Only have $50 and need a cocktail dress RIGHT NOW? Get thee to Franklin Mills, a giant outlet mall that attracts tourists from all over the East Coast. Lest you worry that that means the merchandise is nothing more than Liberty Bell-printed T-shirts, know that you will be fighting the locals for the best bargains. Ann Taylor, Saks, Nordstrom, Benetton, and other major retailers all have cut-rate outposts here, and while you'll have to dig through rack after rack to find the gems among the garbage, the sense of accomplishment at finding a better bargain than you thought possible is worth it. If the prospect of finding Ann Taylor jeans for $15 or Aeropostale tank tops for $3 appeals to you, Franklin Mills is Mecca. The bargains are heavy on the clothing side; if you're looking for, say, books or furniture, you'll be mostly out of luck. Women in the regular-size range should check out Group USA, an off-price sportswear, formal wear, and bridal retailer; while the labels don't have brand names on them, the quality-to-price ratio is high. Saks Off 5th is always worth a look, too; there, I once snagged the dress of a lifetime, a floor-length, lipstick-red Ellen Tracy ballgown, for $120, a fifth of what the dress originally fetched. Unfortunately, the design of the mall is nowhere near as nice as the bargains; it's one story high and is laid out as a large (over a mile long) zigzag rather than a more foot-friendly loop. Since you are likely to be loaded down with shopping bags by the end of a trip to Franklin Mills, this is an egregious error; be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Also, the food court grub is even worse than that of the average mall (and you thought it wasn't possible!), but then even McDonald's tastes sweet when you eat it just after scoring $10 Gap jeans.
by sarameon on June 5, 2002
Franklin Mills Mall
1455 Franklin Mills Circle Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19154
(215) 632 1500