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Arizona Center
Category: Shopping Shopping Centers Shopping Centers [Edit]
400 E Van Buren StPhoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 271-4000
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Arizona Center
27 reviews in English
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Review from Adriana B.
Phoenix, AZ
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I miss the old Arizona Center. It was once a great place to shop, party and do everything you could do. That was 18 years ago....Today, not so much. The parking is kinda silly, the shops are gone with only a couple of them there. The theater is about the only good thing here in the center. Back in the day they had some really nice shops .
They also had a great bar upstairs that had dueling pianos, sports dance bar and a hip hop bar all in one. I don't think it's there anymore.
Now, there are just a bunch of junky restaurants...Brick being the most over priced pizza in the whole area. Hooters, well, it's Hooters.
Ah well, at least the garden is beautiful and a great place to chill.
I just wish they wouldn't call this place "Arizona Center". This joint is not a good representation of Arizona, at all. -
Review from Alie C.
11/1/2011 6 Check-ins Here
The Arizona Center could seriously use an upgrade. I think it would thrive better if there were more clothing shops in here. A couple of the restaurants are decent, including Sam's Cafe and Big Fat, and I like their addition of Corner Bakery. They also have some hidden treasures like Cafe Roma. Besides that, it's kind of a dump. The bathrooms are absolultey disgusting.
The place definitely has potential. It has a pretty little garden area that was a nice touch. It is in a decent location, really close to ASU and a bunch of businesses. It just needs some more work. -
Review from Dolores G.
Phoenix, AZ
12/17/2010 8 Check-ins Here
Yes there are merchant and business centers with better designs out there. But this place is here and will be here for a while. I have enjoyed the conveninece of having the AMC across the street and most of the restaurants within the center offer pretty nice happy hour deals or incentives if you have you movie ticket.
I do feel the AZ Center is under appreciated and under utilized. The restaurants may not be stellar but most of them are good.
My favorite part is the more lush park area with the water and the falls adjacent to Sam's Cafe and My Big Fat Greek. I have seen weddings and parties hosted in this area. There have been nights where I am restless and can't sleep and I walk over here and sit and listen to the water and zone out while staring at the lights wrapped around the trees through the interior of the park area. It also makes patio dining at either of these two restaurants quite enjoyable (along with the heaters they provide in the winter and the misters in the summer). -
Review from Sean S.
8/2/2010
There are so many reasons this place is a failure, even though I am so so thankful for the existence (though not the idiotic design and planning) of the AMC 24 here. Full of 2nd-rate restaurants and trinket shops, it just doesn't have much draw. (Sam's Cafe is really the only restaurant here that I go to much.)
Rather than putting the theater (blank walls) in the center with the shops and restaurants around it to create a vibrant urban space, they killed the street-facing ability of much of this block by turning it outside-in and into a little suburban "enter me and leave the city" area. You combine that with the concept of 2nd floor retail (again a suburban mall concept), and this place is a complete failure. Notice nothing exists on the 2nd floor. Even if it had 3x the foot-traffic nothing could survive up there, because no one would ever see anything on a 2nd floor in-passing on their way to something else and thereby never "discover" it. Whoever conceived and built this "Center" should be tarred, feathered, and forced to live in Anthem.
Actually, judging by the design, they probably do live in Anthem.Listed in: Downtown Phx
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Review from Anthony L.
11/9/2010
This isn't a fabulous downtown development BY ANY MEANS, but I did enjoy walking to the movie theater when I lived down the street at Camden Copper Square. AMC's theater is normally uncrowded, has friendly staff, big screens and comfortable stadium seating.
I will also, be honest, I think the "garden" aspect of the development facing Van Buren ST is pretty lovely - especially at night. It is a lush oasis that feels cool, moist and calming amidst the urban heat island h.e.double hockey sticks of surrounding blocks.
This isn't the best that the downtown Phoenix offers, but it's also not the worst. -
Review from John S.
