Finishing touches being put on Gloucester Premium Outlets

The morning rain that turned piles of dirt into mud hardly fazed about 300 construction workers who went about their jobs to get Gloucester Township's biggest economic development done in time for an Aug. 13 opening.

Simon Property Group, the nation's largest owner of outlet malls, sponsored a hard-hat tour Tuesday to show off the final phase of construction for Gloucester Premium Outlets at Gloucester Township, just off Route 42, Exit 7B.

The last 26 of 90 retailers were also unveiled. including Old Navy Outlet, Converse, Fossil, Jos. A. Bank, Van Heusen, and Starbucks, among others.

"We're creating an open-air, village-like outlet center," said general manager Kristen Murdica. "We're on schedule."

When the single-level mall with LED lighting throughout opens, it will employ 800 people, both full time and part time, she said.

They will be scattered throughout the property, including at a Market Hall with five restaurants - Green Leaf's & Bananas, Kung Pao Wok, South Philly Cheesesteaks & Fries, Umi Teriyaki, and Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen.

There will be an outdoor children's play area.

At the center of the mall will be a Town Square with 6,000 square feet of green space and artificial grass, with open seating, benches, and a fountain.

"The priority is to make this a destination," said Murdica, who was previously GM of Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets in Clinton, Ct.

Spanning 450,000 square feet - of which 376,000 square feet is leasable space when completed - Gloucester Premium Outlets will become the 69th outlet mall for Simon, which also owns King of Prussia Mall and Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, Pa.; Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson, N.J.; and Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls, N.J.

Nationally, outlet malls continue to grow in popularity. They offer savings ranging from 25 percent to 65 percent off designer brands - which they are able to do because manufacturers can sell directly to consumers, thus eliminating the need for a middleman.

"It is a tremendous economic catalyst," said Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer. Construction began almost a year ago, last August. "It's really the foundation for more economic development around the Black Horse Pike corridor and the [College Drive] Interchange.

"This is the largest economic development project in the history of Gloucester Township," he said. "There's a ripple effect because of the supplies bought to build the facility and the businesses that benefited from that. It becomes a $40 million ratable for the township, Camden County, and two school districts."

Mayer said the mall was built on former farmland that was assessed at a really low value. Now that it's a commercial development, he said, it will be assessed at a much higher value.

In addition, "it's going to bring people into the township who are going to spend their money here, and that will help other [local] businesses," Mayer said. "It's tremendous for the whole region, and just the beginning."

Mayer, who is in his second term as mayor, said the mall was the first phase, and the next phase is expected to include new restaurants to be built near Route 42 to accommodate the anticipated visitors.

Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey L. Nash said that Gloucester Premium Outlets "joins an exciting and varied list of projects that have made this an amazing time for economic development" for the county.

"Strong growth will continue over the next five years," he said.

For Mayer, there's an added plus to the name: advertising that money can't buy.

"This project helps to market and brand the town," he said.