Calhoun Outlet Marketplace — Local services in Calhoun

An Old Navy return to prompted me to take a drive to return in person. They have changed the layout of the products; men & women's clothing are mirror images in the current configuration. It's nice to change things up every now & then.

The cashier greeted me as she saw me walk in with my bag & was helpful & friendly on issuing my refund to my Old Navy card. I then browsed the store to see if I could find other "deals." There is always a deal at Old Navy so I love perusing their online site as well as the store when I make the trip. (It's 20 mi N of where I live 47 mi NW of Atlanta. )

I found a few items in the store & had a short wait for the checkout. We were to charge to my card, which I did not have with me, but they are able to look it up with my social security #. It's convenient that the shopper does not have to carry a card, but continuous use of ss# to access records, from store cards, utility bills, banks, etc. is annoying. Our country needs an ID that is not related to confidential SSA information. The SS# was never meant to be the definitive ID.

Old Navy now sends your receipt to your email. It's convenient & paperless however I have to find out if my Fetch rewards can accept an emailed receipt. Overall, I love Old Navy's prices for jeans, tops, workout wear & children's clothing - especially when items are on clearance & additional store discounts. Someday they'll be paying us to shop there!

As for the remainder of the Outlet Mall, there are several brand stores which have closed, such as Levi's & the Ann Taylor Outlet. Other vacancies in the shops appear to be occupied now with local thrift, antiques & home furnishing stores. The next time I go, I will shop these new stores. It is great to see that staples such as Ralph Lauren Polo, Coach, The Loft, Bali, etc. are still in the shoppes.

I wish this mall continued success as Calhoun is growing with new chain eating establishments, ( Longhorn, Old Country Buffet, many more on Hwy 53 West,) expansion of logistic warehouses for Shaw & Mohawk on Union Grove Rd. & others on 41 South of Calhoun, Love's Travel Truck Stop, etc. Plus, the completion of the Union Grove exit & entrance ramps on I-75 has increased the ease in reaching the outlets Union Grove & Belwood Drive. Some stringent advice; do adhere to the speed limit on Belwood because it is mixed commercial & residential S. of the Outlet Mall & Belwood Elementary school on located on the E. side of Belwood, just S.of the Outlet Mall. Adhere to school signs to keep our children safe & you free from expensive fines for speeding in a school zone.

While you visit the shoppes, you can plan your visit & coordinate a stop at the Calhoun office of the Georgia Department of Driver Services which is locted directly behind the Outlets on Belwood Rd. You may apply for & receive an ID card, exchange your out-of-state license for a GA state license, take computer tests for all forms of licenses there, (temporary permit, driver's license, CDL & any applicable endorsements & school bus driver,) license reinstatement, schedule a Road Test for car & motorcycle, etc. This site is open Tuesday through Friday 8am to 6pm. Visit Dds.ga.gov for identification requirements for all licenses.

A strong word of caution here regarding this relatively 'quiet' DDS office. The manager of this location has demonstrable anger management issues, is hostile to both employees & customers alike & has a bullying demeanor with most he encounters. His name begins with a "C"and he has been with the Department a long time. It's unfathomable that our tax dollars & license fees pay to keep a State employee, who is overwhelmingly rude to the public & subordinates, in a responsible, public-facing position. I hope he has changed and learned that you can be courteous & kind to customers & employees - as he should be! We're in the Bible belt here folks! Learn to treat the least among you the way you would treat Jesus.

Enjoy the Outlet shops! Oh & I notice there is a cafe there too now so shop 'til you drop & rejuvenate...