Phoenix, AZ
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has a ton of potential, but with the down economy it seems as though the traffic is not to the point where it can sustain many establishments at the moment. The AMC theater here is nice and it never has a crowd, but beyond that there isn't much else to do besides the few restaurants that are OK at best.
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Review from Amy B.
1/29/2010
I've been working in the Arizona Center for about 4.5 years now, and I've finally decided to review it.
I like the design of this place well enough, as there's plenty of shade, its well landscaped, and theres some form of security to keep the hobos and crackheads out 90% of the time.
The restaurants here are mediocre and somewhat boring. In regards to lunch, you have Subway, which I am sick of, dirty water pizza at Cafe Roma, hooters (greasy tasting), Starbucks (great service), Unos, (dark interior, mediocre pizza), 1130, Sams Cafe, Big Fat Greek Restaurant, Coldstone, NY & Co, AMC theatre, and a barrage of touristy places as well.
Upstairs is an engineering firm and FSN Arizona as well. I think at one point back in the day, there used to be food places and a bar or 2 up there, but now its different. The gardens here are pretty, relaxing and enjoyable.
I think based off food and shopping alone, this place sux, overall. For anything reasonable and quick to eat, your stuck with Subway and Cafe Roma. Everything else is sit down with waiter service. I don't have any one recomendation to make this place better, except maybe different/better choices in resturants and eating choices. -
Review from Matthew K.
Phoenix, AZ
5/18/2008
This place is just hanging on. I remember back in the day when they the piano bar, 80's club, sports bars, and a ton of other places to check out.
There a a few restaurants still open, but barely. Never seen any of them even close to half full.
I pretty much just go to the theaters here nowadays. At least there are no crowds to deal with. -
Review from Chris M.
Glendale, AZ
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the az center. My wife and I have been coming here for years. When we have an evening from the kids, this where we will catch a movie at the amc. There is a romantic give after the sun sets.
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Review from Nicole T.
Mesa, AZ
7/29/2009
My senior prom was held here some years ago and - much like the amalgammation of events that led up to my high school graduation - the Arizona Center still makes me feel socially awkward, unwanted, and uncomfortable.
I don't even know the names of kitschy tourist shops here, but they definitely boast "I'll Give up Breathing Before I Give Up Beer" shirts in their window displays. Ugh, really? Yeah, I so want to advertise to all the crackheads and hobos on Van Buren that I'm 100% tore up in the middle of the day. Maybe I will buy some Kachina bobbleheads and flower-printed cardstock and call it a day. Not before I stop at Hooters on my lunch break, of course.
I wish this place retained some of its former charm, or at least a viable destination for my too-short weekday lunches. Unfortunately it's chock full of douchebag midday Mill-rejects who jaywalk across Van Buren just to stop in the middle of a high-traffic area and look around stupidly for the best chain bar. And not that I bother with the upper level (what the hell is even up there? anything?), but has anyone noticed the broke-ass escalator that has been chained off for two years? Am I making this up? This place really can't be that bad, right?
The movie theater is decent if you're comparing it to the massacred, always full of the guy that thinks obvious foreshadowing in movies is a profound revelation environment at the AZ Mills Harkins, but my only faint recollection of this place was watching the ATHF movie here while day-drunk, passing out a quarter of the way through. Maybe I shouldn't advertise that here. At least no one kicked me out, which is a plus, because I snore.
This place is way more fun at night when you're 17 and no one likes you. Unless you're one of the bizarre downtown tourists that takes "art" photos of dirty alleys and family portraits in front of the Subway, you probably have somewhere better to be. -
Review from Jon K.
9/8/2010
I like that it's right downtown by my house.
I dislike that it's mostly vacant. -
Review from Chuck S.
Phoenix, AZ
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a big fan of this place. I hate these "centers" where you have to park in a parking garage and pay to park. I'm already paying to go the shops and restaraunts, why do I need to pay to park too? Seems stupid and not a good way to get peopel to frequent your business. I'd rather go to Desert Ridge, Tempe Marketplace or any other one.
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Review from M E.
