Reading, PA--What the heck happened? Perhaps controversial...

[HelenePA]

Every single business that I can think of, aside from Boscov's, moved out and was replaced by some independently-owned place. Like "Everything for $7" etc. Even Arby's moved out. And the crowd is....not so great most of the time.

I know a lot of people like Penny's as an outlet store, but I was SO annoyed that I no longer have a real Penny's to shop at. That outlet store is really, really hit or miss. Glad you got a hit, though!

We do visit the movie theater at Fairgrounds, though. Ironically, it is the best one we have.

Honestly I've never been any other place in the fairgrounds mall but JCPenney. I have a boscovs 2 miles away from me.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

No, it's in the Fairgrounds mall on 5th street highway. Maybe a 10 minute drive from VF

We'll probably go to Hershey Park at some point this summer, so will check it out if we have time.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thats a shame.

We have a mall right near my house, that I go to all the time. When I say - I gotta run to the mall, thats where I go - no need to explain.

One time last summer, it was a nice day and I thought - Im gonna go to the mall near where I went to High School. Take a drive - and go there. It 'used' to be a snooty, uppity mall.

Not any more. It's not as bad as this mall you guys are talking about - but its certainly on its way. I didnt wanna stay after it was dark out. It had completely changed. And it still on the outskirts of a snooty, rich town ???? Its weird.

I agree with you . Its a darn shame.

 

[MAKmom]

This is happening everywhere with Malls. The Granite Run Mall in Media Pa is horrible now. The small stores are leaving & small flea market type stores are moving in.

Malls are going to become a thing of the past IMO.

 

[hentob]

Malls are going to become a thing of the past IMO.

I think you are correct. Which really doesn't bother me, to be honest

Malls sort of killed many downtown shopping districts. I think the upscale mall is re-inventing itself anyway. More and more outdoor markets are popping up. We just had one built in the last year or two called the Promenade-- http://www.thepromenadeshopsatsauconvalley.com/

In my original post, though, I was talking about a downtown area. An area that has been DESTROYED because its community members prefer to live a filthy, lazy and crime ridden life. They prefer to bring babies into this world that they can't take care of They prefer to remain uneducated and don't want to/refuse to learn English. They chased away consumers and are fine with sitting on their front stoop while smoking and watching their diaper clad toddlers play in the streets Block after block after block I witnessed this. This same area was once filled with people ready to spend their money. Not one shopper remains. Why? Because not one store remains.

I am so sad this is happening everywhere in our country. I am so sad that if you speak about it, you will be accused of being a racist.

It is only going to get worse

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Speaking of Reading, PA....a coworker was discussing this bit of info...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-make-things-sticky-for-democrats-811799.html

It is no surprise, then, that this plant and the town it sits in, Reading, Pennsylvania, has become a ground-zero for debate about the economy and job losses in the state in the last few days of the presidential primary contest. Barack Obama has been in town, and James Hoffa, president of the Teamsters Union, came to the factory gates a week ago to sell the senator's economic message to the workers.

That is part of the article.

My coworker was saying that Hershey PA plant was also going to close. I told her that there is "no way", but maybe I am wrong?

 

[npmommie]

WOW! is all I can say, I haven't been to Reading in many years.

but used to love those outlets!

 

[EverythingDisney]

No flame from me, and I too live in Berks County.

I have lived here off and on for about the last 12 years, and have never once visited the ROC outlets. I have heard nothing but bad things about them.
I have been to VF a few times, but prefer the Lancaster Outlets.

I feel very safe at Berkshire Mall. I only go to the Fairgrounds Mall for the JC Penney Outlet- could care less about the other stores, and don't really like the crowds that shop there.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

About 10 years ago the ROC was part of "Outlet Captial of the World". Within a few years, the factory outlets in Lancaster and Hershey and Tannersville (Poconos) opened and the stores in Reading suffered, with the exception of Vanity Fair.

I used to live a few blocks from ROC. DD and I used to walk there, and to McDonald's a couple of blocks from there. I won't go near that area anymore. It's not the neighborhood it was while we lived in that part of town. The last time I drove up 9th Street past ROC, I was astonished to see all of the windows busted out.

Fairgrounds Square Mall in Muhlenberg Township is now more "urban". The more popular chains (Aeropastle, Hollister, etc.) are at Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing, which has always been more "preppy". FSM has always been the lesser of the two malls in the area, and it really has only gotten worse. So many great stores have left and none have replaced them.

Meanwhile, the western "gateway", just off the Penn Street Bridge, of the city is experiencing a cultural rebirth. The GoggleWorks (center for the arts) has been open for about two years and their finishing construction on a new IMAX theater beside RACC. Mr. Boscov's (former chairman and founder of Boscov's Dept. Stores) has been instrumental in this, as well as rehabilitating city homes and selling them to first time home buyers who might not otherwise be able to afford a home of their own.

 

[Kathi OD]

My coworker was saying that Hershey PA plant was also going to close. I told her that there is "no way", but maybe I am wrong?

Hershey is closing its Palmyra, PA plant, which is close to its headquarters in Hershey. There moving much of their manufacturing operations to Mexico.

 

[princesspiglet]

Speaking of Reading, PA....a coworker was discussing this bit of info...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-make-things-sticky-for-democrats-811799.html



That is part of the article.

My coworker was saying that Hershey PA plant was also going to close. I told her that there is "no way", but maybe I am wrong?

