Berkshire Mall (Pennsylvania)

File:Berkshire Mall PA from Sears.jpg

Planning for the mall began in the late 1960s. Sears was announced to be the first major planned tenant in November 1967, to replace its nearby Shillington location which had opened in 1956.(26 November 1967). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yRorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M6AFAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=5976,5569540 Sears Going to Berkshire Mall With Enlarged Store], Reading Eagle(25 October 1956). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iQ8rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I5oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4121,4070001&dq=sears+shillington&hl=en Sears, Roebuck Opens New Store on Lancaster Avenue], Reading Eagle Construction got underway in 1968, with an "official" kickoff in November of that year.(22 November 1968). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P1wlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9aAFAAAAIBAJ&dq=&pg=4096,4330926 Berkshire Mall Building Starts], Reading Eagle(14 November 1969) [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rcQtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OaAFAAAAIBAJ&dq=ll&pg=4378,2403982 This aerial view ...], Reading Eagle (aerial view of mall under construction in November 1969) The mall opened in February 1970, and was the first enclosed shopping mall to open in eastern Pennsylvania outside of the Philadelphia area.(2 November 1985). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_gIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j6YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4384,650527&dq=berkshire-mall+1970&hl=en No Real Changes Expected Due To Berkshire Mall Sale], Reading Eagle

The mall's name is taken from the source of the name of Berks County, an abbreviation of the English royal county Berkshire. The old fountain in the center of the mall had been choreographed by local Reading company "Symphonic Fountains".{{Cite web|url=http://www.labelscar.com/pennsylvania/berkshire-mall|title = Berkshire Mall; Wyomissing (Reading), Pennsylvania|date = 23 September 2007}} An upper level food court, The Terrace Cafe, held its grand opening December 7–10, 1989.Andrews, Connie (19 February 1989). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RvUhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_KEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5700,4197963&dq=l&hl=en Sales up at Fairgrounds Square and Berkshire Mall in 1988], Reading Eagle(15 November 1989). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2LkxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_uUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3440,7731538&dq=food-court+berkshire+mall&hl=en Taste What's Coming To Town!] (Advertisement for food court opening in December 1989), Reading Eagle It replaced a Victorian themed mini-mall known simply as "Lamp Post Lane".{{Cite web|url=http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2010/02/berkshire-mall-warren-street-bypass-us.html|title = Mall Hall of Fame}}

The original owner and developer of the mall was the Goodman Company, which sold the property to Equitable Real Estate Management in 1985. In July 2002, the mall was acquired by Allied Properties.(27 August 2002). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rYY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=56IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4828,7589029&dq=berkshire-mall+allied-properties&hl=en Walkers dislike new Berkshire Mall schedule], Reading Eagle

In January 2002, Boscov's purchased the Strawbridge's store, originally a Wanamaker's until 1995 and later Hecht's until 1996, at Berkshire Mall; the Boscov's store at Berkshire Mall opened in August 2002.{{cite news|title=Boscov's history, highlights|work=Reading Eagle|date=September 18, 2009|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=157412|accessdate=October 15, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Boscov's store at Berkshire Mall replaced the Boscov's West store in Sinking Spring, which opened in November 1962.{{cite news|last=Negley|first=Erin|title=Plans submitted for former Boscov's West site in Sinking Spring|work=Reading Eagle|date=March 27, 2009|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131358|accessdate=October 15, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On the night of November 2, 2009, a fire broke out in a display window of the Victoria's Secret store. Before firefighters could arrive, the sprinkler system activated in the store and the adjacent hallway. The store suffered smoke and water damage; everyone was evacuated safely without any reported injuries.{{cite web|accessdate=2009-11-07|title=Berkshire Mall evacuated after fire at Victoria's Secret|publisher=Reading Eagle|date=2009-11-03|url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=164094|archive-date=2009-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106105447/http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=164094|url-status=dead}} On April 14, 2010, there was a fire inside of Boscov's. A worker was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown for severe burns to the face. Firefighters had controlled the fire in 30 minutes.{{cite web|accessdate=2010-08-06|title=Boscov's worker hurt in explosion released from burn center|publisher=Reading Eagle|date=2010-04-16|url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=213080&obref=obinsite|archive-date=2012-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402143136/http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=213080&obref=obinsite|url-status=dead}}

On January 12, 2011 according to leaked security footage, a mall patron fell head first into the fountain in the Boscov's court due to being distracted because she was walking and text messaging at the same time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFOk22c_ltk|title = - YouTube|website = YouTube}} Days later the video uploaded to YouTube with titles such as "Girl Falls In Mall Fountain While Texting" went viral and received international news coverage. As a result of this incident, the security guard who posted the video was fired.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmz.com/berksnews/26558415/detail.html|title=Security Guard Fired For Sharing Mall Surveillance Video|date=January 20, 2011|publisher=WFMZ-TV|accessdate=January 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122055621/http://www.wfmz.com/berksnews/26558415/detail.html|archive-date=2011-01-22|url-status=dead}}

On May 22, 2014, the mall was hit by an unusually severe spring thunderstorm. Golf ball-sized hail ripped through the ceiling causing interior damage by shattering skylights which left glass and debris covering walkways, plants and the fountain in the Sears court, while cars were dented and windshields smashed in the parking lot.{{cite web|title=Berkshire Mall, hit hard by hail, reopens to shoppers|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|date=May 23, 2014|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/berkshire-mall-hit-hard-by-hail-reopens-to-shoppers/26138580|accessdate=May 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524075134/http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/berkshire-mall-hit-hard-by-hail-reopens-to-shoppers/26138580|archive-date=2014-05-24|url-status=dead}}