Phoenix, AZ
1/31/2010
This place doesn't lend itself to anything stellar or amazing in terms of products or food, but the atmosphere is enjoyable as I like to grab a Sbux on occassion and sit my the little waterfalls of some sort and relax.
Outside of the 3 or so touristy shops (which don't appeal to me, I'm not a tourist), it has a large corporate feel. Nothing local persay.
The AMC has good deals for students and others at random times. They have live music on Sat nights (5-8) and it's a nice place to go for the nearest Sbux/Subway/theatre. But other than that, I find no appealing reason to go. I try to do the local gig, so this isn't a first stop on must do's during my free time.
I wish I could have been there when the locals jumped on the Subway and stopped at AZ Center without their pants on. That would have been classic. -
Review from Sarah C.
11/14/2010
After finding out there was a shopping center less that a block from my hotel I was ecstatic! BUT after going there at 11.15am when they opened at 11am I was soooo disappointed to find that there is only one real store here. The rest are typical chain restaurants. LAME! The outer decor is nice though.
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Review from Carlos A.
Peoria, AZ
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place would just be OK if they didn't insult you by charging you to park just to try to give them some business. It's pretty dead, with lots of empty shops. You'd think they'd want to encourage more visitors. There are a couple of decent restaurants in the place, but nothing fantastic. Otherwise it's mostly overpriced trinket shops.
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Review from neil n.
Irvine, CA
1/23/2010
Needed a quick bite across the street after I landed at the Sheraton. In short, some interesting stores and restaurants all just thrown together. I think it could be so much more. A Subway, Pizzeria Uno, Hooters, and AMC then a NY & Co. My fiancee would like the latter, but I'm thinking "well what the..."
For quick food come here; and don't get me wrong, next time I might try the Uno, as I love the one in Chi-town. But I get this feeling it's not really a mall or a center and just a few places crammed together to make the tourists feel at home, but I didn't feel at home. This place was sooo empty!!! -
Review from Wesley H.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/16/2009
Arizona Center is a great IDEA, but a not so great reality. The tourist-y stores here selling "authentic" Arizona / Southwest merchandise are a joke. New York & Company is one of the few stores on the otherwise vacant second floor. (Which totally doesn't fit with the rest of the mall)
The design of the place is nice, and decent restaurants dot the complex. What really bumps this place form 2 to 3 stars are the beautiful gardens and fountains surrounding it. Oh, and AMC!
But Arizona Center will not prosper until Downtown Phoenix has a strong pedestrian crowd and a heavy use of the Light Rail. The location is fabulous, but it just doesn't work. -
Review from Adam P.
Phoenix, AZ
2/25/2009
Jeez, I didn't know this place was still alive until I moved back.
I think it's safe to say that this shopping center was a failed experiment in bringing people back to downtown. Sure, alot of people are slowly trickling back to the center of the city, but not as a result of this. The lifeblood of this place tends to be the suit types that swing in for happy hour at Hooters or other bars that think that interior design is bolting an rusty Route 66 sign to the wall.
If this place didn't have a movie theater, I'd brand this place with one star. -
Review from Moeymann J.
Sahuarita, AZ
7/12/2010
Sad...sad...sad....what happened, this place was once cool, I give it a few more months and it will be offices or ghostown, I think one the reasons people do not go there, paying for parking is just not cool anymore..it cost me $12 bucks..and when talked to the attendant just for an explanation...he acted like he just did not give a shit!! That will be my last time there, and as far as recommendations to friends and family...forget it!! Too quote a famous movie "Iceberg ahead!!"
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Review from Shanna P.
3/27/2008
Being a tourist (who usually hates touristy crap), I was actually really glad to accidently stumble across this place. I was able to eat (on Easter when it seemed the whole city was closed) and swing back by to find wonderful artisan-made gifts for my mom's 60th birthday and my dog-sitting friend (and a tiny pair of coral studs for myself). The landscaping was pretty, too, though the classical music blaring from speakers was odd. Maybe that (and the security guy on a motorized cart) was keeping the homeless and hookers away. I didn't see any--I hear that they hate classical.
