Reading, PA Outlets

[RUDisney]

If anyone knows about these outlets... what happened to them? I was on the road yesterday... headed for Elizabethtown to meet my newest nephew when my sister called... stressing that she was taking her son home... he isn't nursing well... the dog has to meet their new addition... etc., and asked if I could come next week instead. Of course, I understood and since I'd traveled about an hour already, I decided to go to the outlets. Went to Vanity Fair first. That was the same as usual, BUT then I wanted to go to Moss Street to go to the Gap Outlet and Polo, etc. They were CLOSED. Plus Polo wasn't there anymore. Now, granted, I haven't been to the Reading outlets in many years, but since when are they closed on Sundays, and how come so many closed?

I guess next time, I'll continue to the Hershey outlets, or Lancaster outlets, or go to Tannersville.

 

[LtlTee]

I haven't been to the Reading outlets for probably 3 years or so, but was just thinking about going. Now I think I'll just skip it! I love the Crossings in Tannersville. It's a very pretty area, too.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

We hit the outlets every year, but usually go in December. At least for the holiday season, they've got Sunday hours. I don't recall ever hitting the Polo store, so I can't comment on that. See these links for the two big outlet malls, plus the local chamber's store list. Hope it helps!


http://www.outletsonline.com/roc/
http://www.vffo.com/
http://www.readingberkspa.com/shopping/index.asp

 

[RUDisney]

Thanks for the links, Pat. It confirms what I thought. Most of the stores that I used to shop in on Moss/Douglas Streets aren't there anymore. These were real outlet stores for Polo, Bass, Liz Claiborne and Gap. You could get super deals.

It says they were open until 5:00 yesterday, but really, it was like a ghost town around these stores. It's too bad, really. Lancaster is a little further for me, but I guess that's where the best sales are nowadays. Especially the Pfaltzgraft outlet in Rockvale. Hmm, maybe that's where we'll go next week after we meet Fritz.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Just an FYI if you're ever in North Central PA....

I find outlet shopping about as much fun as shaving with a rusty butter knife, that's more Amy's thing. But something I've really enjoyed since we discovered it six years ago is the Woolrich Outlet. For winter wear, especially coats, Woolrich is a great brand, and man can you gets some deals there.


http://www.experiencepa.com/experiencepa/details.do?name=Woolrich+Outlet+Store

 

[meeshi]

I live about 1/2 hour north of Reading. I'll only go to Vanity Fair and sometimes I'll head over to the Old Navy Outlet, but that's it. That neighborhood REALLY declined in the last few years. I took my kids school shopping there a couple of years ago and it was pretty scarey.

 

[RUDisney]

Since you live so close Meeshi, I need to ask this, too: Did they close the Reading Station, too? I didn't drive into that parking lot because it was deserted, so I couldn't tell from the street if there were any stores there anymore.

 

[meeshi]

Yes, I believe Reading Station is closed also. I know a few years ago it was already pretty much desserted with a few stores hanging on. But I think they're all closed now.

 

[RUDisney]

Wow! That's really too bad. The building/renovations can't be more than 10 years old.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Reading Resident here .

The outlets at Moss Street, The Reading Outlet Center (R.O.C.) has all but closed in the past two years. Mostly due to high crime rates in the area, although the police department and mayor's office think there's nothing wrong in our fair city. Old Navy Outlet is the only store at Moss & Oley. I don't know if anything exists at the Moss Street building or where Timberland used to be. I don't go to that section of town, even though I lived just three blocks away from the Moss St. center for four years about 8 years ago. (I don't miss that neighborhood )

The Reading Station Outlets went bust after just a few years of operation. I heard someone recently bought the property, but I'm drawing a blank as to the name or type of company. I know the school distict was considering it, but they are not the organization who will be moving to the site.

Vanity Fair is your best bet for outlet shopping in the immediate area. Many of the stores from the other two complexes have moved there. Designer's Place, the old Reading China and Glass building, houses Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, and more. Big Blue and Big Red still have the VF Corp. brands like Lee, Healthtex, Jantzen and Vanity Fair.

I think the outlets here, once deemed "Outlet Capitol of the World" a few years ago, have been driven out by the sluggish economy in the past two-three years and by so much more competetion. There are outlets in Lancaster and Hershey, both about an hour's drive, and in the Poconos is a nice center.

The allure of the outlets never meant much to me growing up. I still don't go there but a few times a year - when I can't find what I'm looking for elsewhere. We have two indoor malls and a number of new shopping centers anchored by Target or Walmart. I work for a family owned department store, based here in Reading and do what shopping I can to support my income .

If you have questions, PM or email me.