Reading/Wyomissing Info Please (Wilson, Schuylkill Haven: apartment complexes, for rent, hotels)

[kf70]

The Giant Food Store should be the same chain you have in MD. There is a newer one in Spring Township, which most folks would consider to be Wyomissing. It's close to the mall, Walmart and Target. There is family owned Redner's Warehouse Markets (it's a grocery chain, not similar to Sam's Club and the like) at the Walmart center and a Weis Markets at the Target. The three are within 5 minutes of each other, convenient to 422, 222 and 183 near the airport.

Wyomissing itself is more suburban with single homes, townhomes and condos. Much of the county's shopping is in Wyomissing - the Berkshire Mall, achored by Sears, The Bon-Ton and Boscov's, plus Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropastle, Gymoboree and more. Old Navy, Toys R Us, TJ Maxx, Circuit City and more are in two separate strips across the street. Broadcasting Square has Target, Ross, Marshalls, Dress Barn, Babies R Us and chain restaurants. Berkshire Square has Walmart, LA Fitness, Once Upon a Child and Staples, plus BK and Pizza Hut. Plus there is Olive Garden, Applebees, Best Buy, the Home Depot, VF Outlet Village and more all within a few miles radius.

West Reading (nothing to do with the City of Reading) is the type of community you are looking for in terms of a downtown area with shopping. It's a typical small town with a main street lined with a drug store, boutiques and more.

I don't know much about those schools, but would consider them each to be worthwhile. Wyomissing is a small district serving West Reading and Wyomissing. I think Wilson is the largest of the three, just to the west servicing Spring Township and the Sinking Spring areas. Conrad Weiser takes you further west, not quite to Lebanon County, serving Wernersville, Robesonia and nearby townships, a "farm school" because of it's rural location and the community surrounding it.

[NYMD67]

Thank you again for all of your input! I appreciate it!
Still waiting to hear if this is going to happen, if it does, I am sure there will be more questions that come to mind.
We want to be sure that when / if a move happens, that we are more "educated" on the area we are moving into.

Thanks so much

[NYMD67]

After reading another thread regarding the friendliness of the native or local people, it leads to another question I have forgotten to ask...
That is-what about the local residents? Are they open & accepting of new people moving into the area? Do you find the parents at the schools to be accepting of the new families? ,etc...
Thanks again!

[myjanuarygirl]

I don't know about parents at the schools, because my two little ones aren't in school yet, but overall I think the people of Berks County are very friendly. For example, I work in downtown Reading and take my baby daughter to work with me. It's always so hard for me to open the door at my building and push my stroller through at the same time. Someone always stops to help me whether I ask for help or not. Same for when I go out shopping. People hold open doors, make friendly conversation in lines, etc.

I've never noticed anyone here not accepting new people to the area. I mean, we don't go bake pies for our new neighbors, but if we see them out we'll say hello and welcome.

[msgrelle]

Does anybody know of an affordable rental in the Reading suburbs?

[NYMD67]

Originally Posted by myjanuarygirl

There is a Giant, Weis, and Redners right in Wyomissing.

I tried looking up on yahoo maps how far the Giant is from Sinking Springs and couldn't get an exact address.
Does anyone know how long it takes to get to a decent grocery store from Sinking Springs?
When we moved here people told us it would only take a "few " minutes to get to the GIant-it takes approx 25 minutes and to me, that is not a FEW minutes.
Any advice on Sinking Springs at all? Looks as though there are some nice homes there and sounds like a small town....

[Stephanie P]

I have been trying to find photos of the Sinking Spring area, but am having a hard time. Can anyone refer me to a website for this?
Thanks to you all!

[ChrisatDuke]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

I tried looking up on yahoo maps how far the Giant is from Sinking Springs and couldn't get an exact address.
Does anyone know how long it takes to get to a decent grocery store from Sinking Springs?
When we moved here people told us it would only take a "few " minutes to get to the GIant-it takes approx 25 minutes and to me, that is not a FEW minutes.
Any advice on Sinking Springs at all? Looks as though there are some nice homes there and sounds like a small town....

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Sinking Spring to the Giant in the West Lawn/Spring Ridge area...I don't think you'll have to worry about the distance to grocery stores. There's probably about 10 Giants within a 25 minute radius.

[1067Top]

Hi NYMD67,
My family lives in South Heidelberg Township near the borough of Sinking Spring. We relocated here from Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1995 and have two (now grown) adopted children from Korea. Our youngest child will be a senior this year at Conrad Weiser.

We consider relocating to Berks County one of the best decisions we've ever made. Generally, all the school districts are very good and we have always been pleased with Conrad Weiser.

As previously noted, you will not have difficulty finding grocery stores. The Giant mentioned earlier is on Shillington Road or Route 724. There is also a Rednars and Shur-Fine on Route 422 in Sinking Spring. There is also a Weis not far from the Giant. Access to all types of shopping is very convenient.

I also concur that the crime seems concentrated in downtown Reading.

I have to chuckle about the native Berks Countians or Pennsylvania Dutch. They have a reputation for being 'cold'. However, we have found most folks are decent, hard working who help others quickly if needed. You will have no trouble making friends if you are involved in your children's school activities, are active in church, etc....

Best of luck to you and your family. You will all like it here.

[kf70]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

I tried looking up on yahoo maps how far the Giant is from Sinking Springs and couldn't get an exact address.
Does anyone know how long it takes to get to a decent grocery store from Sinking Springs?
When we moved here people told us it would only take a "few " minutes to get to the GIant-it takes approx 25 minutes and to me, that is not a FEW minutes.
Any advice on Sinking Springs at all? Looks as though there are some nice homes there and sounds like a small town....

The Giant in Sinking Spring is on Shillington Rd. (PA 724) near the merge with US 222. there is another a few minutes (less than 10 from 724/422 intersection) away, the "West Lawn" location, that is in Spring Township on Van Reed Rd. near State Hill Rd., which is fairly new. The Sinking Spring store is older and I think they have gotten zoning approval to expand (and add gas pumps).