Six Flags Factory Outlets add to Central NJ economic growth

Real Estate Weekly, June 4, 1997

Laubich said that he expects the 295,000 square-foot Six Flags Factory Outlets to become an important shopping hub, drawing fashion-minded consumers from 26 million people within a 100-mile radius that ranges from New York to Philadelphia, five million of whom live within 40 miles of the new center.

"We expect that Six Flags Factory Outlets will bring important new revenues to the township, county and state," said Laubich.

The New Plan Realty president also said that the Six Flags Factory Outlets has already created several hundred new jobs.

"There are jobs in a variety of positions," said Laubich, "including managerial, sales, maintenance, promotional, food service and security personnel."

Laubich said that the new 50-store first phase of the Six Flags Factory Outlets has played an important economic role for Jackson Township and surrounding areas.

"The majority of the construction jobs have been filled by local New Jersey building trades," said Laubich. "With the weather now more conducive to automobile trips, and because of our location midway between New York and Philadelphia and near the shore, we already are attracting hundreds of thousands of shoppers from New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, as well as throughout New Jersey."

"We expect constant repeat business from these out-of-the-area shoppers, and these consumers should be a boon to many businesses in Jackson Township and Central New Jersey, not just Six Flags Factory Outlets," said Laubich.

Located less than one mile from the Six Flags theme park, the 50-store outlet center offers a broad selection of brand-name merchandise for the family and home at outlet prices typically ranging from 30 to 70 percent below conventional retail.

"Such savings are possible," says Laubich, "because the tenants are prominent, brand-name manufacturers who sell their wares in their own leased stores using their own personnel. Outlet stores eliminate the traditional middleman, thereby cutting costs significantly for shoppers every day."

According to New Plan's president, Six Flags Factory Outlets is being built in two phases. "The first 195,000 square-foot phase is now open for business" he said. "Another 100,000 square feet of retail space will be built for an additional 30 to 35 stores."

Laubich said that the new center's proximity to both the theme park and shore vacation areas makes Six Flags Factory Outlets a desirable shopping experience for the entire family.

"Being only a mile from the Six Flags theme park and less than a half-hour drive from the Jersey shore and the historic Trenton area makes a visit here an enjoyable situation for family members of all ages," said Laubich.