Outlet Stores for Ogden

I have seen a successful downtown renovation that just begs to be duplicated in downtown Ogden.

Freeport, Maine has taken its entire downtown business district and converted it to outlet stores. Most of the original buildings were renovated for the new outlet stores, while retaining the charming old New England architecture. Some new stand-alone stores have been built with landscaped setbacks from the sidewalk, using old New England architecture. New restaurants have been built with outdoor seating under large umbrellas. Freeport did this without disturbing any of the streets; Main Street still flows through the heart of the business district with stores on both sides, and each intersection still has its traffic signals. Parking is not allowed on Main Street because it is a typical narrow two lane street common in small towns in New England. Parking is in parking lots about a half block behind the stores. There are 64 stores and shops, including Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, GAP, J. Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, Dansk, Allen Edmonds Shoes, Cole Haan Shoes, Dexter Shoes, Hartman Luggage, Samsonite, Patagonia, plus furniture stores, jewelry stores, childrens stores. In addition, there are 16 eating places from a small sidewalk ice cream stand to sit-down restaurants and taverns. Freeport is also the home of L.L. Bean, which has a large store on Main Street.

I was there in the middle of September a year ago (not the height of the tourist season, although October is) and I was amazed at the number of people walking the sidewalks, shopping and eating at the outdoor restaurants. It's apparent that these shoppers included people from other Maine towns, as well as tourists.

I believe this concept could be implemented in downtown Ogden using the early 1900's architecture of 25th Street and Union Station to emphasis and build on Ogden's unique heritage. We could start with the old mall site to set the tone. As more stores signed on they could be located across Washington Boulevard, from 22nd Street to 25th Street on both sides of Washington Boulevard. A fully implemented development would probably resemble Ogden in the days before the Mall was built.

These are the advantages I believe would come from such downtown development.

1. Since there is no other Outlet Mall North of Park City, it would draw people from all of Northern Utah from about Davis County and North, and probably some from Southern Idaho and South East Wyoming. This would mean a lot more money spent in Ogden than is being spent now.

2. It would also help attract tourists, both summertime as well as wintertime skiing tourists.

3. It would make Ogden's Convention Center more competitive in attracting conventions, as outlet shopping is a favored past time of many spouses of both genders.

4. With the common theme, it would increase foot traffic and shopping on 25th Street as well as increase foot traffic in Union Station.

5. It would enhance the business of our local hotels and restaurants.

6. This is a unique form of shopping that would have relatively negligible negative impact on the Newgate Mall, Wal-Mart, Costco, or any of the small "mom and pop" stores.

7. It would create a large additional source of sales tax revenue to the City.

8. It would enhance Ogden as a desirable skiing destination.

9. It would create a lot of jobs.

10. It would increase property values in downtown Ogden and the surrounding area.

I would hope that those in Ogden City who can make something like this happen will give serious consideration to this concept, and move on it quickly.

Bruce A. Jackson
Ogden, Utah 84403
476-1801