Crossville Outlet Center celebrates 24 years

Source: Crossville Chronicle.com

CROSSVILLE — This fall, Vanity Fair will celebrate its 24th year in business in Crossville. They opened their Factory Outlet in Crossville in October of 1988. At that time, the mall was known as the VF Factory Outlet Mall and VF Factory Outlet was the anchor store.

"This mall was one of 13 or 14 similar malls we opened around the nation around the same time," VF Manager Jay Andrews said. "We were known in those days for a very aggressive pricing policy of "half off the lowest ticket price."

VF Outlet of Crossville has been one of the strongest stores in the national chain as measured by volume, Andrews noted.

"At the time VF Factory Outlet Mall first opened their doors in 1988, there were 10 other stores in the mall," he said. "Then in 1994, we had the first of two expansions, adding 10-12 new stores. Six more stores were added in the 1996 expansion."

The main difference from today's mall and the one that opened 24 years ago is that every store back then was a national chain.

"Now we have several independents and some mom and pops," Andrews said.

"We may be 24 years old, but we are still going strong," he added. "The pricing in the Vanity Fair store is different today than it was when we first opened, but our prices are still very competitive and we continue to have outstanding sales on many national brands."

Today, there are 22 businesses in the mall, which is now known as Crossville Outlet Center. There is 152,191 square feet of floor space in the mall and one restaurant, Subway.

Current mall stores are Vanity Fair, Uniform Destinations, Van Heusen, maurice's, Dress Barn, Leggs, Banister, Kitchen Collection, Bon Worth, Angels' Helpers, Rackroom Shoes, Deb's Bridal, Totes (Sunglasses World), Kasper, Hematite Hut, Bed Boss, Leather CC Second Chance, and Subway. There is also a miniature railroad display occupying space in the mall.

"We enjoy a great relationship with the city, the Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield Glade and the entire county," Andrews said. "We love all the walkers who use our facility daily. We also love the golf tournaments, softball tournaments and chess tournaments that the city hosts. They are all good for us."

"We want to continue to be a part of the Crossville community and encourage people to come to the center and shop," said Susan Binkley with the Kennedy Wilson Management Group. "We are aggressively looking for additional store brands that shoppers recognize, ones that bring exceptional value to our customers here at the Crossville Outlet Center. It’s clean, cool and there are many really nice stores just wanting and waiting to assist the fine Crossville community."

Crossville Outlet Center is at 228 Interstate Dr., just off Genesis Rd. at I-40.