SUPERB SHOPPING

TRIPinfo.com includes over 1,300 shopping spots ideal for groups across the country. Our Weekly Newsletter includes many each week. And this Quarterly Digital Magazine features 81 shopping areas of interest to leisure group trip planners. Consider it a 1 in 20 taste of what is available on our website to help you find new shopping experiences!

RWD of TRIPinfo.com includes 1-touch Sort, Filter, Map & Call features for planning with desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone. These are helpful to sort shopping by number of stores, type, or total square footage. You can filter shopping options to those in a single market in states, or 1-touch map or call, useful in these days of hard-to find-phone numbers on websites!

The shopping spots in these pages are places we think you will enjoy when researching for your group. They vary widely but share in pleasing visitors – and appealing to leisure group trips!

Average Year Founded: 1966

Average Year Founded adds years and divides by the 75 shopping spots shown. In 1966, the U.S. has 250,000 troops in Vietnam, and tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators. The Beatles play their very last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The Sound of Music wins Best Picture. The St. Louis, MO Gateway Arch is dedicated. Ronald Reagan is elected Governor of California. Adam Sandler, Janet Jackson, Mike Tyson, Hallie Berry are born. Buster Keaton, Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Arden, Walt Disney die.

Median Year Founded: 1982

Median Year Founded comes from sorting shopping sites by date and finding the middle. In 1982, AT&T agrees to divest itself into 22 subdivisions. Chariots of Fire wins Best Picture. Over 11 million people visit World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN. Walt Disney World opens EPCOT Center in Orlando, FL. Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC. Kelly Clarkson, Kristen Dunst, Pete Buttigieg, Anne Hathaway are born. John Belushi, Henry Fonda, Bess Truman die.

Mode of Year Founded: 1999

Mode of Year Founded is date that appears most often in our roster. In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton is impeached, acquitted by Senate. First Legoland outside Europe opens in California. Dow Jones tops 10,000 for first time. Columbine High School massacre kills 12 students, 1 teacher. The Dot Com stock market bust peaked. Joe DiMaggio, Robert Shaw, George C. Scott, Pete Conrad, Wilt Chamberlain, Madeline Kahn, Curtis Mayfield, and John F. Kennedy, Jr. die.

We believe you will find in this issue an interesting collection of Superb Shopping spots that provide ideas for your group experiences. This issue is designed as an ongoing, useful reference. We hope this selection, here and online at TRIPinfo.com, are just that for you. That’s why we are here...to help make your leisure group trips planning successful and fun!

Types of Shopping Centers

Anticipate visitor experiences at different types of shopping centers to find the best group shopping stop. Use the characteristics and definitions of 9 types of shopping centers from the International Association of Shopping Centers (ICSC) as guidelines when planning group stops lasting 3+ hours.

General - Purpose Centers

• Most common type of shopping center

• Convenience shopping for day-to-day needs

• Configured in straight-line strip; not enclosed

• Wider variety of apparel & goods than a neighborhood center

• Configured as a straight line, L- or U-shaped

• Sells full variety of general merchandise, mostly apparel

• Typically enclosed

• Inward facing stores

• Common walkway

• Anchors are main attractions

• Similar to the regional center

• Larger and more anchors

• More merchandise

• Larger population base

• Enclosed with multi-levels

Specialized - Purpose Centers

• Composed of upscale national-chain specialty stores

• Sophisticated design with rich décor and landscaping

• May or may not be anchored

• Restaurants and entertainment provide draw of anchors

• Several dominating, freestanding anchors

• Only a few, small specialty tenants

• Found in urban areas

• Adapted from older, possibly historic, buildings and part of mixed-use projects

• Anchored by restaurants and entertainment facilities

• Appeals to tourists

• Manufacturers’ & retailers’ outlets

• Sell brands at a discounts

• Found in rural or tourist locations

• Configured as enclosed, a “village” cluster or a strip.

Limited - Purpose Centers

• Specialty retail and

• No anchors