Registers to Ring

By TODD ZEIGLER Copy Editor

Exit 28 along Interstate 64 East, the first off-ramp outside Jefferson County, used to be relatively sedate.

To the left, a Pilot truck stop, the Shelby County Flea Market behind a chain link gate and at the end of the road, an equine and livestock supply store. To the right, a gas station and miles and miles of neighborhoods with large lots, leading out into the Kentucky countryside and the American Saddlebred capital of the world.

Come July 31, the road to the right will become much more active. That is the ribbon cutting date for The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, the brand new shopping center located on Veechdale Road just off the interstate. The 374,000-square-foot outlet retail destination will consist of seven buildings containing 80 stores featuring top names like Nike, J.Crew, Brooks Brothers and Banana Republic.

Ask Simpsonville City Administrator David Eaton about it, and hell tell you that he didnt believe it would ever happen.

About three years ago, Gary Skoien, president of the Horizon Group Properties development company, came to visit Eaton and Mayor Steve Eden, expressing interest in the area for an outlet retail center.

He left, and the mayor and I looked at each other and honestly, we didnt think wed ever see them again, Eaton said. Six months later, he came back and said Weve decided this is where were going to locate.

Eaton said that the Horizon group, which has built other outlet centers in Oklahoma City, Okla., El Paso, Texas and Woodstock, Ga., chose Simpsonville for a number of features. They liked the fact that it was the first exit outside of Jefferson County. They liked the close proximity to college campuses. It is centrally located between the major population centers of Louisville, Frankfort and Lexington. It is close enough to Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee to attract out-of-state shoppers.

They felt it was a very good location to be at, and they jumped on it, Eaton said.

Horizon has enjoyed success with outlet destinations in recent years, and Eaton said he believes the success of the The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass will be found in the kind of shopping experience outlet mall shopping encourages.

Read the original:
Registers to Ring