Shopping Potomac Mills Mall

It's an outlet shopper's mecca...

When Potomac Mills Mall opened its doors in September 1985, we were among the first shoppers to walk the polished parquet floors.  

As Woodbridge residents, we welcomed the facility to shop within a very short driving distance from home.

Gone were the days when holiday shopping required a trip into the city or nearby malls such as Springfield Mall or  Fair Oaks.

Many of the original mall occupants are gone now but other stores quickly replaced them.  Even as residents, we often have trouble keeping up to date on the current mall occupants.  

Potomac Mills Mall is huge.

It one of the world's largest outlet malls in the country and a bargain shopper's paradise.

The mall also ranks as one of the top tourist attractions in the Washington D.C. area.

Located just off Interstate 95, between Exits 156 and 158B, Potomac Mills Mall is easily accessible to both local, northern Virginia residents and visitors.

Retail giants such as Neiman Marcus "Last Call", Saks Fifth Avenue "Off 5th" serve as anchor stores.  Macy's just selected Potomac Mills for Bloomingdale's outlet which opens August 20, 2010!

Juicy Couture is coming to Neighborhood 1 but we don't have a definite opening date as of August.

My personal favorite? Nordstrom Rack.

Labels such as Juicy Couture are found in several stores including Nordstrom, T.J.Maxx, and Marshall's/Home Goods .

More than 200 top-notch retailers in five, distinct "Neighborhoods" offer products in a variety of categories, with IKEA occupying a prime location outside the main mall building.

The Food Court is located directly behind the main mall entrance in Neighborhood 4.

It offers a great assortment of quick service food from Frank & Stein to Sbarro Italian Eatery, Chinese to Mediterranean and several standard fast food counters.

Has all that shopping resulted in complete exhaustion?

For a reviving jolt of caffeine, stop by the Starbucks store, located immediately off the Food Court and conveniently next to a Mrs. Field's Cookies.  

Potomac Mills Mall is also home to a full service restaurant.

Ruby Tuesday is located just inside the Neighborhood 1 mall entrance, nestled in the very corner of the building, next to Off Broadway Shoes. Me thinks that was intentional!

There is another mall entrance next to Nordstrom Rack.

On the perimeter of the mall, you will find other full service restaurants such as the Olive Garden and Chili's.

Are the children tired of shopping?  Send them to the movies.  We have added a listing of movie show times and tickets for AMC Potomac Mills 18, which occupies a corner of the mall, in Neighborhood 1, right next to Neiman Marcus and Off Broadway Shoes.

With 18 screens, you are sure to find a movie appropriate for every member of the family while you shop until you drop!

The parking directly outside the theater fills up very quickly at show times and is near capacity all weekend. Remember that fact if Nordstrom Rack or Neiman Marcus Last Call are high on your list of "must-visit" stores.

Beginning in fall, and even earlier than usual in this down economy, the entire Potomac Mill Mall complex becomes very busy.  It often feels as if everyone on the East Coast is shopping in Woodbridge, Virginia.  However, that is not a bad thing.

The monthly turnaround in mall occupants often produces a brand new lineup of stores.  Be prepared for a preferred shopping destination to vanish rather unexpectedly.

New stores to Potomac Mills Mall include the Calvin Klein outlet, Cole Haan, and Coach Outlet boutique, which recently replaced Eddie Bauer.  It promises to be a popular destination.

Judging by the long lines at the cash registers, thie new Coach store is already a huge retail success.

If you are arranging a shopping adventure to Potomac Mills, be sure to read our tweets on mall happenings, new posts to this lens or check out our website, where you can submit shopping related questions or leave comments about your favorite mall stores and shopping experiences.

See you at the Mall!

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