I consider myself a mall connoisseur. I grew up “mall walking” with my Grandma as a little kid (Orange Julius in hand), and spent most weekends as a teenager browsing the racks at Deb and Sears. My first job was even at my local mall - as a cashier at FYE - and boy, that 20% off employee discount perk really helped to boost my CD collection. 

 

That being said, as a self-imposed “expert” on malls, I know that Buffalo’s Walden Galleria is truly special. One of the biggest malls in the country, the “Galleria” (as born-and-raised Western New Yorkers call it) already has a huge array of places to spend your paycheck. Boasting high-end stores such as Lululemon, Anthropologie, and  Apple, as well as stand-by favorites like Macy’s and Old Navy - what more could you want as a Buffalo-area shopper?

Stores We Need In Walden Galleria

Well, in my opinion, even though it’s easy to spend an entire day shopping at the Galleria, there are a few places we wish we could give our hard-earned money to that we've seen at other malls across the country.

Von Maur

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Facebook via Von Maur/Canva
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When you walk into this high-end department store, you can’t help but feel classy. You can browse accessories, clothes, and footwear from high-end designers like Marc Jacobs and Free People while listening to a man in a suit playing classical piano. Even though Walden Galleria is one of the “fancier” malls in town, I’m surprised it doesn’t have this boushee staple.

CTS (formerly known as Christmas Tree Shop)

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“Don’t you just… love a bargain?” Man, that jingle really does get stuck in your head. Christmas Tree Shop (sorry - I’ll never bring myself to call it CTS) is the best place to save serious cash on home decor, kitchen supplies, and outdoor necessities. Really, everything you’d ever need is at this store, and at seriously low prices. Unfortunately, Christmas Tree Shops aren’t really common in shopping malls (one of their few mall locations is in the Albany area), but come on! Let’s change that!

Nordstrom Rack

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Considered an “outlet” to Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack is the place to save on designer duds at a deep discount. The Boulevard Mall has one - why can’t the Walden Galleria?

The Icing

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The “big sister” store of the younger-demo Claire’s Boutique, Icing is the one place to buy cheap, stylish earrings and necklaces as an adult without feeling like you walked into your niece’s JoJo Siwa-themed birthday party. McKinley Mall has one, but the Galleria is missing out. 

Ulta Beauty

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Megan Carter/Canva
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Sure, the Galleria mall has a good chunk of the cosmetics market covered with Sephora (one of my favorite places on earth to blow my paycheck), but even Sephora doesn’t carry some of the tried and true staples that beauty lovers are looking for. It’d be nice to be able to stock up at both stores during one trip to the mall. 

The Body Shop

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A slightly more expensive spin on Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop is the place to go for cruelty-free skincare, body washes, and haircare products without running into dozens of Karens fighting during a candle sale. Why doesn’t Walden Galleria have one?

L.L. Bean

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This outdoor lover's paradise is missing from the Galleria. L.L. Bean was THE place to go when I was a kid for our back-to-school backpacks and winter coats. Plus, even though LL Bean has tightened up on their return policy as of late, it’s still one of the best around. You have up to a year to return anything for a full refund - even if you’ve already worn it a bajillion times. And you can buy a freakin' kayak there! Amazing! 

Ethan Allen

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Facebook via Ethan Allen/Canva
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Do you have an unlimited budget and want your home to look like it came straight off of a Pinterest board? Ethan Allen is where you wanna go for high-quality, well-designed furniture. Even if you don’t have the cash to spend here, it’s a fun place to browse around for ideas. I’m surprised that a top-level mall like the Walden Galleria doesn’t have this store. 

Abercrombie & Fitch

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The place where the “cool kids” shopped in high school, Abercrombie has come into controversy the past few years after their former ads containing stick-thin models and buffed guys has come under fire. But I do miss smelling the store's cologne from all the way down the hall.

Orange Julius

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Facebook via Orange Julius/Canva
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Honestly, the closing of Orange Julius in the Walden Galleria hurts me to my core. A mall without an Orange Julius is an absolute travesty. Bring it back, Galleria! I need my sugary, brain-freeze-inducing Julius while I shop! 

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