6 Best Shopping in North Austin, Austin

More than 45 vendors spread out over nearly 11,000 square feet here. Lose yourself in the vintage linens, lunchboxes, posters and postcards, and sparkling rhinestone jewelry scattered among the antique chests of drawers, cabinets, and tables.

This upscale, foodie-friendly offshoot of the giant Texas-based H-E-B supermarket chain is a few years older than its competitor, Whole Foods, down Lamar Boulevard but no less popular (expect big weekend crowds). It's equally serious about the cheeses, wine, beer, meat, and deli products it purveys, but compared to Whole Foods it seems more like a place real people go to shop (rather than gawk). It's a great spot to grab prepared foods on the run or join the weekday lunch crowds at the in-house café, where an outdoor patio pleases kids and where bands play on Friday and Saturday evening. The market is in a shopping center that also houses some chic boutiques and gift shops.

Make-believe has never seemed as real as it does in this hometown toy store. Imaginations ignite amid shelves of dump trucks and rainbow-bright kites, pretty pink castles and music sets, and an unreal amount of children’s books. Nostalgic adults will love the selection of novelty candy: Razzles, Smarties, and Pop Rocks instantly bring to mind sunny summer childhood days. The staff is full of kids at heart, who are helpful and knowledgeable about the store’s inventory and who are always ready to make suggestions or, if you twist their arm, play for a while.

This modern, 750,000-square-foot open-air mall is almost completely occupied by Asian businesses (mainly Chinese and Vietnamese), including restaurants, a travel agency, and retail outlets selling clothing, jewelry, and videos. The mall's cornerstone is the 55,000-square-foot MT (My Thanh) Supermarket, which stocks all manner of Asian foods and related items. Dining standouts include First Chinese BBQ and Pho Saigon; though a bit short on atmosphere, both eateries deliver well-prepared, simply presented lunch plates and noodle-based soups at easy-to-digest prices. The center is open daily, but some stores close one day a week.

Run by Project Transitions (an organization providing hospice, housing, and support for HIV/AIDS patients) as a funding source, this large store is fun and funky as all thrift shops should be. Go for posters, vintage costume jewelry, bric-a-brac, and even used computer and stereo components. The selection is in a state of constant flux, and, as you'd expect, everything is dirt-cheap.