Virginia Outlet Shopping

on location: south ❖
dave bodle
T
here are two itinerary options that
just about every tour has in common. Your travelers are going to
eat and they’re going to shop.
We could go on for days about the
culinary substance of Virginia. However, the sheer number of shopping
alternatives is one of the main reasons that tours choose Virginia. From
major malls to specialty shops to artist
galleries, there are plenty of shopping
options available. For now, though,
our focus is for the bargain-hunting,
discount-seeking, outlet junkies.
Tidewater & Hampton Roads
For over 60 years Williamsburg
Pottery has been welcoming groups. In
1938 the pottery was founded by James
E. Maloney to make 18th century salt
glaze pottery reproductions and sell
them at discounted prices. Since then
the pottery has grown to more than 200
acres, hosting three million annual visitors and exceeding 70,000 items.
What’s old, though, will soon be new,
as Williamsburg Pottery has announced
plans for a $20-million makeover. The
146,800-square-foot retail project will
include three separate buildings in a
traditional European market theme.
Outlet stores tempt group travelers with
hefty discounts on national brands and
the best of made-in-Virginia products
Virginia
Outlet
Shopping
36 February 2011
Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, located
just 15 minutes from Dulles Airport, offers
shoppers more than 100 stores.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Outlet by Designs. Also at Levi’s are
free shopping bags for group tour passengers and meal vouchers or gift certificates for drivers and escorts. A lounge
is available for drivers and escorts.
With 135 designer and brand name
outlet stores, Williamsburg Premium
Outlets is one of Virginia’s larger outlet centers. Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren,
Chico’s, Adidas, Tommy Bahama and
Kate Spade are just a few stores offering
outstanding savings and exceptional selections. Williamsburg Premium Outlets welcomes groups of all sizes and
provides special welcome packages for
groups and bus tours that pre-register
at premiumoutlets.com/english/reservation_form.asp.
Northern Virginia
Potomac Mills, one of the East Coast’s top outlet malls, offers free coupon books
for groups of 10 or more. It’s a half hour south of Washington, D.C.
Construction began in December and
an April 2012 grand opening is anticipated to commemorate the 100th birthday of the founder.
Other features of the new Williamsburg Pottery are a courtyard with a stage
for live music and performances, plus
inside/outside seating at the Café &
Bakery and Deli. The pottery will continue to operate throughout the construction, closing only on Christmas
Day. (williamsburgpottery.com)
The Williamsburg area may just be
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Potomac Mills, just 30 minutes
south of Washington, D.C. on I-95, is
a bargain hunter’s dream. Among 225
retailers promising savings of 30%70% are Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th,
Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and
Nordstrom Rack. At least six area hotels offer group shopping packages.
A reservation two weeks prior to
your visit is requested and allows them
to prepare for your group and provide
special perks. A Potomac Mills coupon
book is available upon arrival for groups
of 10 or more, plus a souvenir gift for
the group leader and/or bus driver. To
make a reservation for your group,
email [email protected] or call
703-496-9352. (simon.com)
Set in a picturesque outdoor village,
Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets
features 110 retail stores, from Gap
Outlet and Reebok to Nautica and Barneys New York. The mall is located at
the intersection of Route 7 and U.S. 15
Bypass in Leesburg, just 15 minutes
the epicenter of outlet shopping. Come
for the history, but stay an extra day or
two to shop. Williamsburg Outlet
Mall boasts savings of 20%-70% off retail with more than 40 stores in an enclosed mall. L’eggs, Hanes Playtex, Totes
and Linen Barn, along with two food
gardens and plenty of resting benches,
make the mall a pleasant
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
stop. Complimentary mall
For more Virginia shopping ideas, go online and
coupons worth over $100
see the article “Five Unique Virginia Shops.” Log on to
are available for group pashttp://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22092
sengers at Levi’s/Dockers
February 2011 37
on location: south ❖
from Dulles Airport. Groups of 15 or
more receive free VIP coupon books
upon arrival. Reserve by completing the
form at premiumoutlets.com/english
/reservation_form.asp.
