Shopping at Tanger Outlets in Westbrook, Connecticut
Written: Sep 30 '08 (Updated Sep 30 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautifully landscaped and designed. Lovely to walk around.
Cons: Not the common outlet stores you'd hope to find like Coach and GAP.
The Bottom Line: Not all Tanger outlets are created equal.
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| deenaf's Full Review: Connecticut |
Note: While this review ideally belongs in the TANGER category in the Destinations section, I have already written about a different Tanger location there and therefore disallowing this review of Tanger in Connecticut. The two Tangers are completely different and this one deserves a review of its own...... Enjoy.
Every year, my girlfriends and I travel to Connecticut for a spa weekend. We usually ferry out of Orient Point on the North Fork of Long Island but this time, we braved I95 and drove there. We were aiming to stop out the Tanger Outlets in Westbrook, Connecticut and we were glad that we did. We love shopping!
Westbrooks’s Tanger Outlets are located directly off the exit ramp of I-95. Literally, it is Exit 65. You can’t miss it unless you drive with your eyes closed. Although the signage for the outlets is small and easy to miss, knowing it’s Exit 65 makes it no fail.
As I’ve reviewed previously in my Riverhead Tanger Outlet piece, the word “outlet” allows one to think that there are going to be bargains in every store. And once again, in Westbrook’s case, this is not necessarily so. That said, the stores carry irregulars and imperfect items but that is not the mainstay anymore. Most of the stores’ items are overstocks or made directly for outlet sale and are first quality. As with all outlet shopping, be aware of these subtle differences.
Tanger Outlets – Westbrook, Connecticut
Tanger Outlet shopping malls exist across the country. Most are situated close to high tourist areas (Wisconsin Dells, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Lancaster, to name a few). Since the centers are few and far between, they are a huge draw to the tourist community.
As of this writing, the Westbrook Tanger has mostly top name brand stores including J.Crew, KB Toys, Nine West, OshKosh, Bass, Corningware, Reebok, Jockey, and Carter’s to name a few. What is sorely missed at this Tanger, in my opinion, is a Coach outlet, a Pottery Barn Outlet, and a GAP outlet. I believe that this MAY be because up the road, literally off I95, is another premium outlet center called Clinton Crossing. That outlet center has the more upscale retailers and they probably don’t want to put two Coach outlets so close together.
Tanger Westbrook is relatively small, especially when compared to Riverhead, NY. Westbrook has about 65 retailers whereas Riverhead has 165. On a positive note, the Westbrook outlets are GORGEOUS! The design of the outdoor mall is a bit Victorian and you feel like you are shopping in a visual paradise. The stores do not encircle a parking lot but rather they encompass grassy areas with benches and seating. It’s really quite lovely… very Connecticut, if stereotypes were true! The mall of stores consists of 4 general areas so that you are walking up and down rows of stores, much like an indoor shopping mall.
What is lacking in this outlet center is a choice of places to eat. There is one pizzeria and one café but a waitress service restaurant would be awesome! I will say that this particular outlet does not seem conducive to the Food Court mentality so it makes sense not to have one here…. But there needs to be more choices to make the shopper want to shop all day.
Along the way through the mall of stores there are rest areas. Each rest area contains bathrooms and water fountains.
MY THOUGHTS
One thing I have discovered from Tanger outlet shopping is that NOT ALL STORES ARE OUTLET STORES! At Westbrook, the Old Navy was a full retail shop enabling me to return my items to my local Old Navy. That is convenient for returns but completely not the point of outlet shopping. Also, the DressBarn is not an outlet.
Of course, there are stores that are considered outlet but have mass distribution and allow returns at any location. This is such the case with Nine West. They are considered outlet but have strategically placed their stores in many major shopping malls so it becomes easier to return. This is fabulous because you get a deal AND the convenience of local returns.
As I suggested in my review of Riverhead, I again suggest here that you check the online website for Westbrook before you go. Make sure to look for the coupon entitling you to a free Tanger coupon book. It is filled with coupons for use at Westbrook. I used it once or twice but saved $10 or $15 dollars.
All in all, the Westbrook Tanger Outlet was a beautiful shopping experience. It was pretty and clean and the people who work in the stores are delightful. We had nice weather so that always helps! I do like a larger selection of stores but to tag this onto a girls’ weekend was simply blissful.
Most importantly, to make it a fabulous shopping experience, make sure you pick up a map at a rest center!
OTHER INFORMATION
The Westbrook Tanger Outlet’s REGULAR HOURS are as follows:
Sunday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Monday - Saturday
10:00am - 9:00pm
Address:
314 Flat Rock Place
Westbrook, CT 06498
Phone: (860) 399-8656
Fax: (860) 399-8739
Exit 65 off the I-95.
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My review of Tanger Riverhead, New York is here.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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Epinions.com ID:
deenaf
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 in Books |
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Member: Deena
Location: Merrick, NY USA
Reviews written: 269
Trusted by: 71 members
About Me:
I'm reasonable! And now I'm acknowleged!
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