Oklahoma City Headed For 'Retail Therapy' With Outlet Mall Opening

Darren Brown, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shoppers who normally travel out of state to find back-to-school bargains will soon be able to spend their dollars here in Oklahoma.  

The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, opening August 5, will feature 83 highly recognizable stores and a food court.  The mall, at I-40 and Council Road, is the first outlet mall to open in Oklahoma since the Tanger Outlet in Stroud was destroyed by a tornado in 1999.  It's also the only outlet mall to open in the entire country this year.

"During down-turned economies the consumers turn to outlets more," said Debbie Grieslinger.  Grieslinger is general manager for the new mall.  Oklahoma City's outlet mall is the fifth one that she's opened.  "That's another plus that's driving our success so far." 

It's no accident that the mall's opening date coincides with Oklahoma's tax-free weekend.  According to Grieslinger, back-to-school shopping ranks up there with the Christmas holiday.

"It's the second most significant shopping season," Grieslinger said.

The new outlet mall needs about eight hundred more employees to have a successful opening, according to mall management.  Several stores will be having job fairs in the coming days in hopes of filling those jobs.

MANY OF THE OUTLET SHOPPES AT OKLAHOMA CITY STORES ARE LOOKING FOR NEW EMPLOYEES.  FIND MORE INFO HERE.

List of stores in the Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City