Birthplace of Outlet Shopping

In the early 18th century, Berks County was a fertile farming area attracting many settlers. During the French & Indian and the Revolutionary Wars, Reading served as a military depot, opening the way to the beginning of industry in Berks County. Iron furnaces were the center of this industry, and some areas continue to reflect this heritage by their name - the Oley Furnace, for example.

Reading's proximity to the Schuylkill River made it a desirable location for trade. The early establishment of the Reading Railroad and a canal system created accessibility to other parts of the East Coast, thus propelling Reading into the forefront of the Industrial Age. The iron furnaces which flourished in the late nineteenth century, were eventually replaced by other industries, such as textiles.

One Textile plant, Built in 1892, was the Nolde & Horst Hosiery Mill. Originally echoing the sounds of spinning knitting machines in the early manufacture of hosiery, it is now Building #1 of the Reading Outlet Center. This historic building is located on North Ninth Street, between Douglass and Windsor Streets.

After World War II, when the production of full - fashioned hosiery declined, the building was used as a multi-tenant manufacturing complex. Similar changes occurred in other area plants thirty years ago. In the 1960's apparel manufacturers operated their own small factory stores, selling their imperfects and over-runs to employees at bargain prices. Originally composed of pipe-racks and irregular merchandise, the concept grew, and eventually, the doors opened to the public. Thus, Reading became the forerunner of the outlet shopping experience. The idea promptly became popular, and imitations began springing up all over the country, turning outlets into a major retail industry.