SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Excited shoppers the clock is ticking.
Tanger Outlets in Southaven opens Friday morning.
We can expect a lot of shoppers and a bunch of wary drivers.
Let’s face it, that place is going to be packed Friday and this weekend.
“Everybody waiting on it,” said Robert Pickens, who is one of the thousands who has been waiting to scoop some deals at the Tanger Outlets.
Thursday afternoon the outlets were still a construction zone.
Workers scrambled to put the finishing touches on the massive shopping center, but dust aside, the place will be open for business Friday.
A few stores like H & M and Coach won’t be open until early spring but thousands are still expected to turn out.
That means a lot of traffic.
“We’ve been preparing for weeks for that,” said Southaven Police Deputy Chief Steve Pirtle.
Pirtle said his department is ready.
They’ll be 16 officers designated to handle traffic alone.
He said they’re expecting 10,000 to 15,000 cars a day.
“We’ve got signage up to try to help traffic up some and MDOT has brought up about 12 signs to post on the interstate to try to warn about slow or stopped traffic,” explained Pirtle.
He offered a few alternate routes.
“Airways if you’re coming from the north, Church Road if you’re coming from the east and of course 55.”
Pirtle and his department don’t just expect huge crowds Friday but all weekend.
Overflow parking will be available at the Landers Center with shuttles for brave shoppers.
“So we’re trying to advocate using the Landers Center for parking.”
With all these extra people, Pirtle said there’s extra security too including undercover officers.
“Just because you don’t see a patrol car doesn’t mean our officers aren’t out there. We try to hit them from both angles.”
However all these extra measures won’t be necessary for Pickens.
He’s avoiding the new mall altogether.
“Not this weekend. I’m going to wait and go next weekend,” he said with a smile.
A spokesperson for Tanger said the stores open at 9 a.m.
This is the holiday shopping season so police remind you to use extra caution and properly stow your belongings.
