LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Oct. 16, 2015) – New England Development announced today that Outlets of Little Rock opened officially on Oct. 16, welcoming thousands of area residents and visitors eager to shop at Arkansas’ only outlet center.
The newest destination for shopping in the region, Outlets of Little Rock brings in a diverse array of popular fashion retailers sure to excite shoppers young and old. Many nationally renowned stores – including Restoration Hardware Outlet, Under Armour, ASICS, Bass Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Cole Haan, Levi’s Outlet Store, Lindt Chocolate Shop and SKECHERS – have selected Outlets of Little Rock for their first retail stores in the state.
Shoppers will find some of the most popular names in the outlet industry, including Banana Republic Factory Store, GAP Factory Store, J.Crew | crewcuts Factory, LOFT Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Old Navy Outlet, Gymboree Outlet, Chico’s Outlet, The Children’s Place Outlet, Christopher & Banks | CJ Banks, Clarks Outlet and Express Factory Outlet, among others. American Eagle and Tommy Hilfiger are among the stores that will open in the coming months.
The Oct. 16 ribbon cutting featured elected officials, dignitaries and business leaders, including the honorable Tim Griffin, Lt. Governor of Arkansas; the honorable Mark Stodola, Mayor of the City of Little Rock; New England Development Chairman Stephen Karp, Vice Chairman Steven Fischman, President Douglass Karp and Outlets of Little Rock General Manager Teresa Richards; Gretchen Hall, Executive Director, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; Jay Chesshir, President, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Tommy Hodges, developer of Gateway Town Center, where Outlets of Little Rock is located.
Douglass Karp expressed New England Development’s enthusiasm about opening the company’s newest outlet in central Arkansas, a region that attracts more than 5.7 million annual visitors, and lauded the hundreds of people involved with bringing this project to fruition.
“I’m thrilled to be here today to celebrate the opening of Outlets of Little Rock with my colleagues from New England Development and with the many people who have helped make this day possible,” Karp said. “We truly appreciate the dedication of the men and women who have worked so hard on this project. Together, we have created an exciting destination that will serve the shopping needs of local and regional residents, help attract thousands of visitors to Pulaski County, provide hundreds of employment opportunities, and generate a significant economic impact on the local and state levels.”
Little Rock Mayor Stodola said, “This is truly an exciting day for the City of Little Rock, surrounding cities and the entire state. This new shopping destination is bringing more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs to the city, and thousands of tourists to Little Rock. From the first time New England Development approached us about building an outlet center in Little Rock, we have been in full support of making this day a reality. I’m thrilled to be a part of opening the doors today.”
Hall with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau also addressed the crowd about the importance of shopping opportunities for visitors to the city.
“This is a great day for tourism in the City of Little Rock and the state,” Hall said. “We know from research that shopping is a top priority for tourists to the area. No longer will tourists in the area have to travel to nearby states for an outlet destination. Now, they can spend a full day of shopping top national brands right here in Little Rock. We’ve already had great interest from tour groups visiting Little Rock, and I expect that will continue to grow.”
Outlets of Little Rock is projected to have a significant economic impact on the region. The construction phase of the center has provided approximately 1,000 jobs, and 800-1,000 people will be hired to work in the stores and at the center. The center is expected to generate approximately $100 million in annual retail sales, which will in turn generate $6.5 million in state sales taxes, $1 million in county taxes and $1.5 million in city taxes.
About Outlets of Little Rock
Real Brands. Unreal Savings. Save up to 70 percent off on America’s most desired brands at Outlets of Little Rock, a project of New England Development. Located at the intersection of I-30 and I-430, this open-air lifestyle destination features some of the most popular brand names. Visit outletsoflittlerock.com. Follow us on Facebook @OutletsofLittleRock, Twitter @OutletsofLR and Instagram @OutletsofLR. For group tour information, email tours@outletsoflittlerock.com.
About New England Development
For more than 35 years, New England Development has taken a creative, entrepreneurial approach to real estate development and management, delivering and sustaining successful projects across a wide range of property types and across the country. New England Development’s growing portfolio of retail projects includes an exciting mix of outlet centers including Asheville Outlets® in Asheville, North Carolina and Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Outlets of Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas. Additional outlet centers in development include Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona, Iowa; Clarksburg Premium Outlets® in Clarksburg, Maryland; and Outlets of Michigan in Romulus, Michigan.