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Burlington: Store Locations, Hours & Shopping Guide

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Last Updated: October 18, 2026

What Is Burlington and What Does Burlington Sell

Burlington is an off-price department store chain offering brand-name apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods at steep discounts versus traditional department stores. It operates nationwide, and Burlington store locations in central Connecticut include stores near Bristol, Waterbury, and Wallingford.

The model centers on buying overstock, past-season, and closeout merchandise from major brands and department stores, passing the savings to customers. Stores are laid out in organized departments for women's, men's, and children's clothing, shoes, handbags, and home décor.

Shopping here takes a different mindset: inventory changes frequently, selection varies by location and week, and finding specific items takes patience. But the value is straightforward, name-brand merchandise at 40-60% below regular retail prices, a reliable destination for budget-conscious shoppers in Bristol, Terryville, Plainville, and nearby towns.

Burlington Store Locations and Hours Near You

How to Find Your Nearest Store

Finding a Burlington store in central Connecticut comes down to one reliable tool: the retailer's official store locator. Enter a zip code, 06010 for the Bristol area is a useful starting point, and the locator returns nearby stores with street addresses, phone numbers, driving directions, and current hours. Because store counts and addresses change as the chain opens, closes, or relocates units, the locator is the only source that stays current; third-party directory listings and map pins frequently lag by weeks or months.

Search by your starting zip code, then compare the two or three closest results on drive time, whether the store shares a shopping center with other errands, and posted hours. Bristol, Terryville, Plainville, and Unionville residents generally find the shortest drives; Southington, Wolcott, Plymouth, Farmington, and New Britain shoppers usually have multiple options and can pick by traffic and hours. Waterbury, Meriden, Wallingford, Torrington, and Naugatuck are still within a comfortable drive of at least one location.

Two habits help: open the individual store page rather than the map view for the phone number and location-specific notes, and re-check hours on the morning of your trip, especially around holidays, since stores adjust schedules independently.

Store Hours and Contact Information

Burlington stores generally run extended hours seven days a week, with the longest schedules Monday through Saturday and a shorter window on Sunday. The chain's standard pattern is roughly 9 or 10 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, with Sunday hours starting later in the morning and ending in the early evening.

The most reliable way to confirm hours is to call the store directly using the number on its locator page. A call also answers what the website cannot: whether a department is stocked, fitting rooms are open, or an item seen online is actually on the shelf. Associates can describe the latest truck and which categories are heaviest that week, far more useful than a generic 'in stock' indicator.

For shoppers coming from Terryville, Plainville, Unionville, Southington, Wolcott, or Plymouth, calling ahead takes two minutes and prevents a wasted drive. For those farther out, Waterbury, Meriden, Wallingford, New Britain, or Torrington, the call matters even more, since a longer drive raises the cost of arriving to a closed door.

Pro Tip New merchandise typically lands on the sales floor early in the week. Monday and Tuesday mornings combine the freshest selection with the shortest fitting-room and checkout lines, which is the single best window for a focused shopping trip.

Does Burlington Sell Shoes and Other Footwear

Yes, Burlington carries an extensive footwear selection for men, women, and children, including brand-name athletic shoes, casual footwear, dress shoes, boots, and sandals. Inventory rotates frequently under the off-price model, so styles and sizes change week to week.

Footwear is one of the store's strongest departments, with name-brand shoes at substantial discounts, athletic brands, designer labels, and specialty footwear. Sizes and styles vary by location and date, so what's available in Waterbury may differ from Wallingford or New Britain.

Burlington also stocks socks, shoe care products, and related accessories. Because footwear buying focuses on overstock and closeouts, seasonal selections shift significantly: winter boots dominate fall and early winter, while sandals and lighter footwear take over in spring and summer.

Burlington vs. TJ Maxx: Key Differences in Selection and Pricing

Both Burlington and TJ Maxx are off-price retailers offering discounted brand-name merchandise, but they differ in sourcing, selection, and store experience.

Burlington focuses heavily on overstock and closeout merchandise from department stores and manufacturers, which often means larger quantities of specific items but less variety in total SKUs. TJ Maxx buys excess inventory from a broader range of suppliers.

Burlington organizes merchandise in straightforward departmental sections, making categories easy to navigate, with an efficiency-and-value feel and less elaborate displays. TJ Maxx features more curated, slightly more upscale displays, though both maintain discount retail aesthetics.

Prices on identical items differ minimally, since both buy similar overstock. The real distinction is selection breadth: TJ Maxx carries a wider variety of brands and styles through its larger vendor network, while Burlington may offer deeper inventory on specific items. For shoppers in Bristol, Terryville, Plainville, and surrounding communities, the choice often comes down to location and preference rather than price.

Key Takeaway Both retailers offer genuine value, but Burlington excels for shoppers seeking specific categories with deep inventory, while TJ Maxx provides broader brand variety and selection.

Why Burlington Changed from Coat Factory: The Rebranding Story

Burlington Coat Factory operated under that name for decades as a destination for discounted outerwear and apparel before rebranding to simply "Burlington," a shift toward positioning itself as a full-line off-price department store rather than a coat-focused retailer.

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The rebranding acknowledged market reality: shoppers expected variety beyond coats and increasingly sought complete wardrobes and home goods from one retailer. The name change signaled that evolution and aligned the brand with its actual merchandise mix.

It's a common retail evolution: successful niche retailers expand their assortment and rebrand to reflect broader offerings. The simpler name is more memorable and positions Burlington alongside other general off-price retailers. For shoppers across Waterbury, Wallingford, New Britain, Meriden, and surrounding communities, little changed in the actual shopping experience.

