Description: There's the full scoop on the Outlets. There are bargains. Its worth the trip, just know what you're coming for. Some places use the term "outlet" a little liberally. The Vanity Fair complex, west of the city in Wyomissing, is in my opinion, the best (never mind the fact that I grew up across the street). The management does an excellent job of maintaining the city, which was once an old textile mill (something Reading was once famous for, other than the Fifth Avenue candy bar and Ludens Cough Drops). The two main buildings, "Big Blue" and "Big Red," house some of the better stores, including Vanity Fair for ladies lingerie and sleepwear, Lee Jeans, Liz Claiborne and Black and Decker. Vanity Fair and Lee are always packed with bargains that are REALLY worth the trip. There is a decent food court in the basement of "Big Red" and when the weather is right, a makeshift farmers market outside where you can grab some homemade "amish-like" products. (Not going to promise that they really are Amish made). Get there early, it opens at 9 most days and during prime shopping seasons, parking is a real monster, even though there is tons of parking all around the site. Prime shopping times are "Back to School" time in late August, and Christmas. One old standby, Reading China and Glass, is, alas, not as great as it once was, but you can get some great kitchen ware if you visit the newer "Reading Designer Outlet" complex across the street, which also holds a nice Godiva Chocolate outlet, as well as Coach and Jones New York.
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