Best Places to Shop in Redwood City, CA: 2026 Guide
Redwood City Shopping -- The Short Answer
The 5 Best Places to Shop in Redwood City, CA
Best for Boutiques
Downtown Broadway -- Madison Ave, Pickled Clothing
Best for Sporting Goods
Peninsula Boardwalk -- Sports Basement at 202 Walnut St
Best for Everyday Errands
Woodside Central -- Target, Marshalls at Woodside and Middlefield
Best for Luxury
Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto -- 10 min from Redwood City
Best for Specialty
Town and Country Village, Palo Alto -- Trader Joe's, Serena and Lily
Downtown Location
Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
Redwood City's primary shopping destinations range from the walkable boutique corridor on Broadway in Downtown to the Peninsula Boardwalk shopping center near Highway 101, and Woodside Central at Woodside and Middlefield Roads for big-box convenience. For luxury retail, Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto is approximately 10 minutes away and is the closest open-air luxury mall to Redwood City on the Peninsula.
Considering a move to Redwood City?
Redwood City combines an active downtown with Peninsula access -- and real estate prices below Palo Alto
The Doran Team works with buyers who want walkable downtown access, strong schools, and proximity to the South Bay and San Francisco -- at a price point that Palo Alto and Menlo Park no longer offer. If Redwood City is on your list, reach out before the right home goes pending.
Redwood City Shopping -- At a Glance
All five destinations with location, anchor stores, and best use case
| Destination | Location | Anchor Stores | Format | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Broadway | Broadway St, Redwood City 94063 | Madison Ave, Pickled Clothing, independent boutiques | Walkable street retail | Boutique fashion, local shops, dining alongside shopping |
| Peninsula Boardwalk | Near Hwy 101, Redwood City | Sports Basement (202 Walnut St), Sephora, Game Kastle | Strip shopping center | Sporting goods, beauty, hobby and gaming supplies |
| Woodside Central | Woodside Rd at Middlefield Rd | Target, Marshalls | Neighborhood shopping center | Everyday essentials, groceries, home goods in one trip |
| Stanford Shopping Center | 660 Stanford Shopping Ctr, Palo Alto | Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany | Open-air luxury mall | Designer fashion, luxury gifts, upscale dining |
| Town and Country Village | 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto | Trader Joe's, Serena and Lily, Sur La Table | Neighborhood village center | Grocery, specialty home goods, culinary supplies |
Sources: Merchant websites and city business listings: addresses and anchor store confirmation 2026
Redwood City's shopping scene blends walkable downtown boutiques with freeway-adjacent shopping centers and proximity to Palo Alto's luxury retail corridor -- all within a 10 to 15 minute drive of most Redwood City neighborhoods. The downtown Broadway corridor is the most distinctive local option, while Peninsula Boardwalk and Woodside Central handle practical everyday needs. For Peninsula residents who want luxury retail without driving to San Francisco, Stanford Shopping Center fills that gap.
1. Downtown Redwood City: The Heart of Shopping
Walkable boutique retail anchored by Courthouse Square
Downtown Redwood City's Broadway corridor is the most walkable shopping experience in the city -- a pedestrian-friendly stretch with independent boutiques, restaurants, wine bars, and specialty retailers anchored by the historic Courthouse Square at the intersection of Broadway and Middlefield Road. The area draws both locals running errands and visitors exploring the Peninsula, and it has attracted new independent retail over the past several years as the downtown dining scene has matured.
Madison Ave is a women's apparel boutique offering a carefully curated mix of contemporary and classic pieces -- dresses, tops, accessories, and seasonal collections that skew toward Peninsula buyers looking for something beyond the standard mall offering.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM (closed Sunday and Monday)
Address: 2046 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Format: Independent women's boutique
Pickled Clothing offers trendy apparel and accessories at accessible price points -- frequent new arrivals keep the inventory fresh, and the store has developed a loyal local following for its mix of casual and occasion-ready pieces.
Hours: Daily, 11 AM to 6 PM
Address: 2636 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Format: Independent women's boutique, accessible price points
2. Peninsula Boardwalk: Sporting Goods and Specialty Retail
The go-to for active lifestyle, beauty, and hobby shopping
Peninsula Boardwalk is a strip shopping center situated near Highway 101 with ample surface parking -- the practical choice when you need specific category retail without navigating a full mall environment. It draws a mix of commuters, families, and enthusiasts for its anchor stores.
Sports Basement at 202 Walnut Street is the standout anchor -- a Bay Area-based sporting goods retailer stocking cycling, running, camping, skiing, and team sports gear alongside apparel and footwear. Unlike national chain sporting goods stores, Sports Basement carries a curated selection weighted toward actual outdoor and endurance sports use, and staff are typically participants in the sports they advise on.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 8 PM
Address: 202 Walnut Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
Format: Bay Area sporting goods chain; running, cycling, camping, ski specialties
Sephora at Peninsula Boardwalk covers the full beauty spectrum -- makeup, skincare, fragrance, and haircare from both established and emerging brands, with in-store beauty advisors and a try-before-you-buy format.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM; Sunday, 11 AM to 6 PM
Address: Peninsula Boardwalk, Redwood City (verify current suite number on Sephora.com)
Format: National beauty retail chain
Game Kastle is a specialty game store stocking board games, trading card games, miniatures, and hobby supplies. Beyond retail it functions as a community space with regularly scheduled tournaments, casual play nights, and organized leagues.
