Boscov's

Boscov's at 2910 N 5th Street Hwy in Reading, Pennsylvania, is a full-line department store serving shoppers in Berks County and the surrounding region. The location sits along the Fifth Street Highway corridor in the northern part of the Reading area, a stretch of retail and commercial property that draws traffic from Muhlenberg Township, Laureldale, Temple, Blandon, Leesport and the city itself. The store carries clothing for men, women and children, footwear, accessories, home furnishings, housewares, seasonal merchandise and more under one roof, following the traditional department store format that has largely disappeared from many American markets.

The store can be reached by phone at +1 610-779-2000 for questions about departments, merchandise availability, store hours and services.

Company History and Local Connection

Boscov's has deep roots in Reading. The company began with Solomon Boscov, an immigrant who arrived in Berks County and started out selling household goods door to door before opening a small shop in the city. What started as a single storefront grew over generations into a regional chain operating across Pennsylvania and several neighboring states, including New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and parts of New England. The company remained in family hands through that expansion and is widely described as the largest family-owned department store chain in the United States.

Albert Boscov, Solomon's son, led the company for much of its modern history and was closely associated with civic and economic development work in Reading and Berks County. The corporate headquarters has stayed in the Reading area rather than relocating to a larger metropolitan market, which gives the Fifth Street Highway store an unusual relationship to the chain as a whole: it operates in the company's home territory, among customers who in many cases have shopped the brand across multiple generations.

That history also shapes how the store presents itself. The merchandising approach leans on full departments staffed by people who know their areas, frequent storewide sale events, coupon offers and a clearance section where markdowns are consolidated. Seasonal displays, particularly around the winter holidays, are a long-standing part of the store's identity.

Departments and Merchandise

As a full-line department store, the Reading location organizes its sales floor into distinct departments rather than general aisles. Typical areas found at Boscov's stores include:

• Women's apparel, including casual wear, career clothing, dresses, outerwear, intimates and plus sizes
• Men's apparel, from suits and dress shirts to casual clothing, denim and activewear
• Children's and juniors' clothing, along with infant and toddler merchandise
• Shoes for the whole family, including dress, athletic and work footwear
• Handbags, luggage, watches and fashion accessories
• Fine jewelry, with staff available to assist with engagement rings, gifts and special-occasion purchases
• Cosmetics and fragrance counters
• Home textiles such as bedding, bath towels, curtains, drapes and window treatments
• Housewares, small kitchen appliances, cookware and tabletop goods
• Furniture and mattresses, along with patio and outdoor furniture in season
• Toys, games and gift merchandise
• Seasonal departments that rotate through holiday décor, summer outdoor goods and back-to-school items

Price points across these departments generally cover a mid-range span, with national brands sitting alongside private-label lines. Promotional events, storewide sales and coupon offers run regularly throughout the year, and clearance merchandise is typically gathered in a dedicated area of the store where markdowns from across departments are consolidated.

Services and Shopping Options

The Reading store supports several ways to shop. In-store shopping remains the primary format, with onsite services available in the departments themselves. For customers who prefer not to browse the sales floor, curbside pickup is offered, allowing an order to be collected without entering the building. Delivery is available as well, which is particularly relevant for larger purchases such as furniture and mattresses. Same-day delivery is not offered at this location.

Boscov's also extends a discount to active military personnel. Customers should bring valid identification and ask at the register or a department counter for details on how the discount applies to a given purchase.

For payment, the store accepts credit cards, debit cards and checks. The chain also maintains its own store credit program, which customers often use in connection with promotional offers and sale events.

Accessibility and Parking

The building has a wheelchair accessible entrance, and the parking lot includes wheelchair accessible spaces. The store sits in a retail area with surface parking, so vehicle access is straightforward and parking is available directly outside. The Fifth Street Highway location is served by local road connections north of the city and is reachable from nearby routes that carry traffic between Reading and the communities to the north and east.

Planning a Visit

The store is laid out to accommodate both a quick errand and a longer browsing trip. Shoppers heading in for a single item, a gift or a specific department can usually get in and out efficiently, while those exploring furniture, jewelry or home goods may want to allow more time, since those purchases often involve consultation with department staff.

A few practical notes for first-time visitors:

• Calling ahead at +1 610-779-2000 is the quickest way to confirm whether a specific item or size is in stock before making the trip.
• Furniture and mattress purchases generally involve delivery scheduling, so it helps to have room measurements and preferred delivery windows in mind.
• Sale events and coupon promotions change throughout the year, and timing a visit around them can make a noticeable difference on larger purchases.
• Holiday periods bring heavier traffic and extended seasonal merchandise, so weekday visits tend to be calmer than weekends in November and December.

For Berks County residents, the Fifth Street Highway Boscov's functions as one of the area's remaining traditional department stores, covering apparel, home goods, furnishings and gifts in a single location with staffed departments, delivery and curbside pickup options, and the company's home-market connection to Reading.