Shopping Mall Supremacy

Picking which shopping mall is best for your Smoky Mountain shopping spree

I remember when Red Roof was king. When It came to outlet shopping in the mountains, it started and ended with the Red Roof Outlet Mall. A wide variety of outlet shops, food and more spread over multiple levels in the heart of Pigeon Forge, it was glorious.

But the king got usurped. Newer, better organized outlets cam along and when the Tanger Outlet opened in 1997, the Red Roof had already begun its fall.

In recent years, after a fire and multiple failures, the Red Roof location had fallen into such disrepair, driving past it was depressing. The good news is the site has been demolished, making way for something new and better.

But the shopping scene has continued unabated with the aforementioned Tanger Outlets – which are undergoing renovations – still thriving and the upstart Mountain Mile, challenging Tanger for the throne.

Which is better? Tanger has been the new king for decades, but has been showing signs of decline in recent years. Mountain Mile is a hodgepodge of interesting shops, restaurants, and things to do that hasn’t coalesced into a larger or better one. 

The argument for Tanger

Size. Location. Variety. Tanger has been the gold standard of outlet shopping in the region for a reasons. You have higher end options like Coach, Michale Kors and Ralph Lauren and slightly less upscale brands like Kate Spade New York as well as popular options like Hey Dude, Huk, and Lululemon. There’s athletic outlets for New Balance, Nike, adidas, Under Armour, North Face and Reebok as well as jewelry, cosmetics, boots, sunglasses and a lot more.

There are multiple places to buy moonshine and other local distilled alcohols and restaurants. The list includes the excellent Chop House, the usually very good Jct. 35 and the you-know-what-you’re getting Joe’s Crab Shack. Snack options include candies and fudge, Starbucks and Ben and Jerry’s. I know what you’re thinking and yes, there is a Beef Jerky Outlet as well.

If you want to keep the family entertained while you do your shopping. Ripley’s Old McDonald mini-golf has three courses and is one of the better putt-putt options around. They also have a good arcade. Also on the property is Experia: Ocean Journey which is billed as the Smokies only animated Ocean sensory adventure. For $25 for adults and $19.99 for kids, you can virtually explore the mysteries of the ocean using the “latest in digital media, animation, and audio technology.”

The argument against Tanger

It starts with parking. During peak times parking at the outlets is a nightmare. In addition, in an attempt to get in as many spots as they could, they didn’t make the rows wide enough and you can get caught trying to move from a side row to the main road for a long time as traffic sits at a standstill.

Also, while it seems like there’s plenty of variety, it IS a lot of clothing brands. If you’re not looking for clothes, shoes or purses, there’s a lot of shops you’ll have to just walk on by. If you’re taking the family, you could, in the past, bribe them into some patience by dangling a visit to the toy store or some other outlet that kept their attention. Now, even the Disney Store is a shadow of its former self.

Some of that is the current business climate which has claimed some of our favorites like Harry and David’s which was a staple for holiday shopping. But some of that is just the business.

The argument for the Mountain Mile

It’s more family friendly; The Mountain Mile has a nice wide space where family members can relax, play games or ride a small train. It’s not exactly a park, but it’s an open area where family members not interested in certain shops can do things other than wait patiently. In addition, the Mile’s eclectic collection of shops – including many more mom-and-pop style shops does include a toy store and Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, which has duckpin bowling and an arcade. There’s an Escape Room and Scooby Doo Mystery Putt is set to open in the fall of 2025.

Add in the Mountain Monster and the mile is much more complete destination. It feels much more like an event destination than a commando shopping mission. The shops are varied though there is a little overlap with a Junction 35, Pandora, and a Nike Outlet in both Tanger and Mountain Mile.

There’s a DXL store for Big & Tall men as well as a Beall’s and the classic Old Time Pottery. Popular stores include Carhartt, REI Co-op camping store and the Black Rifle Coffee Company. There are a couple of boutiques, a Sports Autographs place and western wear and cast-iron cooking options.

In addition to the already mentioned restaurants, there’s the terrific Azul’s Mexican Cantina and a variety of snack, pastry, and candy shops. Overall, it is much more of an authentic mountain experience than the variety of national retailers at the Tanger outlet.

The argument against the Mountain Mile

It’s significantly smaller with a lot less shops. There’s nothing on the upscale end and a large part of Outlet shopping is being able to score something on a ridiculously good deal. I once found a leather jack at Wilson’s in Tanger on a 90% markdown. I celebrated that purchase for years. While there is some outlet shopping at the Mountain Mile, it is not outlet shopping in and of itself. It’s more of a collection of shops and restaurants. And while I said there are too many clothing shops at Tanger, I fear Mountain Mile doesn’t have enough. You need a good balance, and balance is one of the qualities the mile lacks.

The decision

Ultimately, it depends on what you want. If I’m specifically going to shop – back to school, Black Friday, that kind of thing – I’m going to the Tanger Outlets. If we’re just going to hang out, do a little shopping and see where the day takes us? I prefer Mountain Mile. That faux park, spacious area really helps keep you from feeling trapped in a retail nightmare.

Maybe the best news is you don’t have to really decide. They’re only a couple of miles apart on the parkway and less than that as the crow flies. If you can find parking at Tanger, it’s fairly easy to do both in a single day.

Where do you shop in the Smokies? Let us know in the comments!