Tanger Outlet Center brings new stores to Barstow

BARSTOW — Area shoppers and travelers passing through will soon find more shopping spots at Tanger Outlet Center.

The outlet center off of Lenwood Road is adding 17 storefronts to its existing 23 outlets in a $10 million expansion that will add 65,000 square feet of retail space. New stores will include Calvin Klein, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters and the Sunglasses Hut, said general manager Jennifer Rodriguez. All of the space in the new building is already spoken for, although the names of some tenants have not been released because lease negotiations are still underway.

The project should be completed in early 2008 and Tanger will turn over its empty “vanilla box” stores to the tenants several months before, Rodriguez said.

“I’m glad they’re expanding and adding new stores at Tanger,” Bernie Crespo of Victorville said. “It’s ... nicer to drive to Barstow than down the hill.”

In addition to new stores moving in, Coach will relocate from its current storefront to a larger space, doubling its store size and staff.

Tanger is also in the process of selling parcels of its land for the possible development of “national brand-name” restaurants on the site, but Rodriguez declined to name the companies.

“It’ll be nice to have everything here so people can come to eat, sleep and shop,” Rodriguez said.

The expanded outlets are expected to create between 300 to 350 jobs, an average of 30 to 40 per new store. Recruiting will take place after the stores are turned over to the tenants.

Rachel Florez, manager of the Perfumania outlet at Tanger, said she is excited about the new stores. Her store currently sells about 1,000 bottles of perfume a week and she hopes for even more customers.

“We need the shopping here in Barstow; it’s great to have more than just Wal-Mart here,” she said.