The Bon-Ton store, originally a Lit Brothers until 1976 and later a Pomeroy's until 1987, at Berkshire Mall shuttered on August 28, 2018, after it wasn't able to establish any new conditions to satisfy its established long-term debt.{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Tuesday will be last day for Bon-Ton at Berkshire Mall|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|date=August 27, 2018|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/tuesday-will-be-last-day-for-bon-ton-at-berkshire-mall/787021621|accessdate=August 27, 2018}} On November 8, 2018, Sears announced it would shutter as part of an ongoing decision to phase out of their traditional brick-and-mortar format.{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Sears at Berkshire Mall to close|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|date=November 8, 2018|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/sears-at-berkshire-mall-to-close/852333794|accessdate=November 8, 2018}}

In July 2020, Allied Properties sold Berkshire Mall to Namdar Realty Group.{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Evan|title=Berkshire Mall sold to New York company|work=Reading Eagle|date=August 31, 2020|url=https://www.readingeagle.com/money/berkshire-mall-sold-to-new-york-company/article_814a2ebc-eb8f-11ea-83e4-afca76aec1b2.html|accessdate=August 31, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901165552/https://www.readingeagle.com/money/berkshire-mall-sold-to-new-york-company/article_814a2ebc-eb8f-11ea-83e4-afca76aec1b2.html|url-status=dead}}

In November 2022, the former Bon-Ton space at the mall was condemned by the township fire marshal due to a partially collapsing roof as well as other issues with the structure.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/owners-keep-zombie-malls-alive-even-when-towns-want-to-pull-the-plug/ar-AA1kxFYr?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.msn.com}}

Berkshire Mall West is a strip plaza across Woodland Road from Berkshire Mall that contains a Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection store, One Stop Beverage, TJ Maxx, Outback Steakhouse, and Customers Bank. There was a Circuit City until 2009, which closed after the chain folded and reopened as an H. H. Gregg in 2010.{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |date=2010-05-17 |title=HHGREGG INC : hhgregg Announces the Grand Opening of Twelve New Stores Serving Residents in Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley Area |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/HHGREGG-INC-57253/news/HHGREGG-INC-hhgregg-Announces-the-Grand-Opening-of-Twelve-New-Stores-Serving-Residents-in-Philadel-13376398/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en}} H. H. Gregg closed in 2017 as part of the chain's "turnaround efforts";{{Cite web |date=2017-03-03 |title=hhgregg to close stores in Whitehall, Wyomissing |publisher=WFMZ-TV |url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/hhgregg-to-close-stores-in-whitehall-wyomissing/article_90bf551c-c2d4-5cfd-ac37-e54ecea3e083.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=wfmz.com |archive-date=2020-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111172940/https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/hhgregg-to-close-stores-in-whitehall-wyomissing/article_90bf551c-c2d4-5cfd-ac37-e54ecea3e083.html |url-status=bot: unknown }} the space was split between Burlington and Boot Barn stores in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=New Burlington store opens in Wyomissing |publisher=WFMZ-TV |location=Wyomissing, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.wfmz.com/business/new-burlington-store-opens-in-wyomissing/article_2af354e0-38ea-11ec-aef1-0f804e8d18ff.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=wfmz.com |archive-date=2021-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101185032/https://www.wfmz.com/business/new-burlington-store-opens-in-wyomissing/article_2af354e0-38ea-11ec-aef1-0f804e8d18ff.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |date=2021-10-04 |last=Ward |first=Jeff |title=Openings & Closings: Businesses around the area |publisher=WFMZ-TV |url=https://www.wfmz.com/business/openings-closings-businesses-around-the-area/article_73e58100-537f-11ec-bbcf-3ff169f6a16e.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=wfmz.com |archive-date=2021-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205034806/https://www.wfmz.com/business/openings-closings-businesses-around-the-area/article_73e58100-537f-11ec-bbcf-3ff169f6a16e.html |url-status=bot: unknown }} There was also an A.C. Moore until that chain went out of business in 2020, and an Old Country Buffet that closed in 2016.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-07 |title=Old Country Buffet abruptly closes Berks location |publisher=WFMZ-TV |url=https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/old-country-buffet-abruptly-closes-berks-location/article_150d8680-f97e-5b51-a738-b2c15461db68.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=wfmz.com |archive-date=2021-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205034806/https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/old-country-buffet-abruptly-closes-berks-location/article_150d8680-f97e-5b51-a738-b2c15461db68.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}

The mall is featured in the 2021 Julian Katz novel, Don't Call Me Ishmael, in which the main character, Kieran, purchases a CD by the fictional band, Stay Sweet, at the FYE store. Taking place in 2006, many of the mall's long-since closed stores are mentioned including the former Sears and The Bon-Ton.

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Berkshire Mall (Pennsylvania)}}

• [http://www.berkshiremall.com Official website]

{{Philadelphia Malls}}

{{Reading, Pennsylvania}}

{{Namdar Realty Group|state=autocollapse}}

Category:Shopping malls in Pennsylvania

Category:Shopping malls established in 1970

Category:Tourist attractions in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Category:Buildings and structures in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Category:Namdar Realty Group