Last weekend, we were pleasantly surprised to see that there was not a long line waiting to turn left at Northway Exit 20 in Warren County. “Million-Dollar Half-Mile”Outlet shopping is available near Lake George
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Ah-oh! I thought. Perhaps it was an email from a retail research company with the provocative subject “Are Outlets Out?”It was a dead-on.
Locals are well aware that Exit 20 can become backed up when bargain-hunters and commercial traffic use the same northbound lane Route 9 to reach Vermont and east via Route 149. They are located just beyond the five outlet centres that hug both ends of the road.
But I could see full parking lots as we inched along, stopping for shoppers in crosswalks passing from center to center to find the likes of Adidas, Levi’s, Eddie Bauer, Coach and other national names at discount.
Although the spring and summer have been difficult for enclosed malls and open-air restaurants, “lifestyle”Placer.ai, a location analysis firm that tracks shopper visitation, lists outlets and centers.
Particularly, outlets have seen a decline in visits compared to 2021; mall and outdoor center visits declined in July.
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Placer blames slump on the “lingering challenges” of inflation and high gas prices, which cut into consumers’ discretionary spending or made them think twice about recreational shopping.
One bright spot is the drop in gasoline costs since June highs. Placer reported last Wednesday that this was evident in August outlet visits where the year-overyear decline was slightly less than in July.
Placer also stated that while the monthly August data is not yet available, “paints a picture of overall struggles,”A look at the weekly changes in visits compared to 2021. “a more positive situation”It could be the end of the month when a rebound is possible that will continue through the fall.
(Since Placer Report, the government released August consumer price index. It rose 8.3% in August despite lower gasoline prices. Groceries bills rose 13.5% in August 2021 due to inflation.
Laura Kohls from KDA Hospitality runs the Adirondack Outlet Mall at exit 20. “some truth to the concerns” expressed in Placer’s foot traffic report.
But there are tenant stores that have developed relationships with both repeat tourists and local shoppers. “are staying on top of their performance,”She sent her email.
“[W]hile there may be less foot traffic in some locations, the shoppers that are making the trip are there to purchase,”She made the observation.
The Exit 20 outlets have a great location close to year-round vacation spots in the lower Adirondacks. The peak sales season may be July and August. “we will continue to see strong results all year,” Kohls said.
Outlet retailers are just like other sellers. They have faced supply issues that impact product mix and availability. “But for those with merchandise,” Kohls said, “the sales data being reported for the summer season shows they sold it.”
Marlene Kennedy is an independent columnist. Opinions expressed in her column are her own and not necessarily the newspaper’s. Reach her at [email protected]
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