Prime Outlets

Blue Ridge Outlet Center losing stores [ The outlet stores ] MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Billboards for the Blue Ridge Outlet Center in Martinsburg boast more than 50 stores inside the shopping complex. A walk through the three buildings that make up Blue Ridge tells a different story. [cont. from front page ] Several stores have closed since late November, leaving the outlet mall at Stephen and Raleigh streets with 32 shops, including a candy store across the street.

Two stores closed, some stores are moving and new stores will be arriving at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown, the general manager said Thursday. Maidenform left at the end of December because the lease expired and American Outpost left Jan. 3, Prime Outlets' General Manager Bill Lynn said. Lynn said he expects to announce the names of new stores in a few weeks. Some stores are relocating within the outlet center because they want more or less space, he said. Some larger spaces will be divided to bring in other tenants.

Prime Outlets was among the recipients for the first annual Washington County Travel Awards this week. The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized Prime Outlets as its 1998 Member of the Year during an awards luncheon on Thursday at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. Prime Outlets has 76 stores open so far with a third phase of more than 20 stores expected to open next summer, outlet officials said. "I was thrilled. On behalf of the center we were very, very excited," said Alice Rosen, assistant general manager and marketing director for the outlets.

With the flick of a giant light switch Friday night, Prime Outlets lit up a large Christmas tree, simultaneously ushering in the holiday shopping season and celebrating the grand opening of its second phase. The grand opening brought the total number of stores up to 76, according to marketing director Alice Rosen. "Welcome to our center and to our second opening in less than a year," she declared. Phase II added a wide variety of tenants offering name-brand adult and children's clothing and shoes, religious items, tools, housewares, furniture, perfume, jewelry, lighting and paper products.

By LAURA ERNDE / Staff Writer photo: RICHARD T. MEAGHER / staff photographer [ enlarge ] In its first two weeks, Prime Outlets at Hagerstown drew nearly a quarter of a million shoppers. "Based on sales and traffic we've seen so far, we're off to a fabulous start," said outlet spokesman Brian Lewbart. Nearby fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and neighbors are definitely feeling spinoff effects from the $40 million outlet mall that features more than 50 stores.

Despite road improvements, police directing vehicles and other precautions, Friday's grand opening of the Prime Outlets at Hagerstown had its share of frustrated motorists and traffic jams. For two hours around the time of the 11 a.m. grand opening police had to direct traffic in and out of the center's main entrance off Md. 65, said Cpl. Daryl Sanders of the Washington County Sheriff's Department. Traffic backed up onto nearby Interstate 70 and for about a mile south on Md. 65, Sanders said.

A driver was taken to Washington County Hospital Friday afternoon after experiencing a diabetic emergency and crashing at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown, Maryland State Police said. The crash happened at about 1:47 p.m., a police dispatcher said. The vehicle crashed near the site of the future Columbia Sportswear Co. store. No one else was injured in the crash, the dispatcher said.

Prime Outlets at Hagerstown has announced the addition of three new stores and an eatery. o Oriental Rugs and More opened a 3,000-square-foot location next to Carter's KidsWear in April. o Jr.'s Steakery opened in the outlet center's food court June 16. o Book Warehouse is open in a 3,000-square-foot store next to Alfred Dunner. o Hot Stepper, an urban wear store, is expected open in early July. The 485,796-square-foot outlet center along Sharpsburg Pike features more than 100 brand-name retailers such as COACH, kate spade, Lucky Brand Jeans, Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Steven James Harrison, 55, passed away Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at his home in Hagerstown, Md. Born in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Betty Ellen Harrison and Kenneth L. Harrison. He attended schools in Hagerstown and was a member of the 1973 Class of South Hagerstown High School. He worked at the Tortuga Restaurant at the Ramada Inn in Hagerstown and also at various corporate restaurants in the Tri-State area such as Hardee's, Roy Rogers and McDonald's Corporate. He also worked part-time at the Samsonite outlet at the Prime Outlets in Hagerstown.

Jessica Green's life is a classic example of the old adage, "It's not what you know, but who you know. " Not that she's unskilled. An experienced business manager and events organizer, Green has been operations manager for The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagers-town since January. As theater manager, Green can incorporate her skills and interests in music, marketing and family activities. But it was courtesy of personal contacts that Green found her way to the theater.

Hagerstown Children's Theater in downtown Hagerstown announced that its select performance group, "Broadway Bound," has been selected through audition to perform at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, June 16. Members are Alex Gregory, Elisa Shaw, Caroline Bowers, Megan Giffin, Adam Shank, Devin Riss, Delia Riss, Amanda Askin, Audrey Harper, Tristan Burdette, Mollie Ceci and Eliza Gregory. Broadway Bound travels around the Hagerstown and has performed for the City of Hagerstown's Hollyfest, the Christmas tree lighting.

o If you like reading Tim Rowland, you'll love watching him. See what else Tim has to say I leave town and it's "Prime Outlets. " I come back a week later and it's "Premium Outlets. " You just can't turn your back on the greater Hagerstown area without some sort of major action taking place. That's us, a community on the move. But ... Prime/Premium? Premium/Prime? You can't even spell Premium without p-r-i-m-e. So is there really so much of a difference that you need to make a change?

Cameron experienced 'Growing Pains' on his way to God Prime Outlets has been renamed Hagerstown Premium Outlets Air show organizers prepare for crowd Congressional candidate hasn't been seen, heard Rebels start Peer era with victory

Prime Outlets Hagerstown has been renamed Hagerstown Premium Outlets following the completion of Prime Outlets' sale to Simon Property Group Inc., a company spokeswoman said. Simon Property Group completed its $2.3 billion acquisition of the Baltimore-based Prime Outlets on Tuesday, adding 21 outlet centers to its outlet division. That division, called Premium Outlets, is the largest collection of outlet centers in the world, with centers throughout the U.S. and in Japan, South Korea and Mexico, said Michele Rothstein, spokeswoman for Premium Outlets.

People shopping in Maryland can enjoy a tax-free shopping week on clothes and footwear from Aug. 8 to 14. Joe Shapiro, director of communications for the Maryland comptroller's office, said items have to cost $100 or less to be exempt from the state's sales tax. Maryland's sales tax is 6 percent on all taxable goods, and Shapiro said Maryland will feel the lack of sales tax. "We won't be collecting on those items, and there will be...

Liz Claiborne Inc. will close its outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico by early 2011, the company said in a press release. The Liz Claiborne store at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown was not mentioned specifically, but the release said all 87 outlet locations would close. With the closing of the outlet stores, Liz Claiborne will launch its clothing line at J.C. Penney next month, the release said. "As a result of this decision, the company expects the meaningful operating losses related to this business to be eliminated in early 2011 when this action is anticipated to be completed," the release said.