New Factory Outlet Center to Open Soon in San Marcos

A major factory outlet center with more than 25 stores is expected to open in San Marcos this fall.

There are outlet centers at the Mexican border in San Ysidro and in Lake Elsinore, above Temecula, but none directly serving North County.

The new center will be in the former Spanjian Sportswear manufacturing facility. Outlet developer David DuFour said the market value of the project is $12 million, with $5 million in rennovation costs, including $200,000 to city of San Marcos for general street improvements.

The tenant list is not yet complete but is expected to represent a wide range of merchandise, from clothing to housewares to children’s toys. Opening is planned for October.

“Consumers are more intelligent; they are aware of what overheard does to a product’s or service’s prices,” DuFour said. “This concept started 30 years ago on the East Coast, and it is just reaching the West Coast now. In the next few years, there will be 30 outlet malls up and down the coast. It is truly a re-evaluation of retail.”

The San Diego North County Factory Outlet Center will offer prices 30% to 70% below retail, DuFour said. In the 108,000-square-foot enclosed mall, shoppers will be able to purchase leather and paper goods, designer fashions and shoes from manufacturers whose name-brand products are normally sold through department or specialty stores.

Although most factory outlet centers look much like strip malls, with all stores having street access, the San Marcos facility will be an enclosed mall. “There will be 82,000 square feet of shops and a mallway that goes to all the stores,” DuFour said of his departure from the proven formula. “We wanted to make it comfortable for the customer. It is a little more expensive, but no one wants to shop in a strip retail environment in the heat of summer or the rain of winter. We will offer good-quality merchandise in a bare-bones environment.”

San Diego North County Factory Outlet Center, 1050 Los Vallecitos Drive, San Marcos. Scheduled opening in October, 1992.