Hours: Daily, 11 AM to 9 PM
Address: Peninsula Boardwalk, Redwood City (verify current suite on gamekastle.com)
Format: Specialty hobby and game retailer with event programming
3. Woodside Central: Everyday Convenience
Big-box retail and essential services in one stop
Woodside Central at the corner of Woodside Road and Middlefield Road is the practical workhorse of Redwood City shopping -- a neighborhood shopping center designed for efficiency rather than experience. It handles the full range of weekly household needs without requiring a freeway trip.
Target and Marshalls are the primary anchors -- covering groceries and household staples at Target and discounted clothing, home goods, and seasonal items at Marshalls. The center also includes beauty supply stores, salons, and quick-service dining.
Target Hours: Daily, 8 AM to 10 PM
Marshalls Hours: Daily, 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Address: Woodside Road at Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA
Format: Neighborhood shopping center with surface parking
4. Stanford Shopping Center: Luxury and Elegance
The Peninsula's open-air luxury mall -- 10 minutes from Redwood City
Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto is the closest luxury retail destination to Redwood City on the Mid-Peninsula -- a 1.4 million square foot open-air mall adjacent to the Stanford University campus. The center's landscaping, sculpture installations, and outdoor dining create an environment closer to a curated outdoor destination than a conventional mall. It is the default answer for Peninsula residents seeking designer retail without driving to San Francisco.
Luxury anchors include Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Tiffany and Co., Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale's. Dining options include Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and the RH Rooftop Restaurant.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM; Sunday, 11 AM to 6 PM (anchor stores may vary)
Address: 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Distance from Redwood City: Approximately 7 miles south via El Camino Real or 101 -- roughly 10 to 15 minutes
Format: Open-air luxury mall, 1.4 million sq ft, valet and garage parking available
5. Town and Country Village: Specialty and Community
Trader Joe's, Serena and Lily, and culinary retail in an open-air village format
Town and Country Village at 855 El Camino Real in Palo Alto is a lower-key complement to Stanford Shopping Center -- a neighborhood-scale open-air center directly across from Stanford University with a mix of specialty retail, services, and dining. Its character is relaxed and community-oriented rather than destination luxury.
Trader Joe's is the primary traffic driver -- the organic grocery and specialty foods destination that draws Peninsula shoppers from multiple zip codes. Serena and Lily offers California-casual furniture, bedding, and home accessories that are a practical step below Restoration Hardware in price while maintaining a high design standard. Sur La Table rounds out the specialty offering with cookware, kitchen tools, and cooking classes.
Village Hours: Daily, 10 AM to 7 PM (individual tenants vary)
Trader Joe's Hours: Daily, 8 AM to 9 PM
Address: 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Distance from Redwood City: Approximately 8 miles south via El Camino Real -- roughly 15 minutes
Format: Neighborhood open-air village center; street-level parking
Frequently Asked Questions About Shopping in Redwood City
The best shopping in Redwood City depends on what you are looking for. For local boutiques and walkable street retail, Downtown Broadway is the primary destination -- anchored by independent women's fashion stores and surrounded by restaurants. For sporting goods, Sports Basement at 202 Walnut Street in the Peninsula Boardwalk area is the standout option. For everyday big-box convenience, Woodside Central at Woodside Road and Middlefield Road has Target and Marshalls. For luxury retail, Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto is approximately 10 minutes away.
Redwood City does not have a traditional enclosed shopping mall. The primary shopping options are Downtown Broadway (walkable street retail), Peninsula Boardwalk (a strip shopping center near Highway 101), and Woodside Central (a neighborhood shopping center at Woodside Road and Middlefield Road). The nearest full-scale mall is Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, approximately 7 miles south -- an open-air luxury mall with Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and major designer brands.
Redwood City has a limited selection of dedicated furniture stores. For high-design home furnishings, Serena and Lily at Town and Country Village in Palo Alto (855 El Camino Real) is the closest quality option -- approximately 15 minutes away. Stanford Shopping Center also has home furnishing options within its luxury retail mix. For larger furniture chains, the nearest concentrations are in San Mateo to the north or Santa Clara to the south.
The main shopping centers in Redwood City are Peninsula Boardwalk (near Highway 101, anchored by Sports Basement and Sephora) and Woodside Central (at Woodside Road and Middlefield Road, anchored by Target and Marshalls). Downtown Broadway functions as a walkable retail district rather than a formal shopping center. For a larger shopping center experience, Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto is the closest option at approximately 7 miles south.
Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto at 660 Stanford Shopping Center Road is the closest luxury retail destination to Redwood City -- approximately 7 miles south and 10 to 15 minutes by car. It is an open-air mall anchored by Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's with luxury brand boutiques including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Tiffany and Co., and multiple designer fashion labels.
Drew Doran -- Redwood City and Peninsula Real Estate
Thinking About Living in Redwood City?
From the walkable downtown to Sports Basement and easy Peninsula access, Redwood City offers a quality of life that is difficult to match at its price point. The Doran Team helps buyers find homes in the neighborhoods closest to the amenities that matter most to them.
