Wrentham Outlets - Boston Discount Shopping Guide

Specialty shops and Boston retail favorites at big savings

Love a bargain? 

If so, you must visit Wrentham Outlets, one of the best Boston shopping malls for discount fashions. 

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, as it's officially called, is one of the most attractive Boston malls. 

It's also the only outlet mall in the Boston area.

Located south of Boston in the leafy suburban town of Wrentham, Wrentham Outlets can be reached by car from both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island in about 30-40 minutes.  On a weekend afternoon, you're likely to see license plates from all over New England in the parking lots, as well as a some from eastern Canada.

What does Wrentham Outlets offer?

When you first drive into the parking lot, Wrentham Village Premium Outlets seems small - but first appearances are deceiving.  With 170 stores, this is one of the larger Boston shopping malls.

Wrentham Village shops include a mixture of high-end and luxury designers, sports gear favorites, and normally affordable Boston stores offering even lower prices here.

In fact, if you're a fan of Newbury Street shopping, you'll discover many of the same designers in Wrentham Village.

What kind of merchandise will you find?  Most of it is current or almost current season - in many cases, things that you will see in full-price stores.  Nothing screams "DATED!" or "DISCOUNT!" at you. 

Prices usually seem to be about 20% - 65% lower than full price.  But if you happen to come when special sales are underway, you can get even bigger discounts. 

Keep in mind that in Massachusetts, you pay no sales tax on clothing items under $175.  Your savings can add up!

The attractive open-air mall is pleasingly laid out like a small "village," with store-lined "streets."   But when you look at the street signs, you'll begin to realize they're actually a Boston shopping guide to every outlet store you can imagine. 

This may be the moment when you notice that Wrentham Outlets is actually huge!

Fortunately, spacious plazas and walk ways make the shopping center so easy to walk around that you can cover a lot of territory without getting tired.  But if you do need a rest, you'll find plenty of benches.

Shoppers with young children will find lots of play areas and diversions.

What high-fashion designers will you find at Wrentham Outlets?

A big advantage, aside from price, of shopping at the Wrentham Outlets is that you may find many more selections of a particular designer's fashions that you're likely to see in a regular stores carrying only one or two lines each season. 

For example, if you're DKNY or BCBG Max Azria fan, you can explore entire shops full of their things here at Wrentham - very nicely discounted!  Not surprisingly, you'll get the biggest bargains on the most expensive items. 

At the shoe stores, such as Converse, you'll find all of the current season shoes - usually with all colors in all sizes.  (As the parent of a teenage girl, l especially appreciate this.)  Prices on current-season merchandise are generally are in line with what you'd pay at DSW, but the selection here is much more larger.  Head over to their sales bins of prior-season items for the most exciting savings - in my experience, typically around 65 - 75%.

Other designer labels that you'll see include Ellen Tracy, Elie Tahari, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Karen Millen, Kenneth Cole, Salvatore Ferragamo, Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Liz Claiborne, Carolina Herrera, Polo Ralph Lauren, Balenciaga, Diane von Furstenberg, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, and Yves Saint Laurent.  By no means is this a complete list!

Stores tend to come and go, so you may not find the same labels or outlets each time you come, but the high quality and big bargains remain the same.

What Boston stores will you find at Wrentham Outlets ?

You'll discover the outlet version of familiar Boston stores - Ann Taylor, Gap, Chico's, The Limited, Bebe, Aeropostale, French Connection, American Eagle Outfitters, J. Jill, Barney's New York, Benneton, Johnston and Murphy, PacSun, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, White House Black Market, Hollister, Talbots, Forever 21, and Eddie Bauer - just to name a few.

And of course, you'll also see discounted versions of brands - Kate Spade, BCBG Timberland, Easy Spirit, Coach, Puma, Merrell, Jimmy Choo, Nike, Spyder, Under Armour, UGG Australia, New Balance . . . well, you get the idea.

And there's more than just clothes.  Check out the high-end home furnishings - Le Creuset, Brookstone, Restoration Hardware, Waterford, Villeroy & Boch, Williams-Sonoma, and more.  Much more. 

Even Sony and GameStop are here.  You should be too! 

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets mall dining options

You'll find a great selection of casual eateries and restaurants within Wrentham Village. 

If you're lucky, you may get to hear the talented "Fudgeries" singing tempting songs about fudge to lure you inside.

Too busy to linger over a meal?  Zip by the Godiva Chocolatier or Lindt Chocolate for take-home goodies.

Is the Wrentham Outlets shopping center worth the drive?

Even though Wrentham Outlets is a bit of a drive from Boston, you'll see why it's one of the most popular Boston shopping malls once you experience the savings. 

If you're looking for the discount version of the Boston retail scene, Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is where you'll find your favorite Boston stores and Newbury Street designers.  You'll understand why every Boston shopping guide places Wrentham Outlets in the "must visit" category!

So depending on how much shopping - and buying - you're planning to do, yes, coming here is definitely worth the gas and time for the drive.

If you're visiting Boston in car-free mode, is it worth renting a car a the day to come to Wrentham Outlets?  Yes, if you love shopping.  Think of it this way:  the cost of your rental car is what you'll spend on "entertainment" for the day - and then if you buy things you'd normally buy anyway, you'll save enough money to pay for the car and treat yourself to a really nice dinner or 2 once you return to Boston.

Details and Directions to Wrentham Outlets

Location:  Route 1A at the Interstate 495 intersection, Wrentham, MA
Directions from Boston: I-93 S to I-95 S to I-495 N, Exit 15; - or I-90 W to I-495 S, Exit 15
More information:  508-384-0600; website 
Parking: Free outdoor parking lot
Best tip for extra savings: If you're 50 or older, you can get an extra 10% discount at many of the stores in the mall.  Ask for the "50 Plus Shopper Discount;" not all stores offer it but the number that do is growing.
Shopping tip:  Wrentham Village typically gets very crowded on holidays such as Memorial Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday"), and weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas