Vermont Shopping Malls & Outlets

University Mall in South Burlington is Vermont's largest shopping mall at 610,693 square feet. It is the only enclosed shopping mall remaining in Vermont following the closure of CityPlace Burlington in 2022. The U-Mall features 77 shops including anchor stores Target, JCPenney, and Kohl's, plus H&M, specialty retailers, a food court, and restaurants including Applebee's and IHOP. The mall offers climate-controlled shopping year-round with free parking and is conveniently located at 155 Dorset Street.

Manchester Designer Outlets in Manchester Center is Vermont's premier designer outlet destination, featuring over 40 designer boutiques spread across 24 individual buildings. The outlets include high-end brands like Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Armani, Brooks Brothers, Theory, Vineyard Vines, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the Orvis flagship store. The outlets have been family-run for over 30 years and offer a unique shopping experience in southern Vermont's scenic setting. Additional outlet shopping can be found at Essex Outlets (The Essex Experience) in Essex, which features 23 outlet stores including Polo Ralph Lauren, Carter's, Van Heusen, and Bass Shoe.

Yes, Church Street Marketplace in Burlington is open year-round. The outdoor pedestrian mall operates Monday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm, though individual store hours may vary. Named the No. 1 Public Square in America by USA Today in 2022, the Marketplace features 100+ shops and restaurants along four blocks of historic cobblestone walkways. While it's an outdoor mall, the bi-level street-side and subterranean shops are accessible year-round. The Marketplace hosts seasonal events, holiday festivities, and street performances throughout the year. Parking is available at the Downtown Garage (2 hours FREE daily with ParkMobile) and all city-owned facilities are free on Sundays and holidays.

Vermont's state sales tax rate is 6% on most items. However, some municipalities impose an additional 1% local option tax, bringing the total to 7% in cities like Burlington, Killington, and Middlebury. Vermont offers significant tax savings on essential items: most clothing, groceries, and prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax. Special rates apply to certain categories: restaurants are taxed at 9% (plus 1% local where applicable), alcoholic beverages at 10% (plus 1% local where applicable), and short-term car rentals at 9%. Motor vehicle purchases are subject to the standard 6% state rate. This makes Vermont particularly attractive for clothing shopping compared to neighboring states.

Vermont offers numerous destinations for authentic local products. For maple syrup, visit Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock (500-acre farm with free cheese and syrup samples), Vermont Maple Outlet in Jeffersonville (100+ years family tradition), Vermont Maple Museum on Route 9 (largest maple product selection), or Green Mountain Sugar House in Ludlow. The Quechee General Store is the only independently-owned Cabot affiliate and features extensive cheese and maple selections. Shelburne Farms Store offers award-winning artisan cheddar that won 1st place at the 2025 American Cheese Society competition. For unique products, try Runamok Maple's infused syrups (Cinnamon, Ginger, Cocoa Bean), Big Picture Farm's goat milk caramels, or Butterfly Bakery's Maple Rum Chipotle Hot Sauce. Quechee Gorge Village is excellent for one-stop shopping with Vermont Spirits, Vermont Alpaca Store, Danforth Pewter, and specialty foods all in one location.

Diamond Run Mall in Rutland opened in 1995 as a 445,000-square-foot enclosed shopping center with anchor stores Sears, JCPenney, and Kmart, plus over 60 inline stores. The mall experienced significant decline throughout the 21st century, losing Sears in 2014, JCPenney in 2015, and Kmart in 2018. By 2014, occupancy had dropped below 50%. The mall began evicting remaining tenants in 2019, and the last business (Joli Hair Salon) vacated in October 2019. The property has been approved for redevelopment as a Walmart Supercenter with a planned opening in 2027. The Diamond Run Mall received demolition permit approval under Act 250 in October 2025, marking the next step in its transformation.

Vermont has exceptional artisan galleries throughout the state. Artisans Hand Craft Gallery in Montpelier is an award-winning Vermont State Craft Center established in 1978, featuring over 130 artisans working in jewelry, pottery, glass, fiber, wood, and metal. Vermont Artisan Designs in downtown Brattleboro offers extensive handmade crafts including paintings, sculpture, blown glass, pottery, silk scarves, and custom furniture with gift wrapping and shipping services. In Woodstock, Collective - The Art of Craft is an artist-owned cooperative gallery at 47 Central Street featuring twelve members and guest artists. Stowe offers Remarkable Things at Stowe Craft (35+ years in business), while Bennington features Hawkins House (premiere gift gallery since 1977) and the Bennington Museum gift shop. The Vermont Antique Mall at Quechee Gorge Village spans 18,000 square feet with 150+ dealers offering antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, pottery, and collectibles across three floors.

Yes, all major shopping malls and outlet centers in Vermont offer free parking. University Mall, Maple Tree Place, Essex Outlets, Manchester Designer Outlets, Central Vermont Marketplace, and Quechee Gorge Village all provide complimentary parking lots. In downtown Burlington at Church Street Marketplace, parking is available at the Downtown Garage with 2 hours FREE daily (must check in via ParkMobile app), and the Marketplace Garage offers FREE 1 hour parking Monday through Friday. All city-owned parking facilities in Burlington are completely free on Sundays and holidays, including on-street parking, the Marketplace Garage, and Downtown Garage. Handicapped parking is free for 24 hours at all Burlington meters and municipal garages with proper display of a placard or plate. In Montpelier, parking is free during evenings, weekends, and legal holidays.

Vermont shopping offers a distinctive experience focused on local, artisan, and agricultural products you won't find elsewhere. The state's cold winters and thawing springs create perfect maple-sugaring cycles, producing some of the world's finest maple syrup from generations of family sugarhouses using traditional wood-fired evaporators. Vermont's dairy farms produce exceptional farmstead cheeses from grass-fed cows and goats, with many creameries controlling the entire milk-to-cheese process for distinctive, terroir-driven products. The state has a thriving artisan community with over 130 craft galleries, cooperative artist studios, and specialty shops featuring handmade jewelry, pottery, blown glass, woodwork, and textiles. Vermont's tax-free status on most clothing provides significant savings. The shopping landscape combines traditional enclosed malls like University Mall with unique outdoor experiences like Church Street Marketplace (USA Today's #1 Public Square), historic antique malls, designer outlets in picturesque settings, and farm stores where you can sample products directly from producers.

The best shopping times in Vermont depend on your preferences and what you're seeking. Weekday mornings offer the fewest crowds at all shopping centers. Fall foliage season (late September through October) is peak tourist season - shopping destinations are busiest but offer special events and seasonal products; arrive early for best parking and selection. Winter months (November-March) are ideal for visiting University Mall and other enclosed centers for climate-controlled comfort, while outdoor Church Street Marketplace takes on a festive atmosphere with holiday decorations and events. Spring (April-May) coincides with maple sugaring season - perfect for visiting sugarhouses and maple outlets for fresh syrup. Summer (June-August) is excellent for Church Street Marketplace's outdoor experience, farmers markets, and craft fairs. Holiday shopping peaks around Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas season, and summer holidays. For best deals, visit Manchester Designer Outlets during off-season months (January-March, November) when outlets offer additional discounts to attract shoppers during slower periods.