Westfield Countryside - Clearwater, Florida - Updates to Clearwater Shopping Mall Make for Family Friendly Place

Westfield Countryside in Clearwater, Florida will be undergoing a major $12 million renovation that is due to be done in November 2009. The changes will bring a lighter, brighter atmosphere with new flooring, a remodeled food court, and newly relocated escalators. There will be a new kid's area that is ocean-themed, and a special children's dining area. Guests will notice an abundance of comfortable seating throughout the mall.

The mall is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 to 8:30, Saturday 10-9, and Sunday 12-6. Located at 27001 US Highway 19 North, the mall is located in a commercial district of Clearwater with a number of retail options along Highway 19.

The mall features anchor stores such as Dillard's, JCPenny, Macy's, and Sears. There is also a Build-A-Bear store where children can choose and create their very own themed teddy bear. E-Z Cooking features a variety of home goods and furnishings, and is one of many options in the mall for home goods. Try Global Textile and Oriental Deco for a variety of gifts and home furnishings that are sure to be stylish and unique. For women's fashions, choose from The Buckle, Cache, and Ann Taylor Loft. If your sweet tooth gets the best of you, head over to Morrow's Fine Candy and Nuts, or Dunkin Donuts, located right in the mall.

Those finding themselves hungry after a day of shopping can choose from restaurants such as Ruby Tuesday and TooJay's Gourmet Deli. TooJay's is a deli that is unique to Florida, specializing in overstuffed deli sandwiches like corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, and turkey. They offer a selection of heart healthy choices such as a roasted vegetable wrap and a veggie pita pocket. Save room for their famous chocolate cake, The Killer. It is made from a secret recipe that includes four types of chocolate.

The food court features a variety of typical mall fare, including Wendy's, Chik-Fil-A, and Cajun Cafe. More unique choices include Ruby Thai, Sarku Japan, and China Max. Great American Cookie and Haagen Daas are both great choices for ending your meal with something sweet. All food court options are reasonably priced, and there is seating available near the restaurants. When visitors need that extra pick me up, they can head to Westfield Counryside's very own Starbucks.

The mall offers Westfield Gift cards in denominations as low as $20. The cards are good at any Westfield shopping location. Westfield Countryside's Think Green program helps retailers focus on using environmentally conscious methods of marketing and servicing their customers. Those choosing to join the mailing list on the website will receive a chance to win a $1,000 gift card for the mall.

The mall is described by visitors as teen oriented, and they point out that the presence of an ice rink in the center of the mall appeals to the under 18 age group. The Tampa Bay Skating Academy is located in the center of the mall, between Macy's and Dillard's. There are over 160 stores at Westfield Countryside.