Pelican Place at Craft Farms

Pelican Place at Craft Farms is one of the newer shopping centers on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Located only four miles from the beach on Highway 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway), the shopping center has a diverse and wide array of specialty shops, big box chain store stores, dining establishments and a movie theater. This is a good place to spend a rainy afternoon during the summer or a cold day during the winter-- or if you like to shop, it's just a good place to spend some quality time. I can say this because I hate to shop and there's enough here to entertain me while my wife does her shopping. We're both happy.




The center has a modern design that makes parking convenient to the business that you plan to shop first. Each time that we have been to Pelican Place, there wasn't a lot of "parking lot walking" involved (that's one reason why many malls are suffering today).




Unless I'm hungry, my first stop is Books-A-Million. Most people who vacation here are familiar with this book store chain. For those who aren't, it has books, books, and more books. I'm not sure if has a million of them-- I sure wouldn't want to count them! Even though I buy a discount card every year that saves me 10% off anything in the store, I usually just buy a cup of coffee at their Joe Muggs Café and pick a few books to read while I'm enjoying the coffee (which is very good). The markup on coffee is probably more than it is on the average book or magazine so they probably don't care.




Another favorite stop at Pelican Place at Craft Farms is Sweetie Pies. Even though the bakery is new to this center, it has been in business for about twenty years. It was formerly in a street location on Highway 59 in Foley. No doubt it moved for more exposure, as more competition moved in closer to where most of the people are (the beach). They specialize in pies (whole or by the slice), but you can get just about any dessert that you can imagine here. You can take it out of dine in. The shop is very clean and attractive and the seating is comfortable.




Other places to get a quick snack or a full meal are Kitt's Kafe, Island Oasis, Stone Cold Creamery, Elli Bistro, Papa's Pizza, Mikato Japanese Steakhouse, Coffee Heads, Subway, and Longhorn Steak House. If you enjoy a cigar after a meal, there is even a cigar bar in the center called The Dunes.




One of the most popular spots in this center is the Cobb Pinnacle 14 Theaters. This Cobb location has stadium high-back rockers and an extensive food menu.




Also at Pelican Place at Craft Farms is a GameStop store where you can rent games to take back to the beach. If you want to take a computer back home with you or need an accessory for your Apple, there is a Mac N More Apple Specialist store.

You can also pick up computer games and supplies or buy a dvd at the big Target. Target is also a good place to pick up beach supplies and snacks for the beach or your lodging.




Another large store at this center is Bed, Bath, & Beyond. This store is a favorite of locals and those who own vacation property here.

A favorite specialty shop of University of Alabama fans is Bama Fever. The owner of this business is sure to love a season like the last one, where the Alabama football team won the National Championship.




If you enjoy surfing or skating you will probably want to visit Inner Light Surf and Skate. There, you can do just about everything related to those two sporting activities. If you had rather just lie on the beach or fish, shop for sunglasses at Sun Rays Sunglass Center.

Other shops in the center include Beach House Boutique, Maurices, Paisley Jane's, Hibbett Sports, Little Monkey Toes, and Hooch's Mama.