With the Williamsburg Outlet Mall scheduled to close at the end of the year, many of its businesses are turning to other parts of the Williamsburg area for new locations, determined to serve existing and new customers in the area.
In August 2003, the mall was purchased by 6401 Richmond Road LLLP, with the intent to redevelop the property, according to Mary Digges, a general partner with the LLLP. Those plans fell through, so the mall continued to operate.
Now, there is a purchase contract on the property and the purchaser intends to demolish the existing mall and replace it with a pharmacy, retail, restaurants and a grocery store — shown as a Harris Teeter on the plans — spread across five different buildings.
The contract purchaser has not been named at this point, but plans have been presented to James City County to construct Lightfoot Marketplace in the existing outlet mall’s place. The plans are undergoing the county’s review process and will eventually go before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
With the impending closure and plans to demolish the building, that left 18 businesses with a decision to close or relocate. At least six of the businesses will relocate or consolidate in the area; others are still trying to find alternate locations and some business with corporate ownership were not reachable for confirmation.
Pendleton closed after the business day ended Sept. 21. The store will be reopening at 1430 High Street on Sunday, with a grand opening event scheduled for Oct. 11 through 13.
“Pendleton feels the new Williamsburg location has greater visibility and the building itself has more of a presence. These assets will be good for building the brand in the Williamsburg marketplace,” said Linda Parker, a Pendleton representative.
The Pendleton store at High Street will be open 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information call the store at 757-259-4681 or visit Pendleton’s website.
Vanity Fair, which encompasses the Lee, Wrangler and Jansport brands, will also relocate in the area but the location has not been made official yet.
“We are so committed to the Williamsburg area, we just love being there. We have an amazingly loyal customer base,” said Michele Colonna, the head of Vanity Fair Outlet’s marketing department.
Vanity Fair’s assistant manager said the store will sell children’s clothing after it moves, something not currently offered now. A sales associate who answered the phone at the outlet said the store would likely relocate to High Street.
Country Treasures by Pat Wainwright, a country craft and gift shop, will be moving to the Williamsburg Pavilion Shops on Richmond Road by New York Deli. The store will move in early 2014. Wainwright said it was important to stay in the area because the store has steady business from out-of-town clientele and a good existing customer base.
Hanes Brands will consolidate with the existing store at the Premium Outlets rather than operating two locations in the area, said one of the store’s employees.
New Concept Gifts is working on a deal to relocate to Settlers Market, said the store’s owner Henry Wan.
“We are very excited about moving to Settlers Market. We have been working a deal for quite a while, and now it’s very close to getting some paper work done … plus the Neighborhood Market Walmart just opened and the traffic down there is picking up and we are very happy,” Wan said.
At this time, Totes has no plans to relocate in the area, said the store’s manager.
Vitamin World also has plans to close when the outlet mall closes, but the products are available for purchase online, said Andrea Staub, a company spokesperson.
An Avon store was previously located at the outlet mall but moved to the Country Stores at the Candle Factory in Norge, according to the store’s website.
Corporate spokespeople for Famous Footwear, Easy Spirit, Bon Worth, Destination XL Outlet did not return requests for comment on future plans after the mall closes. The Bottom Line, The Bottom Line II and Always A Holiday’s owner declined comment about the stores’ plans.
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