Shoppers impressed as new outlets in Daytona Beach open for business

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A new outlet mall opened for business Friday in Volusia County, and it’s expected to have a big economic impact on the area.

The new Tanger Outlets in Daytona Beach are part of a bigger shopping center.

Lines formed outside the mall hours before opening.

When people got a look, many shoppers said they were impressed.

"Oh, we love it. We love it. We were just down in the one in West Palm Beach and we were hoping this one was going to be set up like that, you know outdoors. I just love how they have all of the seating and the swings. It's very nice. We spend a lot of time here," said shopper Linda Palmer.

The outlet mall was the first step in a five-year plan to build more places for people to shop and eat.

"We saw the splash park, we even saw the sitting area back here. Just the designs of it. Everything is really nice, the parking lot looks good. They even have the shuttle that take you to and from which is really nice," said shopper Nick Rawls.

On Thursday night, hundreds were invited to shop at the outlets before the grand opening.

“It’s nice. The only mall we had before was the Volusia Mal and that’s not very big and doesn’t have a lot of stores,” said Mollie Enck.

Many businesses are not just looking for shoppers.

“We’re looking right now, still, for a couple people in our location here to bring on board,” said business owner Kevin Kasch.

He and Jack Lemuz are opening a store called Destination Fun at the outlets.

The mall added close to 1,000 jobs to the area.

A county spokesperson said about 12,000 people in the county are unemployed.

“It will help with the economy around here and help with jobs, and really turn the area around,” Kasch said.

Outlet developers plan to build more near the 200-acre property next to Interstate 9 and LGPA Boulevard.

Plans show they’ll build homes, grocery, retail stores and a hotel.

“I think it means a lot for the community,” Kasch said.

Even though 80,000 cars on average pass through that area of Daytona Beach every day, it has been struggling for new life.

Most of the area is undeveloped, and some business struggled to stay open.

Lemuz believes the mall will be more than just a place to shop.

“I think it’ll bring a lot of jobs to Daytona,” he said.

The additional retail stores are expected to open next summer.

Two years after that, the hotel and homes are scheduled to be completed.

Cox Media Group