Shopping madness begins at Tampa Premium Outlets in a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza.
The outlet mall, which is experiencing its first holiday season, will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m., and will continuously operate through Black Friday, until 10 p.m.
Mall hours the rest of the weekend will be from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., on Nov. 28 and from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., on Nov. 29.
While shoppers are expected to flock to the outlet mall — which had a splashy opening at the end of October — local businesses may pick up some spinoff trade.
Local shops are already reporting that their cash registers are ringing up more sales.
(File Photo)
“I’ve already seen it,” said Jeremy Quijano, manager of Kona Swim Bike Run, at 27217 State Road 56. The triathlon shop is a short hop from the outlet mall, at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56.
Quijano said a man came in the shop after dropping off his wife at the outlet mall. He put his focus on buying sports gear not on hours of outlet mall shopping. “I’m going to have some fun,” Quijano said the man told him.
The outlet mall is one half of a retail bookend that could bring more visibility to locally owned and operated shops.
Another customer told Quijano that he was driving past heading from The Shops at Wiregrass to Tampa Premium Outlets when he spotted Kona.
“I never knew you were here,” the customer said.
Before and during the grand opening, Hampton Inn & Suites saw a boost in reservations as the mall’s developer, Simon Property Group, booked rooms for its team members.
People from corporate headquarters are still flying in, said Todd Patrick, the hotel’s general manager.
But, reservations don’t have to come from long-distance travelers. Patrick said a woman from Spring Hill booked a night at the hotel within the past week because she wanted to get an early start on her shopping.
Overall, he said, “It’s hard to gauge. But, there are a few people making reservations to shop.”
That can happen, apparently, even when the drive from home is only 30 minutes.
The shopping season is expected to be strong as it officially kicks off on Black Friday, according to recent surveys by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Sales should increase about 3.3 percent, according to one survey. Another consumer survey showed customers plan to spend $702 on average for holiday gifts, an increase from $677 in 2014.
“It’s a pretty sizable jump,” said Jesse Tron, spokesman for the council. Consumers are feeling pretty good. “It should produce what should be a very strong season.”
So, cash registers will be jingling at The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets. There really is no direct competition between them, but there is the potential for people who come to one venue to drive on over to the other, Tron said.
“The two are different kinds of shopping trips,” he added.
Local malls typically are destinations for area residents who stop by once or twice a week. Outlets malls draw regionally from shoppers who make it a day trip and stay for hours.
But, he said, “(Local) malls are increasingly looking at becoming experience destinations. They may add unique dining and entertainment options. It’s not necessarily about retail. It’s adding the extra layer. Local malls and shopping centers are very invested in their community.”
For more information on holiday shopping hours for Tampa Premium Outlets, visit PremiumOutlets.com/outlet/tampa/about.
Published November 25, 2015
