The Crossings Premium Outlets is located in Tannersville, Pennsylvania just on the cusp of the ski area in the Pocono Mountains. It opened about ten years ago and has been growing quickly ever since. Situated just off Route 80, not far from the New Jersey border, it is a popular destination for folks from Jersey, Pennsylvania and even New York-both city and state. Pennsylvania (like New Jersey) has no state sales tax on clothing, so it’s not surprising that there are dozens of stores devoted to shoes, dresses and kids clothing of all varieties.
Most people go to the Crossings because they have a favorite store or two. My daughter goes for the Carter outlet because her children are both pre-schoolers. That store features a small kid’s area where you can park your toddlers and let them play with Legos on a special table.
When the Crossings first opened there were only three sections. But as the place burgeoned, more buildings were added. The largest buildings are the “A”, “B” “C” (where the food court is located) and “G. But there are plenty of outlets in the smaller buildings (D,E, F & I) that were added on as appendages
The traffic pattern is not the greatest, so it’s best to download the map from the website and figure out where you want to park to be closest to the store you want. The main entrance is off of Route 80, but there are two entrances from the Route 611 which is a local Pennsylvania road.
The Carter store is in the “G” building, over in the farthest section from the entrance, but it is close by the KB Toy Outlet and Gymboree Outlet. This area is favored by parents with young kids.
I went with a friend a few weeks ago. I really wanted to go to the Dress Barn which is in Building A in the first section, while she wanted to exchange a Coach bag over at the Building G, the farthest section. Now a Coach bag is a big deal because you can get a $250 handbag for $139. Of course we used our cell phones because finding each other in the parking lot in the rain would have been a disaster without them.
What about eating? There is a food court in Section C close to the first parking lot, but it can get terribly crowded and the tables are not cleaned often enough. You can find pizzas, deli sandwiches and Chinese fast food here along with all sorts of drinks. I prefer the Au Bon Pain which is over in the middle section and does not get as crowded. There is also a new lunch place in Building G called American Eatery. In the summertime, it’s a smart idea to simply bring a sandwich along and eat outside since there are benches all along the walkways and outside tables in front of the food court. You can also pick up snacks at the Pepperidge Farm outlet, Harry & David and the Rocky Mountain Candy Company.
Besides clothing outlet staples like Ann Taylor, Burberry, the Gap and Hanes, you can find specialty stores such as Bose (for sound equipment) Movado, Yankee Candle and the Sunglass Hut. For house wares and china, you can browse through Pfaltzgraff, Corningware, Waterford/Wedgewood and several kitchen specialty stores.
Before leaving on a trip, check out the website (www.premiumoutlets.com/thecrossings) for discount coupons and special sales. You can also download a map and a voucher for a coupon book that you pick up at the information booth that is inside the Food Court in Building C. Wear good walking shoes–there’s plenty of territory to cover.
