Shasta Outlets prepares to party like it's 1990 again

BISHOP

Now boasting 2.5 million visitors per year, the Shasta Outlets mall in Anderson will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a sale and a party, said Linda Austin, manager. From Oct. 20-30, the stores will participate in a mall-wide 20 percent off sale, she said. The sale will begin with a Greeters' meeting with the Anderson Chamber of Commerce at 12 p.m. Stores will host booths in the parking lot featuring give-aways, prizes and snacks in front of Mary's Pizza Shack.

The mall opened in August, 1990, with 15 stores occupied within the first two months, Austin said, adding that three of those original stores are still open in the mall — Kitchen Collection, Van Heusen, and L'eggs, Hanes, Bali, Playtex.

In the mall's life, the two most significant additions have been the Gap in 1998 and Prime 11 Cinemas in 2006, Austin said.

Economy and styles have changed then and stores have adapted, according to Anne Bishop, who has worked as Van Heusen's store manager since it opened 20 years ago.

The store went from carrying mostly men's clothing to sharing half the store with women's clothes, she said. She added that the store sells Polo shirts and twill pants, which sold well 20 years before the store opening and will continue to sell for 20 more years.

Business dress conventions have also changed, she said.

"Casual Fridays killed dress shirt sales," Bishop said, adding that fewer businessmen wear dress shirts and ties other than a few car salesmen and some government workers.

Shasta Outlets is located at 1699 Highway 273 in Anderson.