University Park Village

This plaza has really started to fill in nicely over the last few years. It was a bit tired for a while. The Barnes and Noble is gone. So are some of the other stores that I can’t even remember because I never shopped at them. Williams and Sonoma is great, Apple is a necessary evil, White House Black Market, Victoria’s Secret and Bath and Body Works have stayed the course over the years. Now there’s some great new additions– Athleta has some pretty basic yoga clothes and to be honest it’s a direct competitor with Lulu Lemon across the way– but they both offer free yoga classes on the weekends and some weeknights. Kendra Scott has some really beautiful jewelry. It’s like hippie chic and I love the stuff they have! There’s finally a Sephora in funky town. Thank the makeup gods. Now I’m not just stuck driving to HEB or Arlington when I want to hit them up. There’s Pacific Table for tasty food and drinks. Starbucks has moved to a different spot but you can still get your fix. There’s even a Anthropology for when you want to spend your whole paycheck. There’s some new stores and things that have popped up across the street so this area is continuing to grow. Also the new construction is about finished so the tollway and traffic from 30 has kinda calmed down.

VERA BRADLEY Very disappointing customer service experience. Called ahead of time to inquire if they had a particular tablet sleeve in stock and they wouldn’t answer the phone. Arrived to find two employees talking away with each other, moving the conversation to the back but still loud and leaving one employee out front who was way more interested in checking her stock list than helping me. «Sorry, I don’t know anything about technology. Here’s a tape measure.» So she could continue to check her list. I just might never go back — internet shopping would be more warm and fuzzy and helpful.

I walked around here while my boyfriend was exploring and at the Genius Bar at the Apple store. It was nice to see some changes on the stores, and to see they have a Michael Kors store, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Apple Store, Starbucks. (stores for the whole family) but mostly lady shops and boutiques.
I will have to go back when I have more time to go in and out more of the stores.

Fantastic shopping and frequent deals if you check on line before coming over.
There is the amazing Apple store, a local fav — Williams Sonoma, as well as pottery barn, Nine West, Aveda, Vera Bradley, Bath and Body Works, a lovely Anthropologie store as well as a warm and friendly staff at the Banana Republic, Lulumon athletics, Soma, Chicos, and White House Black Market to name a few.
Starbucks recently moved to a terrific location directly next to Apple and is the first store in the village, as you head out for a shop.
Love the Blue Mesa Grill here — just be warned, crazy busy during lunch and weekends so come early before the rush for an easy in and out or late — excellent cuisine as well as a popular Pacific Table restaurant — well worth a stop at this premier location, whether shopping for yourself or for others.

In full disclosure, I have only been to a few shopping areas in Fort Worth, but University Park is my favorite spot so far. They lose a star for not having any local boutiques (as far as I can tell, but correct me if I am wrong), but for a shopping center of chains, they have some of my favorites; Anthropologie, Origins, Williams Sonoma, Baby Gap, Apple, Banana Republic, etc.
Parking can be a bit complicated at peak shopping times (eg. the week before Christmas). I like being able to walk outside from store to store and they have a few lunch options when I need a break from the retail therapy; Blue Mesa, McKinley’s (and Smashburger & Zoe’s across the street).

University Park Village is a smaller, better parking, less to offer (but still has an Apple Store) version of Southlake Town Center. Still has Barnes & Noble, said Apple Store, Starbucks and a Chili’s, but not much else. Still, nice to have close to the cultural stuff in Fort Worth.