Berkshire Mall is a mall in Wyomissing PA (Birthplace of Taylor Swift), Just outside of Reading PA. Berkshire Mall might just be my favorite mall I've ever been to (Not that its alot, I've been to 6).
History:
Berkshire Mall planning started in the 1960s. In 1967, Sears announced a store opening. This was in a effort to replace a location in Shillington PA. The Sears announced closure of the store on November 8th 2018 that it would be closing in February 2019
Construction started in 1968 and the Sears opened in November of that year. The Mall itself would open in February 1970 and would be the first enclosed mall in Eastern Pennsylvania that wasn't in the Philadelphia area.
The Lit Brothers Store opened in 1970 with the mall. The store then became a Pomeroy's in 1976 (I think), and then a Bon-Ton in 1987. The Bon-Ton closed on August 28, 2018
I could not find an opening year for the Wanamakers store at the mall, but it became a Hechts in 1995. Hechts closed in 1996. A Boscovs opened in the space in August 2002.
The name of the mall was taken from the source of the name of the County that the mall was in, Berks County, which was a abbreviation on Berkshire County in England. The Upper Level Food Court held its grand opening on December 7-10, 1989.
Damage:
This mall has been through a lot so here are a few examples of Damage/Destruction:
November 2nd, 2009: A fire broke out in the display window of a Victoria's Secret store. The sprinkler system activated in the store and adjacent hallway before firefighters arrived. The store had smoke and water damage, but everyone was evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.
April 14, 2010: A fire broke out in the Boscovs. An employee was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest with Severe burns to the face. Firefighters had the fire under control in 30 minutes.
May 22, 2014: A severe thunderstorm hit Berks County dropping Golf-Ball sized hail. The hail hit the mall and broke the skylights and damaged parts of the interior.
My Pictures:
Here are some of my pictures. These were taken on May 20th, 2023:
The Boscovs Fountain. Interestingly, This is also the fountain that a lady fell into. The Security Guard recorded the security footage and uploaded it to YouTube. The original footage has been taken down but people have re-uploaded it.
The Directory:
Anchors: Boscov's on the right, Former Bon-ton in the middle, Former Sears on the left. I have pictures of the Sears and Bon Tons Interior Later.
Unknown Vacant Store
Former Orange Julius. This was outside the FYE.
Another Vacant Store
Interior of the former Sears. There would of been a fountain behind me. Its still there but wasn't on.
Interior Pictures of the former Bon-Ton . These are my favorite pictures from that trip.
Little Things (AKA stuff off my head that I think need to be in here, just dont know where it goes):
This Mall is owned by Namdar Reality Group. For those of you who think that its good that they are owned by them, your wrong and you know it
This mall has been called a Dead Mall but I kinda disagree. Yes it lost two anchors in two years, but it has most inline tenants filled.
Thanks for reading my rambles on Berkshire Mall! Have a good day!