To answer your question, no Hershey is not selling. It was just in our paper this morning, The Patriot News. The Hershey Trust stated that they are not selling and do not plan on selling ever. You can probably look it up online if you are interested in the article.

We have the Outlets of Hershey which are pretty good, but if I want to do some serious shopping I head to King of Prussia Mall.

We took DD5 to reading 2 years ago to see Disney on Ice and I was not impressed. It is definetly not an area I would want to frequent.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

The former Luden's plant, owned by Hershey is closing, if not already out of operation. This happened at least a year ago.

 

[princesspiglet]

The former Luden's plant, owned by Hershey is closing, if not already out of operation. This happened at least a year ago.

True, that did close about a year ago. However, the Hershey plant located here and also the 3 other ones here, are not closing.

 

[GraysMom]

I love those outlets as well. Last time we were down when they were opened it felt like we should fear for our lives. There were all kinds of cars with RIP **** all over them. One store had a sign in the window.. Closed, We'll never open our doors again written on paper. It felt very scary! All younger men standing around trying to sell ya drugs.. I am NOT use to that type of stuff! We never went back The motherhood maternity store was awesome. So was the old navy outlet.

Helene, there is a Motherhood Maternity store in Lancaster at the Tanger Outlet Center. There is also an Osh Kosh outlet at Tanger and Carter's at Rockvale (right down the road).

I haven't been to Reading in years (DH refuses to drive there) and from the sounds of it, I won't be going there anytime soon.

 

[HelenePA]

Helene, there is a Motherhood Maternity store in Lancaster at the Tanger Outlet Center. There is also an Osh Kosh outlet at Tanger and Carter's at Rockvale (right down the road).

I haven't been to Reading in years (DH refuses to drive there) and from the sounds of it, I won't be going there anytime soon.

there is a motherhood one at Tannersville too. I just dont get down there that often. Last time I was there I didn't need it OshKosh is in Reading,Hershey,Tannersville along with Carters. Tanger and Rockvale arent close to me maybe 2 hours... Tannersville, Reading, and Hershey are all about 45 min from me. Really Reading the VF area is very nice. I'm not scared there at all. Not even at the fairground mall of course we only go there for JCPenney, I need to go see what kind of crib sets they have

 

[ckay87]

I think you are correct. Which really doesn't bother me, to be honest

Malls sort of killed many downtown shopping districts. I think the upscale mall is re-inventing itself anyway. More and more outdoor markets are popping up. We just had one built in the last year or two called the Promenade-- http://www.thepromenadeshopsatsauconvalley.com/

In my original post, though, I was talking about a downtown area. An area that has been DESTROYED because its community members prefer to live a filthy, lazy and crime ridden life. They prefer to bring babies into this world that they can't take care of They prefer to remain uneducated and don't want to/refuse to learn English. They chased away consumers and are fine with sitting on their front stoop while smoking and watching their diaper clad toddlers play in the streets Block after block after block I witnessed this. This same area was once filled with people ready to spend their money. Not one shopper remains. Why? Because not one store remains.

I am so sad this is happening everywhere in our country. I am so sad that if you speak about it, you will be accused of being a racist.

It is only going to get worse

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry I hijacked your thread with mall talk. I just meant to point out that what you witnessed down there is ALL OVER the place in the Reading area, from Moss St to the mall to our Wal-Mart. OMG, the Wal-Marts are pig sties. I will visit the Wal-Mart in Trexlertown, which is like a country club, but I flat-out refuse to visit our close-by store.

 

[puffkin]

The ROC left when the fancy outlet centers started to become popular. We had true outlets here in Reading, and Vanity Fair is pretty much the only true outlet left. The outlet malls are a joke if you ask me.....

It is such a shame too because Reading is such a beautiful city. The location with the river and the mountain in the background and the architecture is just stunning. I wish it could be fixed up because is a true gem.

Unfortunately the city is on a major drug corridor. I live in Muhlenberg Township (NE suburb of Reading) in a very nice development. Tons of houses are now inhabited by these questionable folks. It is so sad.....but yet so obvious. Cameras over the doors, fancy SUVs, cars and bikes in the driveways, loading up the cars with duffle bags every Fri and Sat night at 11 pm....it goes on and on. And every new home bought in our neighborhood the plates are from NJ or NY. A very large drug ring was busted in a beautiful house right around the corner from me.....

Anyway, the gangs, crime and outlet malls all killed the ROC. But, hopefully things are starting to get back on track. They are really starting to revitalize the downtown area and though it will take time, I think it will be wonderful and put the city back on the map (Goggleworks, new IMAX theater, Riverplace development, Sovereign Center, etc).....

 

[HelenePA]

the only stores I go to in the outlet malls are the "baby" stores. Your right other than those (carters oshkosh) They really aren't worth going to.

Ya'll keep talking about the new IMAX... where exactly is it going??

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

the only stores I go to in the outlet malls are the "baby" stores. Your right other than those (carters oshkosh) They really aren't worth going to.

Ya'll keep talking about the new IMAX... where exactly is it going??

2nd & Washington Sts. It's on what used to be a parking lot for RACC.

 

[Jestocost]

There's an entire Web site dedicated to defunct or failing malls. There's nothing on the Reading Outlet Center, but perhaps your favorite mall has a section.

DeadMalls.com