I discovered the Opp shop while doing a thrift google search of the area. Little did I know it was…read moreliterally right down the street from a Goodwill I've been to twice. How convenient! It's located in a deserted, large shopping complex with the anchor store vacant. The lot is expansive and this store is on the end next to the large vacant property. For that reason I would be leery of going at night alone. Otherwise approaching I could see it was a store with a substantial amount of real estate. Furniture pieces were visible thru the window. I couldn't wait to get inside to explore. Is it the cleanest, most organized store? You can literally see dust balls float across the floor. No...but its full of vintage items as well as pickers. How do I know? You can witness them on the sales floor doing pricing research on their phones while holding tight to an item. I would guess that the majority of the customers were resellers. For that reason, if you see something you like, whether you think it's valuable or just valuable to you grab it. Take a look at that complete set of vintage mushroom canisters I came across. I know they are a highly desirable collectable. I left them for someone else to discover and enjoy. What I would consider highlights for this store is the furniture pieces. Large, small, new and old, like antique old (see pic). The large solid wood wall unit was complete with shelving and lighting and priced at only $299. I'm sure it was a few thousand new. If you dabble in decorative painting and furniture upcycling like I do you'll want to add this store to your thrifting stops. Housewares and decorative items were plenty and arranged better than some departments. I scored some great pieces in this dept that have been on my "thrift wish list "for some time. Toys, crafts, and misc were a huge mess, with piles on the shelves and on the floor without any consideration to order. Prices are very affordable, only a step above yard sale for most items. Linens were stocked well and included a lot of vintage and handmade pieces like crocheted afghans. Clothing was a miss for me. Although I did see they have dressing room the department was so full and clustered together I didn't feel like routing. Shoes I felt were priced high, one price depending on item (see pic) without consideration to brand or condition. DVD's were labeled as half off, but I didn't see a price for comparison. The book department was large and popular. On the day I was there they were constantly adding new items, including furniture pieces, and the pickers were standing ready. This store is part of the Opportunity House, a non profit that offers social services to disadvantaged families, a mission I truly support. The employees were all nice, especially the young man at the register, who provided me with a loyalty card - get it hole punched for each purchase. So while this might not be the best looking or best kept store, it's a great place to hunt for vintage and current items on the cheap.

From the owner: OppShop is a not-for-profit thrift store in Berks County. Our purpose is to support the programs…read moreand services of Opportunity House, a shelter for the homeless in Reading and Berks County.

Look for something unique and different with great prices? Shirlair's Boutique is the speciality…read moreshop you are looking for with a friendly service. I highly recommended this boutique for someone special

Looking for something unique and different with great prices? Shirlair's Boutique is the speciality…read moreshop you are looking for with a friendly service. I highly recommended this boutique for someone special.

Everyone who works there is super nice and friendly! One of the only good stores at the fairgroundsread more

If I had to describe Ollie's, I would call it a warehouse style, discount, department store…read more A bit like a scaled down Walmart combined with a box hardware store that has products like flooring tile that you might not see at Walmart. There's bedding, some electronics, housewares, a pretty large book section, and a lot more. I found some great savings in the non-perishable food section. Probably can save between $2-$3 per item depending on what you need. That can really add up to big savings if you buy 10 or 20 items. One of the things that's a bit more interesting about Ollie's is their "as seen on TV" section that has a lot of discounted, fun and quirky items - such as a night light for inside your toilet bowl.

After being introduced to it on the other side of the state, it was fun to check out a local…read moreversion. I always look quickly through the book section and usually manage to come away with something. My only quibble is that the type of stickers they use really take some doing to come off of books, and often leave a mark. Otherwise, the deals are not as apparent as you're led to believe. A bit like the Costco model: a few big deals to bring you in, and everything else is regular-priced or higher. Don't get suckered...find your deal and get going.

Does not make sense why these guys do not offer samples. you can only order in bulk, which is only…read moreunderstandable if i like the original sample piece. What is a person suppose to do if they order 100 pieces of bulk and it didn't come out the way they liked it?

Jersey Ink will do everything in their power to make you happy. They will work with you to bring…read moreyour brand alive! I just celebrated 10 years in business for Formal Fitness Training and Jersey Ink helped bring it alive!!

(note, they recently moved to the old PharMor building in the Fairgrounds Mall)…read more I hate shoe shopping. Having to ask people for every damn size is such a ridiculous pain. I like to move at my own pace and try on whatever. This place is awesome -- decent selection, and EVERYTHING IS OUT ON SHELVES. No annoying salespeople, just tons of boxes with shoes to try on. And good prices.