The Russell Stover Candies store
in Ruther Glen features Russell Stover
boxed candies and chocolates, includ-
ing net carb, sugar-free, factory seconds
and plenty of bargains. Mouth-watering treats await just 2.5 miles off I-95
at Exit 104, Highway 207.
Shenandoah Valley
What would you call an outlet
bookstore featuring 500,000 new books
Obtain Virginia
visitor guides
and itineraries –
and contact groupfriendly suppliers
directly – at
leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info
that are discounted from 60-90%?
US Airways Magazine called it “The
Best Bookstore on the East Coast.”
Green Valley Book Fair, near
I-81 between Harrisonburg and
Staunton, offers all categories of
books, including history, literature,
children’s, cooking, self help and religious. It opens six times a year,
usually for two weeks at a time. Visit
gobookfair.com for the schedule.
Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days
a week.
Southern Virginia
When shopping for clothing
name brands by Worthington, St.
John’s Bay, Southpole and more,
visit the JCPenney Outlet Store at
Martinsville’s Liberty Fair Mall.
Taking advantage of overstocked
and discounted merchandise from
the JCPenney network, you’ll find
numerous selections at 20%-60%
less than store prices.
No trip to Martinsville is complete without doing some home
furnishings shopping. Martin
Plaza Furniture Outlet is home to
the Bassett and Hooker Furniture
Outlets with selections from many
other major manufacturers. Riverside Furniture specializes in bedroom, living room and dining room
furniture and framed artwork. Bargains Galore offers name-brand
furniture at discounted prices and
has two showrooms in the Martinsville area.
About a mile off I-95 at exit 4,
just before you leave Virginia going
south, is Good Earth Peanut
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Blue Ridge Highlands
Emerson Creek Pottery’s retail outlet store is adjacent to the studio.
Company. Virginia grows the largest
variety of peanuts in the world, and the
family-owned and operated company
specializes in gourmet peanuts. In addition to peanuts and other nuts, you’ll
find traditional preserves, butters and
pickled items, all made in Virginia. The
store is closed on Sunday. (800-6431695, [email protected],
goodearthpeanuts.com)
and fireplace, and three double-barrel
chimneys. Visitors connect with the past
by experiencing the special quality of
handmade pottery, which continues a
true American tradition handed down
from Colonial times. (866-411-1977, email [email protected], emersoncreekpottery.com)
In 2004 Gina and Ron Isom purchased what is now Fancy Gap Pottery & Fabric Outlet in, where else,
but Fancy Gap, Va. As the name implies, pottery and fabric are featured,
but new merchandise arrives almost
daily. Included are giftware and home
decor, ribbon and floral supplies, silk
flowers and a wonderful Christmas
shop. Located just off I-77 at exit 8,
they’re open seven days a week. (276728-9524, fancygappottery.com)
Near Wytheville and conveniently
located at the intersection of I-77
and I-81, you’ll find the bright red
roof of the Ft. Chiswell Outlets.
More than 25 stores, headlined by
Polo Ralph Lauren, Bon Worth and
L’eggs/Hanes/Bali/Playtex, offer savings up to 70% off of department store
prices. (276-637-6214, ftchiswelloutlets.com)
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to
the Tidewater/Hampton Roads region,
from malls to individual manufacturer’s
stores, Virginia truly is for lovers of outlet shopping. LGT
Central Virginia
Since 1980 Plow & Hearth has
been a trusted name specializing in enduring home and lifestyle products.
Located just off Route 29 at Madison,
in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, the outlet offers catalog
overstocks, discounted items and oneof-a-kind samples at savings of 30%70% off regular catalog retail prices.
(plowhearth.com/outletstore.html)
Located just outside Bedford, Emerson Creek Pottery has been creating
handmade and hand-painted items for
almost 30 years. Adjacent to the studio
is the retail outlet store in an original
1825 log cabin with its original log walls
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Nordstrom Rack and more than 200 other stores draw groups to Potomac Mills.
February 2011 41