Seventy years ago, James City County was known only for its wheat and watermelons. Today, the county’s Richmond Road (Route 60) has become known as the “Discount Boulevard of Virginia.”
It all began in 1938, when a young potter named Jimmy Maloney set up his kiln at Lightfoot and began selling copies of early Virginia graffito and saltglaze pottery.
Since then, some of the world’s top manufacturers have opened countless discount outlets along this busy highway, from Williamsburg west to the tiny towns of Lightfoot and Toano. One of the leading ladies’ publications picked Williamsburg as one of the top five shopping destinations in the country.
As you head west on Richmond Road your first stop is Yankee Candle, a new shopping destination with an enclosed mall featuring a variety of shops and a restaurant.
As you continue to travel away from Williamsburg on Richmond Road, Carolina Furniture has its Colonial Village Shopping Center, featuring values on light fixtures, flags and a huge variety of fine furniture.
Prime Outlets is the largest shopping center, with 120 stores and the Williamsburg Attraction Center. Each store provides famous name brands at discounted prices. Prime Outlets was chosen one of the top ten outlet centers in the U.S. by Shopping Center World.
While shopping at Prime Outlets or Williamsburg Outlet Mall, stop by to enjoy an ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry’s. Close by with 40 stores, the Williamsburg Outlet Mall provides enclosed shopping comfort. The mall schedules antique shows and seasonal special events along with many shopping opportunities.
Down Lightfoot Road, directly across Richmond Road, is the Williamsburg Antique Mall, offering 45,000 square feet of dealer space. You can spend hours here looking for one-of-a-kind items.
For original American crafts and fine art, A Touch of Earth has exceptional gifts in stoneware, terra cotta, glass, watercolors and jewelry. In the same block, Boyer’s Diamond & Gold Source offers an incredible selection of all that glitters in precious and semiprecious stones. Quality jewelry is sold here at competitive prices.
The Candy Store Factory Warehouse Outlet tantalizes with tempting sweets, made on-site or imported. They also offer a variety of gourmet items such as Virginia peanuts, preserves, sauces and an assortment of cookies.
The Williamsburg Doll Factory in Norge is well-known as the home of Lady Anne dolls. The owners of the Doll Factory invite customers to watch porcelain Lady Anne dolls in production. Four display galleries, stocked with dolls, houses, miniatures and stuffed animals, are open. In the same complex is The Tumblerstore featuring Tervis Tumblers of every description with a lifetime guarantee. They will even do special orders if you don't see a design you want.
From angels to zoo prints, the bargains – bird bottles, candles, dolls, 18th-century reproduction chairs, brass candlesticks, shirts and ties, shoes and socks, figurines, fine art, cooking pots, dishes, tumblers, diamond rings and golden oldies – are on Richmond Road, where discounters have created a shopper’s dream come true. The number of shops, centered by the Pottery Factory, continues to grow as more and more businesses discover Richmond Road. |