The Calhoun Outlet Marketplace is about the best place to shop for clothing in the Calhoun area. It is located off the Calhoun Fairmount exit of I75. It is a much more appealing option than fighting traffic in Atlanta. Many people drive for miles, and a lot of customers hail from other counties and even states like Tennessee and Alabama. The prices are much more reasonable than regular retail or online stores, and they frequently offer coupons for an additional percentage off your purchase. You usually just have to send a text to a number that they will give you in order to sign up for the coupons. It's very easy, and a sales associate can walk you through it or even do it for you if you're not tech savvy. It's not a bad idea to check with a sales associate on the floor prior to making your way to the register to ascertain whether or not coupons are available and find out what number to text. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. It might also be a good idea to check in every week or so before your next trip to find out what exactly is on sale. It may be that what you want is not on sale this week and you may want to postpone your visit. Sometimes Coach will have a coupon at the door for an additional 60% or 70% off your entire purchase for that day. I had been saving for a purse that they had, and the very day I had enough to make the purchase, they offered a 70% your entire purchase for that day, and I was able to get a matching jacket! Ralph Lauren has certain items 30-40%off each week. In addition, you can use a coupon, which is usually another 25-30% off. Just don't forget to take the few minutes it requires to access it. Some weeks the Polos or sweaters will be discounted, and the next week it might be long sleeve button downs. So if you need something in particular, you'll want to find out before you go whether or not that item is discounted that week. Just don't bother asking what will be on sale next week, because they don't know. When you make a purchase, be prepared to give your name and your email address to the sales associate who is ringing up your items. Being an established customer not only helps the associate who is trying to do their job and the company keep track of analytics, but it also helps you when you need to return something and have lost your receipt. Your history is saved under your email, and your receipt can easily be found on the computer by a sales representative. So don't be paranoid that Big Brother wants to know what you bought or worry that they are going to send you a bunch of junk emails or hack your account. It will save you money, time and hassle in the long run if you go ahead and sign up. Sadly, In recent months, several stores have closed, slowing traffic a bit, but hopefully others will be coming soon to replace them. This has compelled some shoppers to find their way to Woodstock, as there is also an Outlet Mall there, and it's supposedly a larger Outlet Mall. Stores in the Calhoun Outlet Marketplace are Vanity Fair, The Rackroom, Bath and Body Works, Bealls, Ralph Lauren, Coach, American Eagle, The Gap, Carter's, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, Trendy You, Gymboree, Osh Kosh B'Gosh, Nike, Sunglass Hut The Children's Place, Van Heusen/Izod, Lane Bryant, Claire's Accessories, Austin 5 (where everything in the store , such as maxi dresses are 7.99 and your 5th item is free), and Red Daisy Decor (a cute little family owned shop with antiques, novelty items and hand painted signs for your home. You can get really great deals if you plan ahead and sign up for coupons. Hope this was helpful. Enjoy your...

I have been shopping with Lane Bryant for years, but after going into the store yesterday at the Calhoun Outlets, I will no longer be a returning customer. When I walked into the store I was greeted by a VERY rude employee who stated, "You have to have a mask to shop in here." Alright, that's no trouble. As an RN who works on the frontline of the COVID 19 pandemic, I understand the responsibilities of being responsibly safe during this crucial time in our country. After applying my mask, I found the undershirts I was looking for (and they were half off so I was so very excited) and headed to check out. While the same lady who greeted me was ringing up my undershirts, I asked if all of the stores in the outlet were requiring masks. The lady responded VERY rudely that she was not sure, but that Lane Bryant was requiring them because several employees were immunocompromised. (If employees are immunocompromised, should they be working even if they have a mask)? I informed the woman that I worked in healthcare and I understood. She went on to say in a VERY rude tone, "Well since you are in healthcare I would assume you would be knowledgeable enough to wear a mask when you are out anywhere anyway." I did not respond, took my items and walked out the door. I am assuming her name was Marguerite because that is the name that was listed beside cashier on my receipt. She is a much older lady with short light hair. I do not appreciate how rude she was during my shopping experience. I put my life and my families life on the line every time I walk into work and I make the ABSOLUTE best of days for my patients. I suit up with an N95 mask that I wear under a surgical mask and top it off with a washable cloth mask. I not only protect myself, but I protect my patients as well. I debated and debated on even posting this because I am not the type to stir up conflict. However, I just wanted to give Marguerite some friendly advice and let her know that if she is going to continue to have a job working with the public, she might need to work on her attitude. I understand she could have been having a bad day too and if you were, then I do apologize. However, you might need to step to the restroom and collect yourself before you choose to be rude to a customer. You never know what kind of day someone has had. You don't know if they just finished a 12 hour night shift, fighting for their patients, while some live and some do not. You never know what someone is going through. Be kind. #lanebryant #calhounoutlets...