Whitney L.
Yelp
Probably one of the closest outlets near Silver Spring area. I personally like this location better than Hagerstown Premium Outlets because of customer service, stores and overall layout.
Parking is somewhat frustrating here as the lot feels a bit far from the actual stores. It's interesting because there's so much free parking available but just walking to the outlet feels like a trip. I don't always mind it as I rather park further away from other vehicles but if I'm ever in a rush or time-crunch, it feels like a hassle just trying to maneuver my way to the stores.
I decided to go Black Friday shopping here and the deals were amazing. Kate Spade essentially had most items at 70% off with an additional 25% taken off afterwards. On top of that, most stores at this location take military and student discounts (I believe 10-15% off) on a regular basis. There were a lot of rude customers on Black Friday but store employees were prepared and came with positive energy. Again, customer service here is definitely much better compared to other Outlets I've been at.
I returned today just to walk around and went into AllSaints. The vibe was completely different and the entire outlet felt empty. On top of that, I wasn't greeted whenever I entered a store and not a single employee at AllSaints was on the floor when I walked in. With just one week apart, it definitely felt like a completely different experience.
The selection of stores is amazing! I think there's a great variety of brands that's geared towards pretty much anyone. I went into Adidas, AllSaints, Ann Taylor, Armani, ASICS, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Columbia, Express, Gap, J Crew, Journeys, Kate Spade, LOFT, Michael Kors, NIKE, Old Navy, Saks, Tory Burch and UGG. There's more stores as well but I didn't have time to visit them all!
The layout of this outlet is wonderful. It's outdoors but there's two levels with stairs, escalators and elevators to get around with. Bathrooms are very clean and there's plenty of stalls, sinks and mirrors. There's a Starbucks available and the baristas do a great job with the holiday beverages. I've only been to the food court once for Kung Fu Tea (which was also up to par with their boba) but I can't comment on the actual food.
Would like to shop here more regularly now compared to the local malls in my area. It's definitely worth the deals!