More shops than you can slide a credit card at

The options for shopping continue to multiply in Huntington and the surrounding areas as both new and old shopping developments open new stores and restaurants.

On the riverfront in downtown Huntington along 3rd Avenue lies Pullman Square, the entertainment and retail complex that opened in November 2004. Tenants continue to open in the facility. Some of the latest stores, with the latest fashions, include Runway Couture, which offers dresses, and Heels, which is strictly shoes. Both were opened by the owner of Inspired, which sells trendy handbags and accessories. All three stores are neighbors at Pullman Square, and offer high-fashion items usually only found in big cities.

Other mainstays at Pullman Square include Empire Books & News, which has a selection of 6,000 magazines and 75,000 book titles. The square also is home to Game Stop, cosmetic store Merle Norman, a movie theater, Funny Bone comedy club and a Starbucks. For more information, visit www.pullman-square.com.

The Greater Huntington area has several other shopping plazas. The first and largest is the 150-plus store Huntington Mall in Barboursville, which has several department stores including Kauffman's, JCPenney, Macy's and Borders Books & Music. More retail surrounds the mall including Kohl's, a Wal-Mart Supercenter and Best Buy. For a complete list and hours, go to www.huntington-mall.com.

Not far from the Huntington Mall about two miles west off of U.S. 60 lies Merritt Creek Farm. Target, Marshall's and Home Depot all call Merritt Creek Farm home. There's also a Starbucks with a drive-thru. Merritt Creek Farm can also be accessed by taking the Merritts Creek Road exit off Interstate 64.

Even closer to Huntington, directly on U.S. 60, is a growing plaza known as River Place. The plaza currently holds more than 30 businesses with more on the way. At River Place, shoppers can find Goodwill, scrapbooking supply store the Scrapbook Page, as well as a host of restaurants and other stores.

Shopping in the Tri-State isn't limited to West Virginia. About a 30-minute drive from campus, the Ashland Town Center offers more than 70 stores including Profitts, JCPenney, maurices, Aeropostale and American Eagle. For a complete list and store hours, visit www.ashlandtowncenter.com or call 606-324-1100.

A growing number of shopping opportunities surrounds Marshall University's campus. Many long-time business owners also sell their wares in downtown Huntington. Some stores, such as department store Mack and Dave's and apparel store Wender's have operated 40 to 50 years. The Pet Palace, at 4th Avenue and 9th Street, greets shoppers with a royal purple awning and ushers them inside to find pet supplies, pet clothing, fresh-baked treats and some small pets, such as fish, hermit crabs, turtles, rabbits and a few puppies, along with grooming services.

Mug and Pia, located across from Pullman Square, specializes in gifts for any occasion and paper products including stationery, invitations and cards. The name is an acronym for "Most Unique Gifts and Paper Items Around." Call 304-525-7880.

Downtown also includes two sporting goods stores, Glenn's Sporting Goods and Dan's Sport Shop, jewelers and Magic Makers Costumes.

The area also provides a wealth of Wal-Mart Supercenters including one on U.S. 60 just outside Huntington city limits, another by the Huntington Mall on Melody T. Farms Road, one off of U.S. 52 in Burlington, Ohio across the river, one in Wayne, one in Cannonsburg, Ky., and one in Ashland.