Central Emporium

The Central Emporium is really a great summer shopping excursion, especially if you can go by boat and dock right on Lake Okoboji. Every year I make it a point of stopping at Kay‘s Beach Boutique to pick out a new swimsuit. They have the best selection and service you‘d be able to find anywhere. I also love stopping at the candy store for my old favorites as a kid. There is a great restaurant that overlooks the lake that has super food and a terrific view.

They have the best sales, Labor Day weekend!! 75 % off, you can‘t beat it.... I go every year. It‘s a cute place, lots of fun things to look at. Okoboji suveniors....

I love going there during the summer, and I always find a few Okoboji things, but if you want regular clothes, but suveniers... it‘s pretty expensive. I usuallly only end up getting ONE thing that doesn‘t say Okoboji... It‘s just too pricey!
However, I must say I love the atmosphere there! It‘s a little run-down, but I think that adds to its charm!
I love that I can just show up in my swimsuit and a teeshirt straight from skiing and nobody gives me weird looks! It‘s fun to shop around, and you‘ll always find a treasure!

I only give it a 3 because it‘s a little over-priced......

this is the best place ever...we come here a lot! its an awesome vacation attraction!!!!

Part of the charm of the Emporium is that it is old and in need of cosmetic changes. But if they did that it would be just another high end looking shopping mall that would scare off all the "normal" people. The way the Emporium is now, you can climb off the boat in your swimming suit, go shopping and not worry about who you run into looking the way you do!! It takes you back in time when you walk in the door. And yes, some things are pricey, but there is something for everyone. There are high priced shops and regular priced shops. If you walk away not being able to find something, then you are just too picky. The Emporium fits the nostalgic feel of the Lakes and like the other reviews, it keeps people wanting to come back year after year!!

i think this place is amazing! It is a short walk from our cabin and when i get into that place there is one major store that i want to visit....The Sugar Shack...its a great place for the whole family to come and enjoy their delicious candy.

You can never be too bored walking around in the Emporium. Our first stop of the summer is the Sugar Shack! After our vacation ends we stop back in at the Sugar Shack to satisfy our sweet tooth for a few more days after we arrive back home!

The Central Emporium is a hot spot in the summer. I have enjoyed going there because there is somthing for everyone. It has your Okoboji t-shirts in some of the shops but there is much more then that. A lot of the stores have summer clothing from Life is good to even Roxy. But the best shop there is the Sugar Shack you can get candy from now and when you were a kid. Over all if you make a trip to the Lakes you have to stop at the Central Emorium.

Great tourist attraction. Things are quite expensive, unless you come Labor Day weekend or the weekend before when they are about to close. There really is something for everyone. Being from the lakes area it‘s lost its amazingness over the years, but it‘s still fun to go look around.

What a great Lakes area place to shop! I wish it would have had more shops open after Labor Day but at least there a few and The Gardens (bar/grill located in CE basement) is open year-round.

I haven‘t been to Okoboji in years, but one day plan on getting back up there again!! I loved shopping at the Central Emporium for my annual tshirts! Ahh the memories!

The Sugar Shack in the Central Emporium is a must for kids of all ages! It‘s one of the highlights of Okoboji!

The Emporium has been around since I was little and I love it. I look forward to going there every time I visit the lakes area. The prices of items are outragous, but never stops me from buying my annual Okoboji Sweatshirt!!! Love the sugar shack! I love it!

I thought the Emporium was a very enjoyable shopping experience and it was fun to see all of the different shops

omg i have been going 2 the emporium 4ever and love it!!! the animal house is great!!!

The only place worth checking out is the Sugar Shack, which is too bad because its a cool place.

I love going to this place, its cool going to all the Neat shops!, so I hope this place doesnt Close down and turn into Condos, that be sad..

You just have to love the SUGAR SHACK in the Central Emporium! It takes you back in time (even though the prices are very much "today").

I have been going to the Emporium my whole life and agree with the comment: Most of the items are insanely over-priced!

The Central Emporium is a very enjoyable place to go with the family and just shop around! They have a lovely line of Okoboji clothing that I have been buying for a long time! I love it!!!

I have been coming to this mall since i was a little girl and everytime i come back to it i love it! its got a beautiful view of the lake and all of the shops are unique and so cute! My all time favorite is the Sugar Shack! I like that this place looks old because it gives it character!

Some nice unique shops, but I think half the stores sell only or mostly Okoboji merchandise. Also, most of the items are insanely over-priced.

Plenty of shops to get a t-shirt if you want one. The bathrooms need to be updated and the outside of the building is really sad--siding coming off, etc. You‘d think that this landmark that sees so much business would be taken care of.