If you’re living on the East side or coming in from Eagle River, Tikahtnu Commons at 1142 N Muldoon Rd is pretty much the center of the universe for shopping and hanging out. It’s not your typical indoor mall; it’s a massive, open-air shopping center that feels huge because, well, it is. It’s owned by Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), and they did a great job making it feel like a modern part of Anchorage with plenty of mountain views while you’re walking from store to store.
The best thing about Tikahtnu is that it has all the "big hitters" in one spot so you don’t have to drive all over town. You’ve got Target, Kohl’s, and Best Buy for your regular errands, but it’s also home to the massive Bass Pro Shops, which is basically a tourist attraction on its own with the giant fish tank and taxidermy. If you’re a movie buff, the Regal Tikahtnu is arguably the best theater in the city—it’s got the IMAX screen and those recliner seats that make it really hard to go back to a regular theater.
When it comes to food, this place is a goldmine. You can grab something quick at Raising Cane’s (prepare for a line, it’s popular!) or sit down for a real meal at Red Robin, Olive Garden, or Texas Roadhouse. There are also some great smaller spots like Firetap Alehouse if you want a local brew and some wood-fired pizza. Because everything is spread out, there’s usually plenty of parking, though it can get a little wild near the Target entrance on a Saturday afternoon.
The "village" layout makes it a nice place to walk around when the weather is decent, and they usually have some cool Alaskan touches, like the native-inspired architecture and landscaping. It’s also super convenient for military families since it’s right outside the Glenn Highway gate for JBER. Most of the big retail stores are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, though the restaurants and the movie theater usually stay open much later.
