Since I found no reviews of any kind on Olde Shrewsbury Village I wanted to briefly recall the…read morehistory and use the last paragraph to give a current description. By doing so the reader will understand my rating. To use a current saying , "it is what it is" but it is certainly not what it was! On my last visit I noticed even the word "Olde" was dropped from the signage.
Designed ahead of its time Olde Shrewsbury was a unique outdoor off price center built in the 1980s. The "shoppes" were designed to resemble an old English village with their brick, stucco with dark wood exteriors which lined a wide brick walk way. In many ways the village resembled a hybrid of the outdoor life style centers and discount outlets which are so popular today.
The Christmas Tree Shop and Decelle were the orginal anchors which shared a 2 story building. The Christmas Tree Shops were originally created as well maintained discount "gift shops" and this location rivaled the compmany's flagship location . The imposing building reflected the C.T.S. original owner's pride. A large lobby with a water fountain and a ceiling decorated with a lighted star constellation (spot lights) greeted visitors. On the lower level Decelles, a New England owned discounted department store chain, on par with Mashalls offered many upscaled brands at great prices (I still recall the Burberry's shirt I bought for around $20 dollars). This upscale discount surrounding set the tone for the rest of the stores.
Steps away Newport Creamery, a Rhode Island ice cream/ coffee shop chain offered indoor table service meals along with outdoor picnic tables. In addition, a few store fronts up a gourmet cafe, which was a 1980s staple in many places, offered fresh flavored coffees (grounded not flavor shots), fancy desserts and sandwiches. Completeing the center were smaller company owned discount outlets, like Swank, a maker of leather belts and wallets, and some gift shops. These village's stores were new to this immediate and often drew crowds on the weekends.
Unfortunately, business must have declined after a few years for a number of factors. First, a newer larger discount designer mall opened in nearby Worester (no longer there) followed a super sized premium outlet about 40 minutes away. In addtion, the stores unique to this region went out of business including The Newport Creamery, Decelle, along with some smaller one of a kind stores. More recently, newer shopping centers and discount stores have opened nearby. In response to declining business, the Olde Shrewburry owners tore down a large portion of the quaint shops to open the center to rt 9 and create more of a big box shopping center and painted over the orginal buildings with bright pastel colors to attract new businesses and shoppers.
Today, the village is more like a power center . A large Jo Ann' s Fabric Store and Sear Outlet Store ocuppy the western half of the center. The former Newport Creamery now houses a Cape Cod Crafter, an assignment gift store. A Yankee Candle Store (retail not outlet I believe) is located next to The Christmas Tree Shop. The once welcoming lobby of this anchor lacks its former luster. The water fountain is turned off (on my last visit anyway), the ceililing star concellation no longer (painted over?) in use and an array of sale merchadise sady crowd the entry way much like a indoor yard sale (see review for Christmas Tree Shop Shrewsbury). Decelle on the lower level which was replaced by a Burlington Coat Factory now is vacant, as the latter business relocated in a near by plaza. Ironically, beside the Christmas Tree Shop the little gourmet cafe remains. Thought the menu has changed, and possibly the owners, the decor, along with the tables and chairs are original. Stopping in for a soft drink and snack may give a shopper a reminder or an idea of what Olde Shrewburry Village once was.While this center may be no better or worst than the others the village is no longer the "tourist drawn" unique, upscale, discount center the place was created to be.
