By Alison Shea | Opinion Editor
April 24, 2015
If you hate driving to Mission Viejo or Irvine for shopping, I have some good news. The Outlets at San Clemente will be opening in late summer 2015!
Some might say that this will cause too much traffic in our laid-back city or that something better could be put there, but thinking about all the benefits that an outlet mall will bring to our hometown overshadows the negativity. The most appealing advantage for us students is that we get a new hang-out spot to spend time with friends and a convenient place to take a break from the stress of school. Another note-worthy perk of this construction project is that it provides new job opportunities. This is a huge deal because the more jobs we have, the better off our economy is due to the increased circulation of money. Also, who is opposed to some extra cash? Even though Del Mar street is my favorite place to shop around here, I am willing to give this new mall a shot. We will have to see how it compares once it is finished and ready for consumers.
Now for the details. Unlike the Shops at Mission Viejo and the Irvine Spectrum, this mall will have a spectacular view of the ocean, making it that much more enjoyable and pleasurable. Also, it will feature some brand-name retailers, currently unnamed, that we have all come to know and love. The gross lease area of this center is 580,000 feet and the number of stores that it will have is over 67. While this is not as many as the Shops at Mission Viejo, it is good amount considering our town is not as big or as populated as Mission Viejo. The location of this public facility is Interstate 5 at West Avenida Vista Hermosa San Clemente, CA 92673. The Craig Realty Group, having already established over 10 centers and developments across the country, are the ones leasing the land that this mall will sit on.
In case you are wondering what the difference is between a regular mall and an outlet mall, I am very excited to tell you that outlets are less expensive than the average mall. With fewer amenities and rarely offered movies or standalone restaurants, this mall will be much more economical. Although some might call outlets a nicer version of a warehouse, I would argue that outlets are much more like a normal retail mall than a big old warehouse. Especially because the Outlets at San Clemente are being built in an affluent area, the building will be nice-looking and modernized in order to appeal to the directed consumers that will be shopping there. Just because outlets feature off-season or marked-down merchandise, this mall should not be checked off of your to-do list. Outlet malls have evolved greatly in the years past. Getting a bargain on something does not mean that you are getting any less of a product. In fact, it will make you a happier person overall because you’ll be getting a good deal which is becoming more and more rare nowadays.
Once summer is coming to an end, remember that your social life does not have to. Your shopping needs can be met without going too much out of your way. I’m always searching for a good deal and I have a feeling this will be the place that can provide that for me and anyone else who is looking to go back-to-school shopping or knows exactly what they want. Whether it be a whole new wardrobe or a just few essentials, the Shops at San Clemente will soon be a great addition to our city.
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