Pa. outlet mall offers deals, unique shops

With more than 140 stores, no tax on necessary items and great deals, the Prime Outlets in Grove City, Pa. is a little more than an hour drive away and retailers suggest the trip is worth every mile.

“There is a variety of stores, with a variety of interest,” said Carol Dunkerly of Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory.

The Prime Outlets includes designer outlet stores such as Coach, Juicy Couture and BCBGMAXAZRIA, as well as American Eagle, Gap and Old Navy.

There are also lesser-known stores that give the Outlets an extra something special.

At Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory, shoppers can fill bags with their favorite Jelly Belly jelly beans, gummy bears, rock candy and more.

Dunkerly said her favorite candy is chocolate-covered potato chips.

“You’ve got to try them,” Dunkerly said.

Students can find their favorite candies from childhood, such as Big League Chew, candy cigarettes and wax bottles.

The store Music for a Song features CDs, guitars, video games and movies at low prices. The store also sells novelty items like squirrel underpants, Jesus bobbleheads and Superman lunchboxes.

“We offer tons of different products for one store,” said Dan Basso manager of Music for a Song. “We have a ton of different things that are unique.”

Pittsburgh lovers can stop at one of the two Steelers’ stores or visit the House of Heinz, located in the middle of the outlet mall.

“We’re the one and only Heinz store,” manager Donna Lumley said.

Visitors to the store, which takes the form of a small country house, can pick up complementary pickle and ketchup bottle pins, along with several other pieces of Heinz merchandise.

“The pickle and ketchup bottle whistles – people are gaga over those,” Lumley said. “And of course we have our chocolate-covered sweet pickles.”

Slippery Rock University junior business marketing major, Dominique Olivel, likes to shop at the outlets because of the sales.

“They have really good discounts here all the time,” Olivel said.

Throughout October the mall is featuring “Operation Shop Pink.” Customers can purchase a $2 coupon that will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This coupon is good at certain stores within the mall.

Among the stores featuring this month’s discount are Coach, which is giving customers 20 percent off any product, even if the item is already on sale and Nine West Outlet, offering customers 20 percent off of any regular-priced item.

Whether a student is looking for something in particular or just browsing, the Prime Outlets is a great one-tank trip to relieve stress.

“It’s something to do to get your mind off of school,” Olivel said.

Contact features reporter Pamela Crimbchin at [email protected].