These things are fascinating. There is one in northeast PA. that's about ten miles from the NJ. border on RT. 80, and less than 100 miles from NYC. It has been there for three decades now, and they still have to contract a large traffic control staff to keep the flow of cars moving off the highway quickly enough to avoid pile-ups. The place is a gold mine, they get tens of thousands of shoppers on a typical weekend day. OTOH, in our frequent travels across North America, it's common to see massive outlet malls, some even Tanger Branded, that are ghost towns. Some are abandoned, some limping along with a handful of stores. Down south, it's even common to see them turned into mega-churches. Personally, I hate even getting close to them, but they are an interesting snapshot of American culture, or lack of it.
The article the OP posted is kind of sad. Sad, in that there are still cities that cling to the hope that the next outlet mall, or other tacky commercial project is going to be their salvation. Even the lieutenant Gov. had a stupid comment about how this is proof of the state rising up again. Well, not really, dumbass. Low paying, part time jobs, no benefits, and the locals squandering more on useless shit is not going to be your salvation.
