Outlet project will be a boost for area

Friday, January 27, 2012

There has been some controversy about Merrimack Premium Outlets, but the news that the shopping center is set to open to shoppers June 14 should be welcome news to the community.

And even better news is that it could be providing as many as 800 full- and part-time jobs. If there is better news in this economic climate, we haven’t heard it yet.

Oh, and the project will be paying about $1 million annually in property taxes. Not exactly pocket change.

At a time when more and more stores are closing, for Merrimack to have a major shopping center opening is big news, good news and important news. And some of the stores that will be in the plaza are pretty impressive: If you were anywhere in the New York City area in the 1970s and ’80s, you remember what a big deal Bloomingdale’s was, and now it and Sak’s Fifth Avenue are coming to Merrimack? Come on. That’s great.

It takes a certain amount of courage to go ahead with such a massive project at a time when consumers are wearing pretty tight belts but it’s clear that Premium Outlets/Simon of New Jersey believes southern New Hampshire is a good area for business. Indeed, as we said in our story last week, Michele Rothstein, a spokeswoman for the developer, had this to say:

“This is an area with sophisticated consumers, making it perfect for the type of upscale outlet centers we develop.”

Obviously, they did their research.

We also like the idea that the shopping center will include a 200-room hotel. One of the things that has been an issue for southern New Hampshire is the need for more hotel rooms. What we have are great, but we need more and now we will.

All in all, this project is going to be a positive one for the area and for the people of Merrimack, what with the possibility of finding a job and with the town getting a big boost to its tax coffers.