Dining and Shopping Options
DINING
Gainesville has an assortment of dining choices ranging from fast-food to Five-Star Pizza. The variety of restaurants can delight any taste buds whether you’re looking for traditional or ethnic, such as Mediterranean, Indian, Cajun, French, Greek, Italian, Thai, Cuban, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican or even Caribbean. With an influx of many international students and guests, Gainesville offers a culturally diverse “taste of home” for visitors and residents alike. Of course, good old American is found everywhere, from New York or Chicago style to traditional Southern and eclectic cuisine served up by world-class chefs.
Venues also vary from bistro or patio style to elegant sit-down. Many sports eateries and bars dot the area, and are a popular choice for eating, imbibing and enjoying sporting events on satellite TVs. For any palate — dining out or delivered right to you wherever you are — the options for enjoyable meals and restaurants seem endless.
SHOPPING
Whether looking for unique one-of-akind items, arts and crafts, personal needs or enjoying the convenience of the mall or shopping centers, all can be found in Gainesville and the surrounding areas. The Oaks Mall, located at Newberry Road and Interstate 75, serves as a hub for traditional shopping not only for Gainesville and Alachua County but for all of North Central Florida. Anchored by Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney, Dillard’s and Belk’s, the Oaks Mall also features national chains such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret and JoS. A. Bank. Nearly 160 specialty stores and restaurants, including a remodeled food court, make this a popular meeting place for all ages.
Several other retail centers are within walking and driving distance of the Oaks Mall Plaza. The largest of these centers is Butler Plaza, also known as the “Miracle Mile” and “Restaurant Row,” located on Archer Road, between Interstate 75 and SW 34th Street. With nearly one million square feet and more than 100 stores, this retail complex offers many shopping and dining options. In this one-mile stretch are more stores and restaurants than anywhere else in Gainesville. Divided into three sections of east, central and west, Butler Plaza shopping includes Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Office Depot in addition to a variety of smaller stores.
Some of the smaller centers offering unique shops include Thornebrook Village, Millhopper Shopping Center, Newberry Crossing, Newberry Square, Tower Center and Greenery Square, all located in the northwest area. Haile Village Center and Tower Square are located in southwest Gainesville, while Westgate Shopping Center and the Creekside Mall are located just west of the University of Florida. Slightly farther west is the Plaza Royale shopping center with upscale boutiques, Starbucks, movie theatres and restaurants. In the center of downtown Gainesville are the Sun Center and Union Street Station with galleries, restaurants and small shops. The Gainesville Shopping Center is located on Main Street, just north of downtown.
There are also a number of retail shops near the University of Florida along University Avenue and NW 13th Street, most of which cater to the needs of students and Gator fans. A few miles north on 13th Street is a Sam’s Club and a number of other retail outlets. Together there are more than 50 shopping centers in Gainesville, and this number keeps growing. Not far from Gainesville are smaller towns such as Micanopy, High Springs and Cedar Key and that offer other shopping opportunities, particularly antiques and antique auctions, art and boutique shopping. Whether it’s simply needed items or those “must-haves you can’t live without, you don’t have to venture far to enjoy a day of unique shopping. G