The Disney Store
Build-A-Bear
Think Geek
Lush Handmade Cosmetics
Sephora
Family Events
Crabtree offers a great line-up of family events throughout the year including free summer activities, Trick or Treating at Halloween and more.
What's to Love:
Local parents mention the variety and quality of Crabtree’s shopping and dining options. Most of the retail spaces are rented. The mall is clean and attractive inside and out. Overall, the majority of parents prefer the experience of walking around Crabtree Valley Mall over Triangle Town Center.
Areas for Improvement:
General consensus is that getting in and out of Crabtree is a headache, as the only entry point is off of busy Glennwood Avenue or Creedmore. Because it is directly off the 440 beltline, the stretch of Glennwood is often congested. Parking gets full very quickly and the spots are smaller. It is the popular choice between the two malls so this mall tends to be very crowded on the weekends.
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