Planning for the Berkshire Mall began in the late 1960s. Sears was announced as the first major planned tenant in November 1967; to replace its nearby Shillington location which had opened in 1956. Construction began in 1968, with an “official” kickoff in November of that year. The mall opened in February 1970, and it was boasted as the first enclosed shopping mall to open in eastern Pennsylvania outside of the Philadelphia area.
The 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”.
The first three anchor tenants were Sears on the north end, John Wanamaker’s on the south end and Lit Brothers in the center anchor. Lit Brothers closed in 1975 and was replaced by Pomeroy’s.
The iconic John Wanamaker’s Eagle statue sat just outside the main entrance to the store. It served as a familiar meeting spot for mallgoers. In 1995 Wanamaker’s converted all of its stores into “Hecht’s”, including the Berkshire Mall anchor. This lasted another year and was replaced by a Strawbridge’s Department Store in 1996. After the company folded the Berkshire Mall’s outdoor eagle was given to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary where it still stands. The smaller inside eagle statue was given to Reading Public Library. Another interior eagle from a Lehigh Valley store ended up at Exeter High School.
Strawbridge’s went defunct completely in 2006, but vacated its anchor spot at the Berkshire Mall in 2002. Boscov’s closed their “West” location and moved into that anchor to replace Strawbridge’s.
In the mid-1980s Pomeroy’s was sold to the BonTon, and transitioned into the new branding in 1989.
An upper level food court, The Terrace Cafe, held its grand opening December 7-10, 1989. It replaced a Victorian themed mini-mall known simply as “Lamp Post Lane”. A popular animatronic entertainment restaurant called Gadget’s was a part of this upstairs area between 1982 and 1984.
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.
In April of 2018 the Bonton announced it was in bankruptcy and proceeding with liquidation of all of its assets. The center anchor closed by the end of June of that same year. In October of 2018 the long-time struggling Sears also finally underwent bankruptcy and proceeded with liquidation. Within the span of 6 months the Berkshire Mall went from fully occupied with anchors to only one.
In September 2020, Allied Properties sold the mall to a New York based firm called Namdar Realty Group. Their reviews online are less than stellar and the fate of the Berkshire Mall is yet to be determined.
Shop Berkshire Mall Vintage Apparel
Source: Wikipedia
[…] Berkshire Mall was opened in 1970, and had an interesting clock “tower” located In front of what was […]
[…] 1982-1984 there was a cutting edge restaurant called “Gadget’s” upstairs at the Berkshire Mall. It featured animatronic singing robots as entertainment. For kids, Looney Tunes was the featured […]
My rare chance I saw this post on Facebook and even rarer was that I saw this specific post. My father was the general contractor that worked on Gadgets in the Mall, he did all of the painting and construction and other work during setup. Here’s a fact that most didn’t know the original name wasn’t Gadgets, it was Gizmo’s and the name was changed before opening. Werner Brothers, if I remember correctly created this venue, my dad also went to Youngstown, Ohio to do that build out as out well but do to extremely high rates of unemployment he was threatened by Union Labors, loss of life and to burn his equipment and trucks into the ground. He was forced to leave the job and sublet it to Union Labor in Ohio. My father is Mike Schmidt Painting Contractor.
Thanks for sharing this Michael! Sorry your Dad had to deal with that
I am so glad I saw this. Most people act like I am crazy when I mention Gadgets. This place was a very important part of my childhood. My mom and step father had a quiet wedding with just her 2 children, my stepfather’s 2 children, the pastor and I believe it was the pastor’s wife that served as witness. They took us to Gadgets after the ceremony to celebrate. I vividly remember the place, but it seems like I am only one of a few who do.
I remember Gadgets! It replaced the Restaurant & Bar that used to be in that spot in the ’70’s!
[…] profits as a result. The effort was too little too late, however, as established malls like the Berkshire had already started hammering nails into the coffin of downtown being a popular shopping […]
[…] Kaleidoscope was a store in the Berkshire Mall in the 70s. It sold jewelry, black lights and other psychedelic things. You could also get your […]
I miss Mountain Magic which was an island store that sold all of that cool hippie stuff! 😀
I remember Kaleidoscope!
Upstairs back in 1976, there used to be on the left side a Pearle Vision, a Renee Hairstylers, a Restaurant that looked over the railing from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor & a Video Arcade.
On the left side of the 2nd floor there was a Barber Shop and a few other smaller stores that I don’t remember (I don’t remember the names of the Barber shop or the restaurant, but it was a really good restaurant!).
I used to work at Renee Hairstylers and later at a little Jewelry store called “Just for Her” on the 1st floor right next to Pomeroy’s / the Bon Ton right in front of the fountain.
Next to us was the Tobacco store – where they sold marijuana pipes, papers & paraphernalia and also sold Lottery tickets – when the 1st came out!
We were right in front of the fountain…I hate to say it, but we were glad at times when they turned it off because our store was mostly open on both sides and it was hard to hear the customers!
Across from us on the other side was a Gordon’s Jewelers and to the left of them going around the corner was a National Central Bank.
We also had a good, old Woolworth’s in the center on our side of the mall!
Across from the National Central Bank was a very busy Donut, Bakery & Coffee shop – even though I worked there in the early ’80’s serving & decorating big pan size cookies (popular at the time) and cupcakes, I don’t remember the name!
Spencer’s Gifts is still where it used to be ever since it opened when the mall opened!
There used to be a Radio Shack next to it.
I also worked at Arby’s, which was then located at the Sears end of the mall in the little hallway off to the left of Sears, across from a Pizza place (actually a few pizza places came & went there) and next to the Pet Store.
In the ’80’s there was a “Glamour Shots” on the corner (where the Coffee Beanery ended up), and a Mrs Field’s Cookies next to that where they baked fresh cookies!
Donuts Galore was the name of the corner donut shop. The girls that worked at the counter wore uniforms… mugs of coffee were served at the counter. I think! I was pretty young
The Restaurant upstairs was a Restaurant / Bar that was open past mall hours – I think until 10 or 11 pm.
It was replaced in the ’80’s by Gadgets Restaurant – and very unique thing at the time.
There was also a BIG, old time Berkshire Theatre at the left corridor on the Sears end!!
It was a great movie theatre!
One of the last Big ones around!
I saw Star Wars & Jaws there! Haha
John Wanamaker’s was an excellent store.
My sister worked in their classy shoe Department there – Muhammad Ali’s wife used to buy her shoes there!
They also had a Restaurant and a Hair Salon in Wanamaker’s, as well as a beautiful dress Department.
Oh! There was also a Goddard’s upscale store on the 2nd floor that sold anything from vintage jewelry to furniture.
The stairs are the same stairs that were there when the Mall opened…they didn’t interfere with the fountain at all.
In 1975, Wilson (my class) had their “Cap & Gown” Party in the center area of the Mall after mall hours!