Lansing Shopping and Districts

(Lansing, Michigan - MI, USA)

Michigan's busy little state capital comes with a more than adequate shopping scene. Within downtown Lansing are plenty of retail opportunities, while several sizeable mall complexes reside within the city's suburbs in most directions.

In the city center itself, shops are grouped along the main roads, such as East Michigan Avenue, East Kalamazoo Street and Washington Square South, around Lansing City Hall, as well as on Grand River Avenue to the north of Turner Park. However, if you are looking for some serious shopping, whatever the weather, then a visit to one of the outlying malls is recommended, with the malls being conveniently open Monday through Sunday.

Located within East Lansing and next to Ranney Park, the Frandor Shopping Center on Frandor Avenue has stood here since opening in 1954 and is home to roughly 60 different stores, services, cafes and other eateries. This strip mall is named after the couple who originally built it - Francis and Dorothy (Fran-Dor) Corr and is anchored by familiar names such as HomeGoods, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, Kroger and Michaels.

Where to Shop

Lying on the northeastern side of the city, within the Lansing Charter Township, is the Eastwood Towne Center on the Preyde Boulevard.

This modern open-air shopping complex stands conveniently close to Highway US-127 (exit 79), where it features just under 70 stores and services. These include American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse, GameStop, Gap, Kay Jewelers, Pier 1, Pottery Barn, Schuler Books and Music, and Victoria's Secret, along with an NCG Cinemas multi-screen movie theater complex.

Located within the neighboring township of Okemos, in the eastern suburbs of Lansing, is the extremely popular Meridian Mall. This giant indoor shopping mall stands on West Grand River Avenue and is a good option for a rainy day, being fully enclosed. Amongst the principal anchor stores here are Abercrombie and Fitch, Dick's Sporting Goods, JC Penney, Macy's, Old Navy and Younkers, with around 125 stores based here in total, including eateries. The Meridian Mall opened at the end of the 1960s, at almost exactly the same time as its principal competitor, the Lansing Mall on the West Saginaw Highway.

The Lansing Mall is to be found within the far westerly suburb of Waverly and is home to in excess of 100 stores and services, including a generous food court. Significant renovation work took place at the shopping center towards the end of the 1990s, costing more than US$30 million and bringing the mall up to the modern standards expected by today's shoppers. Barnes & Noble, Durham Sports, JC Penney, Macy's, TJ Maxx and Younkers are all to be found here.

For a more intimate shopping experience and a chance to buy fresh produce from the locals, the riverside Lansing City Market may well be of interest. There are around 35 traders operating within this enclosed market venue, which stands on City Market Drive, along the Lansing River Trail, and was built in 2010 at the cost of over US$1.5 million.

A number of farmers' markets appear around Lansing during the summer months, such as the lively Old Town Farmers' Market and also the easterly Allen Street Farmers' Market.