OXNARD : County’s 1st Outlet Mall Draws a Crowd
The unofficial opening of about a dozen stores at the Oxnard Factory Outlet mall was too tempting to resist for Point Mugu moms Karen Westhead, Caroline Latham and Janis Bernloehr. The trio made a beeline Friday morning to the new center.
“I called them and said, ‘We’re die-hard shoppers, let’s go,’ ” Westhead said of going with her friends to the opening, which drew dozens of curious shoppers.
Although they weren’t sure which stores had opened, Westhead said they planned to hit “anything that’s open.” Carter’s children’s wear, the Paper Outlet, Geoffrey Beene and Prestige beauty supplies were some of the new stores open Friday, two weeks before the mall’s June 10 grand opening.
The early opening was intended to give store employees a training period, but once word got out that Ventura County’s first factory outlet mall had opened a few of its doors, the shopping rush was on.
“I am absolutely flabbergasted,” said Keith Kennon, a partner in the center’s developer. “I think it’s a mixture of curiosity and that people have seen it from the (Ventura Freeway).”
The 150,000-square-foot discount shopping center, between Rose and Rice avenues just off the freeway, has leased its 48 stores to well-known tenants including the Gap, Benetton and Bugle Boy. Some stores have eagerly awaited the opportunity to open.
“We could have been open a week ago, but the whole mall hasn’t had electricity,” said Carter’s store Manager Theresa Frank, who was surprised by the number of shoppers Friday. “It’s been packed.”
At the Kitchen Collection, store Manager Sandi Jennings said: “The cash register has been ringing consistently since 9 a.m.”
Although much of the mall is still under construction, shoppers seemed unfazed by the sound of power drills or the sight of scaffolding blocking sidewalks.
“We’ve asked some of the people to excuse the dust and drywall,” Jennings said.
Port Hueneme resident Peggy Eaves showed off her bargain buys before purchasing a small cutting board at the Kitchen Collection.
“I got Revlon nail polish for $1.25,” she said proudly. Eaves used to trek to outlet malls in Barstow and Cabazon near Palm Springs to find such bargains, but now, she said, she can find them closer to home.
Norma Perez, an Oxnard mother of six and grandmother of five, gazed with wide eyes around Carter’s 4,800 square feet of children’s clothes.
“It’s wonderful,” she said, cradling an armload of baby training pants.
Oxnard resident Emily Sells was impressed with the inexpensive clothes at Carter’s. “There’s not that much money here,” she said of Oxnard, while checking the price on an infant-size jumper. “For only $4, you can’t beat that.”
