If you live to shop, rejoice. The mother of all outlet malls is open along I-5 next to the Tulalip Casino.
The 100 stores and 383,000 square feet of upscale retail space should put power shoppers into overdrive. The discounts will keep them coming back.
Despite a name that inexplicably ties itself to a city 40 miles away, Seattle Premium Outlets represents a welcome milestone in the economic development of North Snohomish County. It promises to serve as a magnet for tourism, a clean industry that brings new dollars to the area. It also gives local residents a new and exciting array of retail choices without having to drive to Burlington, Everett, Lynnwood or Seattle.
And, happily, it looks like this is just the beginning of a retail boom in north county. On the east side of I-5, the City of Marysville appears on the verge of bringing some major stores to its north end. Just like the Tulalip Tribes’ new outlet mall, it’s the result of smart planning.
Under the direction of Mayor Dennis Kendall and Chief Administrative Officer Mary Swenson, Marysville has made a strong push for commercial development and has streamlined its permitting process to accommodate it. The city also had the foresight to design and build a water treatment facility and detention ponds that ensured compliance with strict state regulations. That was a clear sign to developers that Marysville was open for business.
When construction of the new 172nd Street overpass is completed next year, traffic will flow more smoothly through Smokey Point, enhancing the shopping experience there.
This week, though, the biggest salute goes to the Tulalips’ newest business venture. The tribes have made the most of their gambling revenue and freeway location, making non-casino investments that will serve its members for generations to come. All along, tribal leaders have made economic diversification a priority, knowing that the golden goose of gaming might not last forever. Quil Ceda Village, the new outlet mall, and a hotel that should be open in time for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are the result of that wisdom.
And now the tribes’ neighbors in Marysville are poised to make some noise of their own. Shoppers from near and far are the happy beneficiaries.
Shopkeepers, welcome to North Snohomish County.
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