Shopping Tips and Practical Advice for Your Burlington Visit

Plan the Trip Around How Off-Price Inventory Works

Burlington's selection is not a fixed catalog. The chain buys overstock, closeout, and past-season goods from brands and other retailers, so what is on the floor depends on what was available to buy that season and what arrived on the most recent truck. The practical consequence is that a store can be deep in one category and thin in another from one week to the next, and an item you pass on today may be gone tomorrow with no restock. Shoppers who understand this plan differently: they visit more often for shorter trips rather than one long trip, and they buy a find when they see it rather than waiting for a markdown that may never come.

A useful rhythm: check the store early in the week, when new merchandise has just been placed and the floor is least picked-over, and treat weekend visits as a second pass for markdowns and remaining sizes.

Shop by Department, Not by List

Because inventory rotates, a rigid shopping list often fails while a category-by-category sweep succeeds. A practical route through the store:

  • Women's apparel, the largest department in most locations, organized by category (tops, dresses, activewear, denim, outerwear) rather than by brand. Sizes run inconsistently between vendors, so try on rather than assuming your usual size.
  • Men's apparel, dress shirts, casual tops, denim, activewear, and outerwear, with brand names appearing and disappearing week to week.
  • Children's apparel, strong for growing kids because the discount makes frequent replacement affordable; sizes and styles turn over quickly.
  • Footwear, athletic shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes, boots, and sandals. Sizing is the tightest constraint here; a style you like may not exist in your size, so check the box and the shelf tag match before buying.
  • Accessories, handbags, belts, socks, scarves, and jewelry, often the fastest category to browse and a common source of impulse finds.
  • Home goods, bedding, bath, kitchenware, small décor, and seasonal items. This department changes most dramatically by season and is where the discount versus full-price retail is often widest.

Inspect Before You Buy

Off-price merchandise includes overstock, closeouts, and occasional returns, so a quick inspection prevents most problems. Check seams, zippers, buttons, and hems; confirm shoes in a box match each other and the marked size; and look over home goods for chips, missing pieces, or opened packaging. Most items are in perfect condition, but quality control isn't uniform the way it is at full-price retail.

Know the Practical Details Before Checkout

A few details smooth the visit. Bring a reusable bag if you'd rather not buy one at the register. Confirm the return window and receipt requirements before leaving, the policy is printed on the receipt and posted online, and keep the receipt with tags attached until you're sure you're keeping the item. Major credit and debit cards and common digital wallets are accepted, but there's no layaway or store financing, so plan purchases accordingly.

Shoppers browsing organized clothing racks and home goods displays inside a bright, well-lit retail store with natural lighting from storefront windows
Shoppers browsing organized clothing racks and home goods displays inside a bright, well-lit retail store with natural lighting from storefront windows

Match the Store to the Trip

Shoppers across Bristol, Terryville, Plainville, Unionville, Southington, Wolcott, Plymouth, Farmington, New Britain, and surrounding towns often have more than one location within a reasonable drive. Larger-format stores tend to carry the broadest home goods and footwear assortments, while smaller stores may be stronger in apparel simply because apparel takes the most floor space. Calling the specific store before a longer drive from Waterbury, Meriden, Wallingford, Torrington, or Naugatuck confirms the department you need is stocked.

Watch Out Avoid Saturday afternoons and weekday evenings after 6 PM if you plan to try things on or browse carefully. Fitting-room waits and checkout lines peak then, and a crowded floor makes it harder to spot the one-off finds that make an off-price trip worthwhile.

Returns, Payment, and Customer Service Policies

Burlington maintains customer-friendly return and exchange policies reflecting its off-price positioning. Most items can be returned within a specified timeframe with a receipt; the exact window and conditions appear on your receipt and the Burlington website.

Payment options include all major credit cards, debit cards, and digital methods. Layaway and special financing are not typically offered, though this varies by location; standard payment methods work at all locations for shoppers in Bristol, Waterbury, Wallingford, New Britain, and surrounding communities.

Customer service focuses on efficient, straightforward help: associates locate items, answer sizing and fit questions, and process returns. Service may not match full-price department stores, but most shoppers find staff helpful and knowledgeable about inventory and policies.

For specific questions about returns, exchanges, or policies, contacting your local store directly provides the most accurate information. Store locators include phone numbers for each location, making it easy to call ahead with questions. Whether you're shopping in Terryville, Plainville, Unionville, or other central Connecticut towns, consistent policies apply across all Burlington locations.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Burlington and TJ Maxx?

Both are off-price retailers offering brand-name merchandise at discounts, but they differ in ownership and selection. Burlington focuses on apparel, shoes, and home goods with frequent inventory turnover. TJ Maxx carries similar categories but operates under a different parent company. Store experience and merchandise mix vary by location, so visiting both helps you find which fits your shopping style better.

Does Burlington sell shoes?

Yes, Burlington carries a wide selection of footwear for men, women, and children. You'll find brand-name shoes at discount prices, including casual, athletic, and formal styles. Shoe inventory changes regularly since Burlington operates on an off-price model, so availability varies by store and visit date.

Why did Burlington change its name from Coat Factory?

Burlington Coat Factory rebranded to simply 'Burlington' to reflect its expanded merchandise beyond coats. The name change signaled the company's evolution into a full-line off-price department store offering apparel, footwear, home goods, and accessories. The rebrand better represents the diverse product selection shoppers find in stores today.

How do I find a Burlington store near me?

Visit Burlington's official website and use their store locator tool. Enter your zip code or city to see nearby locations, hours, and contact information. You can also call ahead to confirm current hours or ask about specific merchandise availability before making the trip.