San Marcos Outlet Malls are the Biggest Shopping Destinations in Texas
business, outlet malls, shopping, stores,
Let’s talk shopping.
Together‚ Prime Outlets and the adjacent Tanger Outlet Center‚ sepa rated by a sole street in San Marcos‚ are considered the third most popular destination in the state‚ clocking more than 6 million visitors each year.
They boast 240 name-brand stores and more than 1.2 million square feet of shopping space. That’s the size of 21 football fields‚ including the end zones.
Owned by different companies‚ Prime and Tanger nonetheless jointly promote their offerings as one big piece of shopping heaven.
“We are true neighbors‚” says Michelle Carswell‚ general manager of the Tanger Outlet Center.
Janet Paulsen‚ Prime’s Georgia-based regional vice president of marketing‚ said the two outlets not only pool marketing funds but also jointly sponsor events‚ like Thanksgiving night’s “Midnight Madness.” That is when stores open at midnight and Centerpoint Road‚ which separates the two complexes‚ closes down for what turns into a big block party.
Prime is the larger of the two‚ and within the last two years expanded with some 30 new luxury stores. A Gucci store will open in 2008. In 2007‚ it got Lucky Brand Jeans‚ a label favored by the Hollywood set‚ and Georgio Armani.
“You don’t need to go to New York‚ L.A. or Chicago any longer‚” Paulsen says. “These are the actual same dresses you will see on a red carpet.”
At Tanger‚ a Tourneau outlet selling luxury watches opened in July 2007‚ joining other newcomers such as Esprit and American Eagle and veterans such as Liz Claiborne‚ The Disney Store‚ Tommy Hilfiger and Nautica.
A 2005 study of top tourism attractions commissioned by the state found the San Marcos shopping haven was the ninth most popular destination for out-of-state visitors. For Texas residents‚ it was No. 1.
Story by Pamela Coyle
Photo by Brian McCord
