One of Vicksburg’s greatest attractions is celebrating its 20th anniversary while looking at expansion.

It’s longevity and future plans are good news for Vicksburg. The outlet mall serves up deals for locals, tourists and makes us a regional hub. For the people drawn here by Vicksburg National Military Park and other attractions, the Outlets is a nice addition, but often we forget how many people from around the region are drawn into the area because of the shopping there.

As tourism numbers have grown in the past years and the center has continued to establish a reputation, Outlets at Vicksburg has continued as a success. Sales numbers have grown each year since the center opened, manager Margaret Gilmer said.

There’s nothing but growth in the future.  Gilmer has previously mentioned plans for additional phases of construction, which would add another 100,000 square feet of retail space.

All of that of course, hinges on the expansion of the Interstate 20 Frontage Road. As it is, the road is too short and keeps the Outlets tucked away, almost hidden.

We were pleased to learn Vicksburg has been a delight to retailers too.

“There was just something about Vicksburg that they all like,” Gilmer said. “I’ve never had a retailer that came that did not love the area. If there were ever anything that would make you be totally committed to an area it would be all the national retailers sending their site selection people and every time they would go, ‘this is amazing.’”

Of course it wasn’t always that easy.

“It was a difficult sell job convincing the retailers that they wanted to be in Mississippi,” Margaret Gilmer said. “There really weren’t any others here at the time.”

For more information about the Outlets at Vicksburg’s celebration call 601-636-7434 or visit www.outletsatvicksburg.com. We’re sure they would love to hear from you.