Tuesday, November 4, 2014

PALM BEACH OUTLETS NEW BIG BOXES TO COME AT OKEECHOBEE BLVD EXPENSE


PALM BEACH OUTLETS NEW BIG BOXES TO COME AT OKEECHOBEE BLVD EXPENSE

On the surface this seems like great news. The very successful Palm Beach Outlets, at Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. and I– 95, is growing already. Just 7 months after opening, it was announced that almost 12 new big boxes would be coming to the new project. Those retailers include T.J. Maxx, Ulta Beauty, and DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse along with many others. But 5 of them, Sports Authority, Old Navy, PetSmart, Pier 1 Imports and Bed Bath & Beyond will be relocating from their existing locations on Okeechobee Blvd. This is not good for Okeechobee Blvd. When I moved to South Florida in 2001, Okeechobee Blvd. was the place to go for shopping. It had everything you could need, all on one road, clean, safe and convenient. Okeechobee Blvd. has been going downhill steadily since then, with demographics changing, and retailers either going out of business or leaving the area. But there were still some big boxes there that you just couldn’t find anywhere else so there was still reason to go there. Now that they have left, what is remaining? I am afraid that this could become a new source of blight for West Palm unless some sort of plan to revitalize it is hatched. Sadly, it seems like déjà vu with the creation of City Place, which was supposed to be a great thing for the city but ended up competing against and crippling Clematis Street. There is a lot of work to do in West Palm, and that plate just got even heavier with this news. Given that almost every other city around it has managed to succeed, I am still hopeful they can eventually find their way. As always thanks for reading and have a great day.

Palm Beach Outlets adds big box stores to its mix


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