Bridge Street: from retail destination to experiential district
Huntsville’s Bridge Street Town Centre has rapidly evolved from a retail shopping destination into a truly experiential district. The recent addition of brands like LEGO, L.L. Bean, Warby Parker, Madewell, Crocs, Rowan, North Italia and an upscale Old Navy location reflect local consumer interest in diverse, premium shopping and dining destinations.
Bridge Street, acquired by Tanger Inc. in 2023, offers retail, dining, entertainment, hospitality and residential options across a wide variety of brands and experiences, in addition to 207,000 square feet of Class-A office space. In 2028, a planned AC Hotel will join the three existing hotels and Seleno luxury apartments on the property. These additions will expand the district feel, according to Ryan Ginty, General Manager of Bridge Street.
“The addition of the AC Hotel will further strengthen that district feel,” Ginty said. “Once it opens, Bridge Street will have 667 hotel rooms on property, with more than 1,000 rooms within a 1-mile radius.
“That makes the center increasingly well positioned to serve conferences, large meetings and business travelers, while giving those visitors a walkable mix of shopping, dining and entertainment right outside their hotel.”
In addition to the newly opened shops and restaurants, Bridge Street welcomed SafeSplash + SwimLabs, a year-round, all-ages facility offering swimming lessons, competitive swim training and more. The shopping center will welcome a Toys”R”Us Express this month. Shake Shack and Sweet Paris Crêperie locations will open soon.
“Ultimately, we want Bridge Street to feel like a true gathering place where guests can live, work, stay, play and connect with the community,” Ginty said.
Bridge Street’s close proximity to Cummings Research Park, Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville International Airport creates easy, all-day access to a wide variety of shoppers in and around the Huntsville metro area. Guests can visit for a short shopping trip, go bowling at Main Event or have dinner and a movie at the elevated Cinemark movie theater. The destination easily scales based on what kind of experience guests want on any given day.
Bibbit Mason, Senior Vice President of Leasing – Lifestyle Portfolio at Tanger, said Bridge Street aims to be “a destination that people incorporate into their regular routines, not just a place they visit occasionally.”
As Bridge Street continues to evolve over time, Ginty said retail will remain its foundation.
“We continue to see strong demand for quality brands, but guests increasingly want destinations that combine shopping with dining, entertainment and social experiences,” Ginty said. “That can mean discovering a new brand, meeting friends for dinner, bringing the family to an activity or spending an entire afternoon or evening on property.”
Serving the local community and welcoming newcomers alike
Ginty said Huntsville’s recent growth has created opportunities for Bridge Street to attract brands that may not otherwise have been accessible in previous years.
“People coming from larger markets often arrive familiar with a wide range of brands, restaurants and experiences, and that naturally raises expectations for what they want to have access to locally,” Ginty said.
At the same time, Ginty said it’s important to maintain a balance between reflecting Huntsville’s unique personality and welcoming new and exciting brands to the area.
“We want to preserve the unique quality of life and sense of community in Huntsville,” Ginty said. “Our role is to bring in new-to-market and in-demand concepts while continuing to strengthen the brands our guests already know and love, making sure Bridge Street reflects Huntsville and the people who live here. That balance is important as the city grows.”
Mason added, “People are moving to Huntsville because of what makes Huntsville unique. They are drawn to the quality of life, the sense of community, the innovation-driven economy, and the authentic character that has been thoughtfully cultivated over many years. The city offers something increasingly rare: tremendous growth balanced with a strong sense of identity.”
Mason said Tanger’s goal is to continue building on Huntsville’s identity while embracing growth opportunities as they come. This includes engaging in and serving the greater community beyond Bridge Street.
“Our on-site management team is woven into the fabric of the community and spends a significant amount of time supporting local organizations, engaging with community partners, and creating events and experiences that bring people together,” Mason said. “That commitment guides how we invest in the property, how we engage with our guests, and how we support the broader Huntsville community.”
Seasonal events transform Bridge Street into part of the experience
In addition to the variety of retail, dining, and experiential options available at Bridge Street, seasonal events and programming transform the district itself into part of the guest experience.
“What really helps make Bridge Street feel like a district is the combination of those uses with the experiences happening throughout the year,” Ginty said. “Our events and seasonal
programming give people reasons to gather here beyond a traditional shopping trip, and we are continuing to add concepts that fit naturally into everyday routines.”
In June 2026, the second annual Dad’s Day Out invited local families to fish in the lake and spend the day together. The following month, Bridge Street hosted a Back to School Bash that brought families together and featured a fireworks display over the lake.
On October 17, families enjoyed Halloween festivities at Nightmare on Bridge Street, and Paws for a Cause benefited the Liz Hurley Fund for local breast cancer patients and programs on October 25.
Bridge Street’s next seasonal experience is the Merry & Bright Night! tree lighting celebration presented by the University of North Alabama. The event begins on November 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
