Sawgrass Mills: Southern Florida’s Premier Outlet Shopping Destination

By Lauren Tjaden

Luxury outlets! Deals! Restaurants! Movies!

With bragging rights as the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the United States, Sawgrass Mills, located in Sunrise, Fla., offers all of the above.

The mainstay of South Florida outlet shopping since it was built in 1990, this alligator-shaped mall encompasses more than 2.4 million square feet of space, brimming with more than 355 stores, including over 70 luxury outlets, and 16 restaurants. To get an idea of just how enormous this place is, it's bigger than the size of 41 football fields-- including the end zones.

Sawgrass Mills promises a vast array of brands, including Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Gap, plus value retailers OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Marshalls and electronics superstore BrandsMart USA.

The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills invites visitors to splurge, featuring more than 70 exclusive outlets found nowhere else in South Florida, including Burberry, Diane von Furstenberg, GUCCI, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo Company Store, Tory Burch and Versace.

Enclosed, air conditioned and climate-controlled, the mall is situated a mere 30 minutes from Miami International Airport and 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.  

It features daily deals, full-service restaurants as well as restaurant bars that are open late, a shuttle, strollers and wheelchairs, ATMs, valet parking, currency exchange stations, and a movie theater.

Here's more about the mall’s stores, its amenities, how to get there, and how to snag deals .

Stores

Girls, teens and tweens swoon over the cosmetics, accessories and even ear-piercing at Claire's; fashionistas adore the handbags at Tory Burch; and equestrians indulge on butter-soft leather boots at Ariat. There’s something for every shopper at Sawgrass Mills, whether it’s jewelry, electronics, sporting goods, beauty products, books, home accessories or toys. Check out all the stores at Sawgrass Mills here; you can filter the results by brand, store type, and product.

Deals and Steals

The discounts get even deeper when you check out the daily deals online at Sawgrass Mills. Typical offerings are buy one, get one half off, closeout sales, and store-wide discounts. You can also buy a coupon book from the mall, jam-packed with hundreds of dollars in offers from your favorite stores.

Dining

When you need to refuel, Sawgrass Mills is sure to deliver. The Rainforest Café serves up lush vegetation, tropical downpours, and trumpeting elephants along with their meals; Shake Shack is an all-American delight, with fare that includes burgers, hot dogs and frozen custard; and chic, ultramodern SushiGami offers beautifully presented sushi that glides throughout the dining area on a conveyor belt. Check out all the dining options at Sawgrass Mills; each listing has more information, a menu, and its location on a map.

Movies And Entertainment

The mall’s Regal Sawgrass & IMAX theatres offer an exciting variety of movies, including 2 and 3-D productions, flicks for the kids and films in Spanish. The movies have an evening adult accompaniment policy: viewers must be 17 or older with an ID, or be accompanied by someone 21 or over, seven days a week from 9:30 p.m. until close of business.

If you prefer to be part of the action, try The Escape Game Sunrise. They promise you’ll get your money back if you don’t love it, but with reviews that say things like ‘this place is 9000 stars out of five’ and ‘this place is the Disney World of Escape Games,’ it’s a safe bet that’s unlikely to happen. Offering five unique games for every skill level, each family-friendly option includes multiple rooms and can hold up to eight players. Larger groups can start their experience with up to 40 people at the same time.

Navigating the Mall

Sawgrass Mills is split into three sections. The sections include the main mall, which features four main "Avenues" as well as a "Fashion Avenue" subsection; "The Oasis at Sawgrass Mills", which is an open-air area centered around Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, and a Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store; and "The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills," a refined, exterior promenade packed with cutting-edge chic. You’ll find the “Town Center at Sawgrass Mills" situated next to the Colonnade Outlets, which features full-price retailers.

But just because it’s beyond huge doesn’t mean Sawgrass Mills isn’t user-friendly.

Here’s an online map of the mall that lets you scroll out and zoom in to figure out where your must-visit stores are located as well as the general layout. 

When you get to the mall, it’s not a bad idea to pick up a print map. They're available at numerous locations.

You can get personal help with Sawgrass Mills’ Ambassador Program, which provides concierge-level assistance throughout the property. This customer service program provides friendly, multilingual individuals in easily identifiable attire to assist you with directions to your favorite stores, make merchandise recommendations, offer tips on special deals of the day, assist with local transportation information and more. You can easily find an Ambassador: Visit About Sawgrass Mills then scroll down to Amenities, to View More Amenities and select Simon Guest Services and the + sign. 

And, there’s an app for all that. The Simon Mobile App can help you find your favorite stores, dining and entertainment options, as well as the latest deals, news and events available. Plus, you’ll enjoy features designed to enhance your shopping experience including mall maps, gift card balance check and more. Download the free app from your favorite app store.

Remember that comfy walking shoes are a must; you’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Strollers, Wheelchairs, Shopping Carts, Wi-Fi and Parking

Need a stroller? Check. Mom would be more comfortable with a wheelchair? Got it covered, they’re complimentary. Want a shopping cart for the day? No problem. Check out Sawgrass Mill’s Amenities, ranging from Wi-Fi to parking for expectant moms and more.

Getting There

If you’re driving, the mall is only 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and a little over half an hour from either the Palm Beaches or Miami. You can get driving directions here.

No car? No worries. You’ve got a ton of options for getting to the mall from both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, including Uber, buses, trains, limos, shuttles and more.

In fact, Sawgrass Mills boasts its own shuttle, GotoSawgrass, offering one way or round trips to the mall, including stops at Miami International Airport and hotels in Miami Beach in addition to downtown Miami.

When You Go...

Sawgrass Mills is located at 12801 West Sunrise Blvd in Sunrise, Fla.
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
For more information visit: Sawgrass Mills .

For where to stay and what to do in the area, visit Visit Lauderdale.