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2001, Volume 1PAGE
3
Belz Outlets Increase Traffic at Major Locations in 2000
Belz Enterprises enjoyed record-breaking numbers of shoppers at its
five major factory outlet shopping centers in 2000. Overall, 34.9 million
people visited a Belz outlet in 2000, an increase of nearly 1.3 million
or 3.8 percent since 1999.
This volume of shoppers came in a year in which U.S. outlet sales nationwide
fell by more than one percent, according to the International Council
of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Among the Belz outlet properties, traffic increased nearly seven percent
at the Belz Factory Outlet World in Las Vegas, Nevada. In other locations,
performance in 2000 varied from market-competitive to excellent.
Nevadas strong performance underscores the reality that shopping
is a key activity for vacationers now something done by more than
70 percent of all leisure
travelers, according to recent studies. In addition, Las Vegas is the
fastest growing city in the United States, due both to employment opportunities
created by the tourism industry and the citys rising role as a high-tech
and distribution center.
It is a testament to our strategic vision that our outlet centers
have performed so well despite overall declines across the nation,
says Andrew J. Groveman, senior vice president of Belz Enterprises. Its
not just a stroke of luck that continues to bring shoppers to Belz outlet
centers. Instead, it is our strategy to locate malls in highly trafficked
areas that benefit from both tourism and a strong resident population.
Other major Belz Factory Outlet Worlds are located in Lakeland and Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee; St. Augustine and Orlando, Florida, and soon-to-open
in suburban San Juan, Puerto Rico (see related story on page 4).
Two-thousand-one promises to be a good year for Belz Factory Outlet World
locations. Heres a quick summary of what is happening in each of
the Belz factory outlets:
- Las Vegas, Nevada is expanding with a 50,000-square-foot freestanding
strip center adjacent to the original mall. Pre-leasing is now underway
for the addition, which will open in 2002. Among quality tenants in
the original Belz Factory Outlet World Las Vegas are Calvin Klein,
9 West, Kasper, Emporio Armani and Off 5th/Saks Fifth Avenue.
- Lakeland, Tennessee (a suburb of Memphis) enjoyed a record-breaking
weekend in early May when Old Time Pottery expanded its existing store
to almost 94,000 square feet. Contemporaneous with the pottery store's
expansion, the Belz Factory Outlet World Lakeland added an 85-foot
pylon-sign on Interstate 40.
Later this year, the location will host three special car shows
an Antique Classic Mustang Show, the Shelby County Streetriders Show
and the Belz Bug-in. The Bug-in is expected to draw thousands of Volkswagen
aficionados from around the Mid-South.
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, located in a resort area in the Smoky
Mountains of Eastern Tennessee, is continuing to position itself as
a shopping destination for leisure travelers. The Belz Factory Outlet
World Pigeon Forge also focuses on local residents as a major
customer generator and plays an active role in the life of the community
including participation this year in the annual Dollywood Festival
of Nations, in which
Dolly Parton leads a float parade through- out tourist and retail-oriented
areas of the community.
- St. Augustine, Florida is adding a new 263,490 square-foot
expansion that will be opening in late 2002. Anchoring the expansion
wing are a 10,500-square-foot Gap, an 8,000-square-foot Banana Republic,
and an 18,000-square-foot Old Navy store. The new wing will also have
its own 46,000-square-foot food court. The first phase of the Belz Factory
Outlet World St. Augustine opened in July 1999 utilizing Belz's
"tourism-plus-residency" model. Since then, the mall has attracted
more than three
million shoppers.
- Orlando, Florida's Belz Factory Outlet World celebrates its
twentieth anniverary in October with special events, prizes and sweepstakes
in partnership with local mega-attractions (including Universal Studios).
Recent store openings include Subway, Traffic Shoes and Harry &
David.
Photo at top:
- Belz Factory Outlet World Orlando, Florida
will celebrate its 20th anniversary in October 2001.
| The Belz
Report, Spring 2001 | Page 1 | Page
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