The Shops on Lane Avenue

I've seen, what, three renovations of this place in the 35 years I've been coming? Used to be an indoor mall, with Micro Center at the end where Whole Foods is now (got my first PC there,) a bookstore, and I swear an Arthur Treacher's. Over the years it has changed into an outdoor mall, basically a fancy strip mall, with stores I am not much interested in. Too many clothes stores and salons. Around the edges are some cooler shops and restaurants. Parking is a hassle, lanes are too small, be very careful even at the edges of the main lot. I come once in a long while for Whole Foods, and the other day went to Tiki Botanicals, which I had never even noticed here, though we go to the GV location often. I'll be back someday.

This is a nice shopping center with a good mixture of services, shopping, and dining if you're in the area. There's been turnover throughout the years, but currently it is home to quite a few women's clothing stores. There's a very nice Whole Foods and the Bed, Bath, and Beyond is probably one of the places I frequent the most. There are several restaurants, plus an ice cream shop (Freeze Style) and a Cheryl's Cookies. I also enjoyed my recent visits to the Lair's Hallmark and the local Tiki Botanicals, which the friendly staff person told me produces all of their goods just down in German Village. The shopping center can get pretty busy - be sure to keep in mind that there is additional parking around back if the front is full.

This shopping center has a mixture of shops and is anchored by Whole Foods and Bed, Bath & Beyond.The places I usually visit are Larson's Toys (closing soon so the owner can retire to spend time with family), Nurtur the Salon, Whole Foods, Hallmark Cards, and Bruegger's Bagels.Notice most of these are on the outside of the shopping center? I sometimes forget there are shops on the inside of the mall.

This used to be called the Lane Avenue Mall I believe when I first came to town. It swanker name is your typical developers idea of making something seem a destination by pure image creation alone. Think the cliché: pigs with lipstick. Truth is this is just your typical strip mall with the usual cast of characters, just behind a faux throwback façade. In the days before it was re-developed it function more as an inside mall. Small though, with one single floor causeway and small stores. I loved it in my college days because it one of my favorite bookstores Little Professors--where in the early dot.com days you could get any newspaper printed out. I loved perusing their stacks. It is no longer here. The mall once had your typical Mall cafeteria where I discovered my love for Orange Chicken. Today it is anchored by a Bed Bath and Beyond and a Whole Foods. In-between are clothing and jewelry stores for women. It is basically a good place to serve the west tOSU and central-south Upper Arlington population; it's not a drawl for any other neighborhoods.Parking here has always been a hassle. With a few rows parallel Lane Avenue and a few spots in the back it is best to come on low traffic times if you can. It might take you a good 10-minutes to exit at peak times.

It all depends on how much money you want to spend. The Shops on Lane Avenue underwent a major facelift a few years ago and increased rent prices, which in turn lured in higher-end boutiques. The likes of White House Black Market, Talbots and Chico's call Lane Avenue home. Remember these shops cater to its neighborhood, which happens to be Upper Arlington, where people are generally OK spending above-average amounts of money on one outfit. It also provides Ohio State folks a higher end shopping alternative without having to go all the way to Easton or Polaris. I quite enjoy the dining options in the mall: China Dynasty, one of Columbus's more popular Chinese restaurants, is located inside the mall. It's a casual, sit-down restaurant with a great Sunday buffet- though we usually get carry out. Also located here is Rusty Bucket, a bistro-like pub with great fish-n-chips. Wolfgang Puck Express, is a little on the expensive side, but the menu has interesting options- and it beats typical nosh served in a mall food court! Larson's Toys, a locally owned toystore has a location in the mall. While it is not the cheapest toystore in town, it carries all the latest stuff for kids, as well as some unique, high-quality toys not found at your typical Toys-R-Us or Walmart. Whole Foods, formerly known as Wild Oats, is one of Lane Avenue's anchor stores (along with Bed, Bath & Beyond). This grocery store carries the usual household staples, organic foods, and superb meat, cheeses and produce. This is a great place to come if you want bulk grains, nuts and granola. The pre-cooked meals, sushi and deli foods are not cheap, but of fantastic quality and variety. That's why healthy eaters and vegetarians are known to frequent Whole Foods. If you want sales and cheap prices, keep driving a few miles farther to Lennox Town Center where there's a Target, World Market, Barnes & Noble, and Staples. People who look for that next step up in quality shopping go to The Shops at Lane Avenue. Keep in mind there is a large parking lot behind the mall too.

Usually come here to visit their Whole Foods (pretty big and quite awesome!) but there are also a wide variety of shops including clothing stores and home decor. Restaurants too!

This is a great addition to upper Arlington love the food and shopping they do a great job at keeping the place clean and there is a lot of space to park your car if your looking for a place to eat check out the rusty bucket great food

The Shops on Lane get three stars from me just for being there. There aren't a lot of places to shop on that end of town, and so we take what we can get. I guess that's the best we can do. I find myself imagining who shops here, though. Chico's, Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Christopher & Banks, Talbots...it's relatively high end and it skews toward a certain market. And that market certainly doesn't include me. Oh well.Larson's Toys is a real find. I like having Rusty Bucket here as well. Oh, and Cheryl & Co. and Baja Fresh...yum.College students: don't let its proximity to campus fool you. This place is primarily for residents of UA. Parking can be a bit of a bear at peak times, but there shouldn't be too much trouble. I guess its a sign that we need more places to spend our money over on this side of town.

I am a BIG fan of this mall! I have seen soooo many stores had come and go plus the sis of this mall is Worthington Mall Place (formally Worthington Mall and Worthington Square). It's hard to belive some of these store I saw when I moved here back in the earlyer 1980's and few these store STILL around!

Lane Avenue Shopping Center reflects the neighborhood of Upper Arlington more than campus. It is pricey and high end all around. I come here for Larson's toys and gifts. This is a great store to go to if you are looking for one of a kind toys and gifts for kids of all ages. I have a grandpa who loves magic and Larson's is one of the few stores I can go to that has any real selection. They also sell bean bags which is great for the person in your life who loves cornhole.White House Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft and New York and Co. are all stores I can't go into but would love to if I had the cash.Rusty Bucket could be affordable, but I am not that into neighborhood sports bars.Whole Foods is probably the biggest draw to Lane Avenue. People love Whole Foods here but I feel like I can find the same items cheaper at Trader Joe's.Wolfgang's and Baja Fresh are nice, but I don't really need to leave downtown to find similar fare.Lane Avenue does have a Bed Bath and Beyond, but it is little, so it makes the store a little overwhelming.China Dynasty is the best place to eat in this shopping center.Lane Avenue Shopping Center is OK. It just seems like it might be easier to find all of the same offerings at Easton.