By Ted Brooks
The Empire Outlets mall has become a big deal on the world stage.
The mall opened in May, and since then shoppers from around the world have come by the hundreds of thousands. Its nearly 30 retailers include Nike Factory, Levi’s and Nordstrom Rack.
Empire Outlets is “a category-defining retail destination and New York City’s first and only shopping outlet—the retail centerpiece of the City’s newest entertainment district on Staten Island’s waterfront. The world-class shopping destination is located at the base of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, a 20-minute free ferry ride from Manhattan. It hosts approximately 100 shops of the finest brands, an extensive array of waterfront food and beverage concepts and a 190 room boutique hotel with rooftop lounge offering unparalleled views of New York City,” according to NYC & Co., the city’s tourism bureau.
International business currently comprise the large majority, 65%, of Empire Outlets spending, according to NYC & Co., which examined Visa credit card data. That’s helped push international spending on the island up by 47%, while total apparel spending has grown by 158%, NYC & Co.’s credit card data finds.
“Staten Island is one of the most visited boroughs, but the average stay is about five minutes,” Travis Noyes, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the outdoor shopping center, told the New York Post.
Shopping “is the No. 1 activity for overseas visitors, followed by sightseeing, according to NYC & Co.,” the Post reported. “Still, the surge in overseas shoppers on Staten Island comes at a time when other city retailers have suffered from a slowdown of wealthy Chinese visitors to the city. Retailers from Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue to Macy’s in Herald Square have cited weakened spending by international tourists for their sagging sales in recent financial updates. Tourists interviewed by The Post said they’ve chosen Empire because it’s convenient to the ferry, and they love a good deal.”
According to ny1.com, “many stores — like Nike and Nordstrom Rack — saw big crowds last night thanks to their doorbuster deals. The mall also has some bonus holiday fun today, for when you need a little bit of break between stores. There are Christmas trees on sale, a holiday pop-up food and beverage market, food trucks and even massages.”
Last week, patch.com reported that Empire Outlets “will be adorned in 70,000 LED lights and wrapped in 1,096 feet of garland (that’s as tall as the Chrysler building), while local merchants will sell hot chocolate and other treats, gifts for shoppers and even “rejuvenation massages” on Black Friday for those who shop early and want to go back for more.”
