Farberware opens in Boise Factory Outlets mall

Farberware, an old-line producer of cookware and kitchen accessories, has opened a store in the Boise Factory Outlets mall, boosting the mall’s occupancy to 72 percent.

The century-old company, which makes pots, pans, cutlery, china and small kitchen appliances, was expected to open Oct. 25 in a 3,150-square-foot space, employing six to eight, next to Factory Brand Shoes.

Tinsmith S.W. Farber founded Farberware in 1900. Based in Westbury, N.Y., Farberware fields a handful of its own outlet stores throughout the U.S., including one in Posts Falls. Its products are sold at many department stores.

Farberware’s opening followed openings by three previously announced national tenants – children’s clothing store OshKosh B’Gosh, linen products store Springmaid-Wamsutta and undergarments retailer Hanes Bali Playtex (IBR, 8-19-02).

Duane Link, vice president of marketing for outlet mall owner BFO LLC in Portland, said Farberware brought the number of outlet mall tenants to 26. BFO is negotiating with an unidentified national retailer of women’s professional apparel, which has signed a letter of intent to lease 8,100 square feet in the outlet mall and open by Jan. 1, he said.

Discussions were continuing with a Boise-area coffee vendor, Link said, and a restaurant “of international flavor” that could open within the mall before year’s end.

“Things are looking up. I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Link said. “With all these new stores, we’re giving shoppers new reasons to come check us out.”

Link attended an annual retail industry conference earlier this month in Orlando, Fla., called the International Council of Shopping Centers and said he discovered “good, positive buzz about Boise, which is encouraging. We’re one of the few outlet centers actually adding stores.”

Link said he and mall owners Pat Studdard and Dale Bernards have aggressively marketed the outlet mall since purchasing it in August 2001 from S-Sixteen.

“There’s a perception of Boise that it’s an outpost in the Far West,” he said. “Part of our job has been to educate retailers about what vibrant, upscale clients the Boise area has to offer, the education level here and the diversity. They don’t always know that.”

OshKosh opened a temporary store Aug. 16 and plans a Nov. 16 move into a 4,680-square-foot permanent space between Bass & Co. and Van Heusen, employing eight to 10.

Springmaid-Wasmutta opened in a 6,520-square-foot space adjacent to Toy Liquidators on Sept. 30, employing 8 to 10. Hanes Bali Playtex opened Oct. 12 in a 4,500-square-foot space next to Payless Shoe Source, employing eight to 10.