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Frugal
Fannie's
Frugal Fannie’s
Fashion Warehouse, Frugal Footwear and
K&G MenSmart
One General Way
Reading
617-942-2121
locations also in Westwood and Framingham
(women’s only)
Call us shopping maniacs,
but we’ve never left Frugal
Fannie’s empty-handed! Even if we
didn’t find what we came for, we
always find something we want at a
pleasantly affordable price.
This giant warehouse complex
is really three stores in one. Frugal
Fannie’s Fashion Warehouse sells
great women’s clothes, from casual
to evening ware, at fabulous prices.
Frugal Footwear offers the best discounts
around in women’s shoes and boots.
K&G MenSmart has it all, from suits
to socks. This shopping Mecca is open
only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
(and selected holidays), because during
the week they “are busy getting
ready for the next sale,” or so the
advertisement goes.
Finding Your Way
Around
Once you get inside, don’t be
overwhelmed by the sheer size of the
ground to be covered. You simply need a
plan of attack. As you enter the
building, the Fashion Warehouse is to the
left and cash registers are to the right.
Directly ahead is the small Jewelry Annex
(worth a quick look), and beyond that,
the MenSmart. To get to footwear, breeze
through the Fashion Warehouse or the
men’s store.
Our favorite routine is to
start with the Warehouse. The two rooms
closest to the door hold recent arrivals
and are arranged much as they would be in
a department store, although the racks
are a lot closer together. The real
bargains are deeper into the store, on
long racks that stretch out in the
direction of the shoe department. Here
you will find brand names, mark-downs
from exclusive shops, and miles of
dresses and suits, pants and blouses, and
more coats than anywhere else. We saw
Jones New York jackets at $126, marked
down from $200, and Lizsport blazers at
$40, originally priced at $130. No-name
pants and tops range from $10 to $40.
On to shoes -- our favorite
department! Here, there are no fancy
displays and no cushy seating, just row
upon row of tidily arranged pumps,
loafers and boots. Each style is
displayed atop the inventory for that
item. The prices are clearly labeled for
each shoe, and a colored tag lets you
know how much you are saving. Don’t
miss the “special last pair”
aisle in the back of the store. The very
best bargains are found here, arranged by
size.
If you’re buying for
the man in your life, the next stop
should be the men’s department,
which goes under the name K&G
MenSmart. This area has everything a man
could need, from suits and ties, to
Dockers and denim, to tweed and leather.
On a recent visit, we found a sixty-foot
wall of silk ties for $7.90 each (regular
price $22) and designer silk ties for
$10.90 (regular price $35 and up). Bill
Blass tuxedos were on sale for $150,
while leather jackets were $140, marked
down from $325. Selection and size ranges
are good.
Insider Tips
- The women’s
dressing room is one giant room
covered in industrial gray
carpeting, with racks and mirrors
lining every wall. It does take
some getting used to, but we
think the prices are worth the
self-consciousness.
- Ask to be put on the
mailing list. You will receive
postcards a couple of times every
month highlighting special sales
or merchandise.
- The stock changes
frequently, so it pays to check
in from time to time so see
what’s new. Also, they move
things around a lot, so if you
talked yourself out of buying a
particular item last week and are
reconsidering, browse around to
see if it has been relocated.
Getting There
From Route 128, take Exit 39
(North Street). At the end of the ramp,
head toward Reading. About ¼ mile ahead,
turn left into the industrial park across
from the Exxon station. Frugal
Fannie’s is ahead on the right,
under the bright yellow awnings.
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