Stretch Your Holiday Gift Budget…the Easy Way!

Shop at these amazing San Francisco Outlet Stores!

by Deborah Burstyn
SF BAWJ Staff Writer

Are you looking for some great ways to stretch your holiday gift budget? Then consider shopping at some of the fabulous outlet stores in the SF Bay Area.

These hidden gems are often just that…hidden. But we’ve done the leg work for you and here are some of our favorites SF Bay Area Outlet Stores:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory
1111 139^th Avenue (at Rose Drive)
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 346-3146

Here you can have it all – quality chocolate in quantity at bargain prices

At 25% to 75% off retail price, you can buy gifts galore…flavored chocolate squares, gift tins, hot cocoa powder, baking supplies, sundae sauces plus Ghirardelli signature cookbooks, aprons and mitts. No “seconds” here, just the good stuff.

While you’re at it be sure and pick some up for yourself! There’s nothing better than popping a Ghirardelli square into your mouth to get you through the stress of Holiday Shopping!

Crate and Barrel Outlet Store
1785 Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

This is Crate and Barrel’s only Northern California outlet store. You’ll find overstocks, discontinued and out-of-season items.

There’s a little bit of everything and lots of bargain-priced glassware, cookware, kitchen gadgets, garden gear, candles, vases, flatware, bedding and fabric – fabulous fabric, some of it Marimekko.

Mycra Pac Designer Wear Outlet
535 Center Street
Moraga CA 94556
(925) 631-6878

Not only made in U.S.A. but made in Moraga. Who knew? Swooping through here you might find one of the company’s high end designer raincoats. These tend to be lightweight, reversible, water repellant, packable, washable, generously-sized and made from a rainbow of shimmering fabrics. Some are jacket or stadium length.

Regular retail..they cost hundreds of dollars. But here discontinued styles, samples and seconds can be had for 20% to 60% lower than retail!

North Face Outlet
1238 Fifth Street (between Gilman and Harrison)
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 526-3530

Okay, how much difference is there really between last year’s backpack styles and this year’s? Last year’s parka and this year’s? Right. Not much.

You’ll find all kinds of North Face goodies at 60% off retail! One proviso, items purchased at the outlet store do not quality for North Face’s lifetime warranty.

Heath Ceramics Factory Store
400 Gate Five Road,
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 332-3732

Prestigious Heath Ceramics, revered in the highest echelons of modern design, was started in the 1940s by ceramics artist Edith Head in Sausalito. And in Sausalito it remains to this day. Heath pieces are part of museum collections and retail at places like Barney’s New York and Gump’s.

So even at a 30% discount in the factory store, you’re still looking at a chunk of change to own a Heath. For example a chic little brown coffee cup lined in eggshell blue costs $19.25 instead of $27.50. A pumpkin orange serving bowl runs $84 instead of its original $120.

Jessica McClintock Outlet Store
25 15^th Street (between De Haro and Carolina Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 553-8390

San Francisco icon Jessica McClintock’s signature dressy dresses’ factories aren’t here but the company’s main offices are – and have been since the 70s when McClintock first made a name for herself with the Gunne Sax line of calico and lace “granny” dresses favored by Haight Ashbury hippies and later by prom queens and brides across the country.

One of only two outlet stores (the other’s near L.A.), this one features overstocks, past season merchandise, seconds, damaged goods and samples of prom, wedding, cocktail and children’s dresses.

If you enjoyed this article please help us spread the word about the SF Bay Area Women’s Journal! You can e-mail, Tweet or Bookmark it by clicking the Share/Save button!