June/July 2005 Cover Story Features Global Outlets

Cover Story

State of the Industry
A maturing outlet industry in 2004 saw only one new center open as the nation’s project count fell to 225, the lowest number since the early 1990s. But an ability to evolve has sustained the outlet business, whose centers - especially new ones - are bigger than ever.

Features

Latecomer Catching Up
Borders Outlet stores began to spring up in outlet centers just three years ago, building on a base of 14 outlets in conventional retail and streetfront locations. Now the book titan operates two-dozen outlet stores, most of them in outlet centers, and it has plans to open several more.

Hanging Ten into Outlets
Lifestyle apparel retailer Hang Ten, after opening four outlet stores in April, says it could open a total of 30 outlet units over the next five years.

Seattle Premium Outlets
For Chelsea Property Group, the opening on May 5 of Seattle Premium Outlets had special significance: No stores opened prior to the grand opening as the developer aimed to give greater impact to the new center, veering from its habit of gradually opening over a couple of weeks.

Priming the Pump
Baltimore-based Prime Retail plans to spend $100 million to update and expand its 30-property portfolio.

Movie Madness
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers partners with DreamWorks in a marketing campaign that ties into the animation studios’ early summer offering, “Madagascar.” And Rockvale Outlets in Lancaster, Pa., prepares to introduce a new ongoing event, an outdoor film fest that takes dead aim on families.