Post Scripts: Outlet mall mania

I have previously written about the Tanger and Prime Outlet Malls, located side by side on I-35 about five miles south of where we live. They have been major attractions in this region for quite a few years – even bringing up busloads of Mexicans from across the border on certain weekends which fills the stores and jam-packs the parking lots. Now the Prime Mall is going to become even bigger with more expansion and renovation.

Construction is already underway on the new section, designed to bring the flavor of Venice, Italy to this area at a cost of about $30 million. Featured will be a 137 foot bell tower, a chic replica of the piazza in San Marcos, Italy, including replica facades and artificial canals plus several fountains. While most shoppers go to the malls for discounts and bargains, this new addition will feature a host of Italian luxury brand tenants including Italian luxury brand tenants whose names I cannot pronounce, much less spell.

Once completed, this new addition will add 750,000 square feel of retail space to the already huge acreage occupied by over 300 retail outlet stores. The manager of the mall says the new area will allow mall patrons to relax and to spend more time in the stores. He says the special architecture will further enhance shoppers’ visits there. Even today the malls attract six million visitors a year and the various Texas malls, added together, have become the third largest tourist attractions in the state, second only to the Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk.

The San Marcos city council approved up to $2.5 million in sales tax rebates over seven years as part of an incentive package. The city will return 75 percent of its sales tax revenues generated by the new stores for five years after the expansion and 50 percent for two years thereafter. The good news is the expansion is expected to produce $400,000 to $1 million in new sales tax revenues once occupancy is stabilized.

The reason these malls are given such assistance is that they represent by far the city’s largest sources of sales tax revenue, which make up 43 percent of the city’s annual budget. Plus, the two side-by-side malls are the city’s second and third largest employers, respectively, with 2,800 employees.

Kathy and I enjoy visiting the malls on "slow" days when parking is not a problem. Kathy likes shopping the dress shops while I like to browse the book stores, the newest of which is a Borders Book Outlet. This store, which will double its space as soon as suitable space opens up, is fun to browse in – plus the discounts are exceptional. Best of all; if I cannot find the book I want there, there’s a Half-Price book store about three miles north of our front door! This area is a book-lovers paradise, plus a Cracker Barrel restaurant, plus a hundred other eateries, close by as needed.

How I wish Gallatin was nearby!