4 Best Places to Shop in Paradise Road and the East Side, Las Vegas

Like many an indoor mall, Las Vegas's first (it opened in 1968) was in danger of becoming a "ghost mall" before new owners began a creative transformation. While some of the bygone anchor stores are now given over to non-retail clients (the old Sears is now a truck-driving school), some time-honored retail chain stores remain and are surrounded with more activity- and entertainment-oriented draws: a Galaxy cineplex with the city's largest indoor movie screen, a SeaQuest Aquarium, and Rex Center, a dinosaur-themed indoor amusement park with arcade games and bumper cars. The Mercado is a separately themed area styled like a street market, with dozens of vendors in small retail kiosks, and a food court with at least 10 south-of-the-border choices. It's worth winding through the Mercado, which has more food-truck style Mexican/Central American offerings.

So you had fun in Vegas but just can't leave town without that Wheaties box that had Brandi Chastain on the front? Or a statue of Pennywise from It? This sprawling consignment mall in the Southeast area where Las Vegas blends into Henderson has you covered. Five deep aisles with nearly 100 numbered booths keep you on the hunt for everything from Hummel figurines to collectible toys, vinyl albums, and casino memorabilia. Those who dig this kind of treasure hunting can also find it on the West side at the similar, but separately owned, Charleston Antiques Mall ( 560 S. Decatur Bvd.).

Las Vegas has its own branch of this small West Coast–centric chain, with a location in a strip mall near Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. It's the authority on premium sneakers and street wear, from retro Jordans to a pair of Bad Bunny–branded Adidas. Look for classic brands sitting next to limited-edition pieces, as well as Undefeated, their own label.

This store is for the music lover who enjoys shopping for movies and tunes the old-fashioned way—thumbing through physical copies of albums, CDs, and DVDs. As streaming pummels compact discs into extinction, Zia's vinyl selection has reemerged to claim at least an equal amount of floor space. With DVDs and Blu-rays also on life support, Zia—which bills itself as "The Last Record Store"—now devotes more of its huge floor to games, books, comics, T-shirts, and novelties; not unlike a bigger, hipper Spencer Gifts. The Phoenix-based enterprise has a second, more compact west Las Vegas location ( 1216 S. Rainbow Blvd.).