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June 06. 2012 11:29PM
Workers put the finishing touches on the rock wall at the entrance of the new Merrimack Premium Outlets off Exit 10 of the F.E. Everett Turnpike, set to open next week. (Kimberly Houghton)
Linked articles:
Carpenters protest non-union hiring at Merrimack outlets
Organizers outline plan for Merrimack outlet opening
Bracing for the outlets' opening in Merrimack
Workers put the finishing touches on the rock wall at the entrance of the new Merrimack Premium Outlets off Exit 10 of the F.E. Everett Turnpike, set to open next week. (Kimberly Houghton)
Carpenters protest non-union hiring at Merrimack outlets
Organizers outline plan for Merrimack outlet opening
MERRIMACK — An estimated 100,000 shoppers could visit the new outlets throughout its four-day grand opening celebration next week, complete with live entertainment and dozens of promotions.
“This really is an exciting time for this town,” said Tom Mahon, chairman of the town council. “We haven't had this type of activity here in a long time. We are no longer just a place to drive through anymore. Merrimack is now a destination.”
Merrimack Premium Outlets, a $100 million project with about 100 stores, will open its doors at 9 a.m. on June 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event will kick off a four-day celebration featuring live entertainment by local musicians, in-store promotions, giveaways and raffles, including a $5,000 shopping spree grand prize.
Mahon said representatives from Simon Property Group anticipate an average of 25,000 visitors to the new outlets on each of the four days during its opening, with Thursday possibly being the lightest in attendance and Friday afternoon expected to attract the largest crowd.
“I think we are ready,” said Mahon, adding a meeting was held Wednesday to finalize traffic plans for the big event. Although the best possible plan has been put in place, Mahon admits there could be some motorists who are inconvenienced, but said detail officers will do their best to mitigate any traffic problems.
According to Simon officials, the 430,000-square-feet upscale outlet center will offer savings of 25 to 65 percent every day, not just during the opening festivities.
Throughout the four-day opening from June 14-17, several rock bands will be performing live, including Cover Story, Marc Apostolides, Matriarch and Theriault and Stefanelli. Other performances from Illusion, Mighty Groove, Lachlan Maclearn and Downtown Dave and the Deep Pockets will be featured, along with Mark and Karen from the Morning Waking Crew WOKQ and Suzanne Rountree from WZID.
Some in-store promotions include free Nike gifts for the first 200 guests each day, 40 percent off entire purchases at Lane Bryant Outlet, 50 percent off everything in the store at Hartstrings and DKNY, free tote bags with any purchase at Aerosoles and Columbia Sportswear, free Rickie Fowler replica hats for the first 100 customers at Puma, free sack pack for the first 300 customers at Under Armour and free Mickey Mouse Ears for the first 500 customers at Disney Store Outlet, among dozens of other deals.
In-store disc jockeys and balloon artists will also be on hand at select stores, while more than 165 prizes and gift cards will be raffled off throughout the opening celebration.
“The center's single level village setting has a New England town design creating a pleasant, upscale atmosphere for shoppers,” says a release issued by Simon Property Group, adding a wide range of customer services will be available at the Information Center to assist shoppers with their first visit to Merrimack Premium Outlets.
Some of the new outlet stores are Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Coach, Guess, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, Chico's, Cole Haan, Converse, Elie Tahari, Loft Outlet, Lucky Brand, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Izod, Bass, Talbots, Ultra Diamond, Clarks Bostonian, Easy Spirit, Nine West Outlet, Bose and more.
Merrimack Premium Outlets, developed by Simon Property Group's Premium Outlets division, is located off the F.E. Everett Turnpike at exit 10. Grand opening hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 14 through 16, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 17.
Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.
“This really is an exciting time for this town,” said Tom Mahon, chairman of the town council. “We haven't had this type of activity here in a long time. We are no longer just a place to drive through anymore. Merrimack is now a destination.”
Merrimack Premium Outlets, a $100 million project with about 100 stores, will open its doors at 9 a.m. on June 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event will kick off a four-day celebration featuring live entertainment by local musicians, in-store promotions, giveaways and raffles, including a $5,000 shopping spree grand prize.
Mahon said representatives from Simon Property Group anticipate an average of 25,000 visitors to the new outlets on each of the four days during its opening, with Thursday possibly being the lightest in attendance and Friday afternoon expected to attract the largest crowd.
“I think we are ready,” said Mahon, adding a meeting was held Wednesday to finalize traffic plans for the big event. Although the best possible plan has been put in place, Mahon admits there could be some motorists who are inconvenienced, but said detail officers will do their best to mitigate any traffic problems.
According to Simon officials, the 430,000-square-feet upscale outlet center will offer savings of 25 to 65 percent every day, not just during the opening festivities.
Throughout the four-day opening from June 14-17, several rock bands will be performing live, including Cover Story, Marc Apostolides, Matriarch and Theriault and Stefanelli. Other performances from Illusion, Mighty Groove, Lachlan Maclearn and Downtown Dave and the Deep Pockets will be featured, along with Mark and Karen from the Morning Waking Crew WOKQ and Suzanne Rountree from WZID.
Some in-store promotions include free Nike gifts for the first 200 guests each day, 40 percent off entire purchases at Lane Bryant Outlet, 50 percent off everything in the store at Hartstrings and DKNY, free tote bags with any purchase at Aerosoles and Columbia Sportswear, free Rickie Fowler replica hats for the first 100 customers at Puma, free sack pack for the first 300 customers at Under Armour and free Mickey Mouse Ears for the first 500 customers at Disney Store Outlet, among dozens of other deals.
In-store disc jockeys and balloon artists will also be on hand at select stores, while more than 165 prizes and gift cards will be raffled off throughout the opening celebration.
“The center's single level village setting has a New England town design creating a pleasant, upscale atmosphere for shoppers,” says a release issued by Simon Property Group, adding a wide range of customer services will be available at the Information Center to assist shoppers with their first visit to Merrimack Premium Outlets.
Some of the new outlet stores are Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Coach, Guess, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, Chico's, Cole Haan, Converse, Elie Tahari, Loft Outlet, Lucky Brand, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Izod, Bass, Talbots, Ultra Diamond, Clarks Bostonian, Easy Spirit, Nine West Outlet, Bose and more.
Merrimack Premium Outlets, developed by Simon Property Group's Premium Outlets division, is located off the F.E. Everett Turnpike at exit 10. Grand opening hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 14 through 16, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 17.
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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.