Famous Labels to open store at GMGP

[StL_Dan]

source: http://www.theolathenews.com/News_photo/News3.shtml

New anchor store at mall will sell designer labels at a discount
By Jack Weinstein, staff writer

The Great Mall of the Great Plains is almost back — as in almost full again.
The mall announced the addition of a new anchor store Monday.
Famous Labels, a designer-label discount store, will open in late spring or early summer, according to a release from Kari Keefe, marketing director for the mall.
“We are very excited to bring a value-oriented store that specifically offers designer clothing and goods to our shoppers,” Keefe said in the release.
“We know they will appreciate the popular brands that they seek, and they’ll be pleasantly surprised to find them in their price range.”
With locations in the Midwest and South and along the East Coast, Famous Labels customers can find a variety of designer names including Jones NY, Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren for men, women and juniors.
Brad Cornell, the mall general manager, said that the addition of the store leaves only one vacancy in the mall, and that it should be filled within the next couple of weeks.
That’s good news, Cornell said.
“It’s an evolutionary process,” he said.
“It’s very good. By the addition of these anchor stores, we’ve gained a lot of momentum. We’re doing well at this time.”
The term “anchor store” refers to the size of the store, more than 20,000 square feet, Cornell said. Famous Labels will occupy the 25,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Cosmic Mini Golf.
Cosmic Mini Golf moved to a new location across from the Lane Bryant Outlet about a month ago to accommodate Famous Labels.
Cornell said he thinks the store will be a good draw because of the brand names the store can sell at discounted prices.
Olathe Chamber of Commerce spokesman Tim McKee said it’s beneficial for the city for the mall to do well.
“Obviously it provides a lot of bulk property tax and sales tax to the city of Olathe directly,” he said citing city services that are provided from those taxes like road improvements and police services.
“Beyond that, it’s an amenity for the city.
“It’s very important for us to have that mall be successful to provide opportunities for citizens here in the city to make those purchases.”
Cornell was enthusiastic about the future of the mall.
“We’re in a wonderful location,” he said.
“We have the support of the city and the community.”