CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN FALL FOR SIKESTON FACTORY OUTLET MALL

SIKESTON -- Plans have been announced for a 120,000-square-foot factory outlet center here.

"We'll start construction in September for the Sikeston Factory Outlet Center," said Philip Boyer, president of Boyer Construction Co., which has developed plans for the center. "We're looking for an opening in April of 1993."

The new center will be located near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 62, off Frontage Road west of the interchange.

"We've had great response for the project," said Boyer. "We have already signed three tenants for the operation and hope to have six more in the immediate future."

The center will provide space for more than 30 manufacturer-owned stores, said Boyer.

"The stores will include merchandise such as men's and women's apparel, shoes, books, toys, lingerie, cosmetics, cookware, hosiery and home furnishing," he said.

Boyer declined to name any of the stores at this time that have indicated they will lease sites in the center, but noted that the stores will offer brand-name merchandise at discounts of 25 to 75 percent.

"We feel this is an ideal location for an outlet mall," said Boyer. "We are halfway between St. Louis and Memphis, and there is a lot of traffic through here on interstate highways I-57 from Illinois joins I-55 at Sikeston."

Boyer indicated that even more traffic is expected as travelers turn their attention toward Branson, a tourist area in Southwest Missouri. Branson, home of Silver Dollar City and several new country/western shows, is attracting visitors from throughout the United States.

Sikeston already has one outlet store, London Fog, a men's and women's apparel shop.

"This shop (London Fog) attracts a lot of attention from Southeast Missouri," said Boyer. "We feel the outlet center will be a big draw to our area."

The first phase of the center was originally set at about 60,000 square feet.

"We'll build whatever is needed," said Boyer. "It's looking now like we may open the first phase with as much as 70,000 to 80,000 square feet."

Financing for the factory outlet project was made available by AmeriFirst Bank of Sikeston.

Leasing for the project will be provided by JWR and Associates Inc., of Lanett, Ala., a company that specializes in factory outlet store leasing.