One-Stop Shop

Dallas' open-air Plaza at Preston Center freshens up shopping + dining

There's still always a reason for a new outfit.

The Plaza at Preston Center/Facebook

For many Dallasites, a visit to The Plaza at Preston Center is an all-day affair. The open-air shopping center has long been a fixture for fashionistas and foodies, providing high-end brands, carefully curated boutiques, and some of the most beloved restaurants in the area.

In the time of coronavirus, the fresh air is especially enticing for those looking to practice social distancing while they browse. Instead of fighting your way through a crowded mall, you can pull right up to your favorite store (and discover a few new favorites as you walk around).

One of the luxe offerings includes uncovering sparkly jewels at Ylang 23, Kendra Scott, Castle Gap, Bachendorf's, and Matthew Trent. Breathe in the sweet scents of blossoming flowers at Apples to Zinnias, and cradle a candle or two on the way home from Society or the perfect gift from Swoozie's.

Your furry friends also get a treat with Lucky Dog Barkery, which stocks only the highest quality of food and snacks, leashes and collars, dog beds, and toys.

Pick out a new ensemble or two at Betty Reiter, Mal Malouf, Tootsies, Sofie Grey, Double R, Mel Crews, Ruti, Carla Martinengo Boutique, or J. McLaughlin. For a glamorous look, Nardos has evening dresses, cocktail attire, and even couture bridal gowns.

To complete the look, get your makeup touched up at Benefit Cosmetics, your hair styled at Eighty Three O Eight Salon, or find your new favorite shade as Cos Bar.

Men aren't left out either, with Pockets and Jos. A Bank providing sharp suits and suave date-night looks. For the weekends, Orvis can outfit every hiker, camper, or adventurer, and New Balance is ready to keep runners going.

Speaking of adventure, one day we'll all be jet-setting again and you'll appreciate having new luggage from Bag'n Baggage. When you return home, sink into a Tempur-Pedic bed that you previously tried out in the store.

Convenience reigns at The Plaza at Preston Center, with Bibbentuckers dry cleaning, E*Trade Financial, Fidelity Investments, Occhiali Modern Optics, and Tom Thumb taking care of life's necessities.

When you're feeling hungry or ready to cap off a day of shopping with a cocktail or two, an array of restaurant patios await.

From the innovative cuisine of R+D Kitchen to the sophistication of Hillstone, the health-focused True Food Kitchen and Nekter Juice Bar to the romance of Il Bracco, and the comfort of Corner Bakery Cafe to the spice of Muchacho, your options are seemingly endless. For dessert, don't bypass Sprinkles for cupcakes and ice cream, and grab a bottle or two of vino to-go at Trova Wine + Market.

It's all in one place, with the added bonus of sunny skies and gentle breezes while you shop and dine. It doesn't get much better than that.

promoted shopping

Holiday shopping

New giant Quge-tip from Dallas-based Q-tip sells out in 24 hours

Q-Tip

Q-tip's Quge-tip

A giant version of an everyday product has sold out in 24 hours: Called the Quge-tip, it's a 6-foot version of the iconic Q-tip, the beauty staple that's been around for more than a century.

Measuring nearly six feet from tip to tip, Quge-tips feature enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design.

The Quge-tip was released on December 9 and sold exclusively online in limited quantities for $35. Alas, according to a spokesperson for Dallas-based Elida Beauty, the parent company of Q-tip, the product flew off the virtual shelf.

"Now that they’re sold out, Q-tips is surprising fans with social giveaways," the spokesperson says.

The Quge-tip is one of two products just released by Dallas companies — both of which feel like they could be April Fools Day jokes — except that both are for real.

Dave & Buster's Claw PurseD&B

Dave & Buster's Claw Purse
The Dallas-based eatertainment chain is leveling up holiday gifting with the debut of the Claw Purse, a limited-edition purse designed by Chain. The Claw Purse is inspired by one of the brand's most iconic games — the claw machine — and according to a release, is "the season's most unexpected fashion statement" for anyone who loves bold style, nostalgia, and a little bit of play.

To mark a milestone for the brand, the Claw Purse launches alongside the expansion of Dave & Buster's Human Crane, a viral, full-body game experience that turns guests into the claw — where they are lowered down into a bin of huge prizes to grab whatever they choose.

Beginning in December 2025, the Human Crane will appear in over 112 Dave & Buster's locations with additional stores rolling out nationwide throughout the season.

But back to the purse: It made its debut at Chain's Holiday House, an event at the company's HQ in L.A., where "it quickly became a crowd favorite among creators, stylists, and culture icons," or so says the release. Which also calls this "the first creative collaboration" between Dave & Buster's and Chain, bringing together Dave & Buster's beloved gameplay with Chain's signature culture-forward point of view. So maybe there will be more collaborations in the future.

Q-tip's Qugetip Q-tip's Quge-tipQ-tip

Q-tips Quge-tips
The Quge-tip is a nearly six-foot supersized version of the "iconic" Q-tip cotton swab, first invented in 1923 and the go-to for beauty, baby care, first aid, cleaning, and everyday moments that call for a gentle, precise touch.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale, designed as a playful, oversized tribute.

The release nots that Quge-tips tap into a rising trend of consumers using Q-tips swabs for alternative tasks, which now make up a meaningful share of cotton swab use: From dusting high shelves and cleaning hard-to-reach corners to large-scale art projects.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale.

The company insists it's a real thing — they do a very funny video mocking late-night ads for cheap products — and that after debuting at qugetips.com on December 9, they sold out of their initial run. One note: They do not reveal how many Quge-tips were sold. It could just be, like 10 that were for sale.

There's a chance they'll be doing another issue, and they encourage interested shoppers to diligently follow their social media.

openings