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Review from Jay S.
5/27/2008
The lady at the Phoenix Visitors Center highly suggested we check this place out. They have a few of the basic stores you are likely to find in any mall, indoor our outside, within the US. They have a bunch of places that sell apparently artist-made gifts and clothing, but it is for the most part pretty kitschy (not in a good way though). They have a few restaurants including a Hooters. Overall, it seems it is nothing to write home about and certainly isn't a tourist destination.
Listed in: Phoenix Rocks!
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Review from Robert L.
Norman, OK
5/28/2009
This is a nice spot to go if you're in downtown, but I can't call it a destination. It offers several restaurant options, which I haven't tried (but some are on my to-do list) and some shopping. The majority of the shops are tourist-oriented, which makes sense considering the Sheraton, Hyatt and Convention Center are within a couple blocks. The theater is clean, and it's nice that it's less crowded than those in the suburban strip malls. It has nice landscaping and it's great to have green space downtown, considering Phoenix could use some open public space (plazas, parks, etc.) in this area. However, the park is a bit secluded within the Arizona Center, which makes it a bit less inviting, but there are waterfalls and shade that keep the outdoor temperatures cooler in that area. That being said, there isn't too much for local appeal and overall it's good as a stop if you're spending a lot of time downtown.
If you want to save on parking and don't mind the walking distance, there is a free lot on Central/McKinley northwest of the Arizona Center (and just northeast of the Westward Ho Building) ...that is, for now. It isn't a tremendous walking distance, however. -
Review from w w.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/23/2007
I give Arizona Center three stars because I used to work at a restaurant in it (cough, cough, Hooters) but if it wasn't for the memories, I would probably whack off a star, or maybe even two.
It's disappointing because Arizona Center has so much potential. If some new, good stores would move in, we would have another nice, outdoor shopping center that would attract more than bums and hookers.
But alas, we don't, so we're stuck with the bums that grab french fries off your plate if you eat outside at Hooters and ladies of the night that swipe tips left on tables.
Okay, maybe it's not always thaaat bad...Arizona Center does draw out of towners looking to purchase cactus magnets or kokopelli sweatshirts before heading to the airport since there is a plethora of souvenir shops there. And they also have an Uno's Pizzeria I believe and a movie theater. But it also gets pretty busy before Suns games (not anymore, sigh) or other sporting events going on in the area.
One bright spot is the rental of their grotto for a special outdoor event. The landscaping is beautiful, with trees, streams and flowers everywhere. And it's pretty reasonable considering the outrageous fees for renting nice venues in AZ. -
Review from Cass B.
Parker, CO
4/7/2009 1 photo
Growing up in Arizona I remember the days when this place had a lot going for it. Recently, I ventured back on a visit back home and was less then impressed. It would seem that whoever is managing this place now cares more about what the place looks like then whether or not there is actually anything worthy of shopping or eating at. The slide has been so bad here that I fear it will become a ghost town if the economy gets any worse. Before long it won't be worth the rent for the few retailers that are left occupying it. Shame...
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Review from jodie p.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2007
damn this place is dead... but cute i suppose!.. part of it at least. if i didn't go by myself, i'd have much more fun grabbing a beer at every place that had beer! well, what is it like 3 places? anyway, why does anyone come here unless they're me who is stranded downtown for the week on business?
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Review from madi d.
Chandler, AZ
1/1/2008
the arizona center is to phoenix as the galleria is to scottsdale. can you say white elephant?
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Review from Susan s.
Riverside, CA
5/19/2010
I was visiting AZ & was on my way back to Cali. I had not had bfast & it was closer to brunch than lunch so I stopped here. There are many stores, one which was truly unfriendly the Flag Store. The other places were nice. There was one called Oak Tree which had some nice things. Not too pricey, but not ghetto either. I ate at a Greek restaurant which had wonderful food. It was beyond good. The waiter was kindness & the atmosphere was just calm. If you want to get more than one thing done. I say try here. I was pleased.
