Officials of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina may build an outlet mall at their Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. That’s one of the options in a retail development plan the tribe is considering to diversify beyond gaming.
Chief Patrick Lambert stated, “For the past several weeks, I have been in talks with David Cordish of the Cordish Company. Along with Tribal Council, we share a vision that Cherokee can and should grow its retail, food and entertainment venues that serve not only tourist but locals as well.” Council member Richard French added, “If we can get these outlets here, it will only open up more opportunities to capture other types of businesses to come to Cherokee. It will create jobs for our enroll members. It makes us more of an anchor.” Another council member noted reservation residents often travel 50 miles to Asheville to shop.
One of the major developers of lifestyle, outlet and community shopping centers in the United States, the Cordish Companies has worked with the Seminole Tribe on casino projects in Florida and operates a commercial gaming facility in Maryland.
Outlet malls at casinos are not unusual. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut opened an outlet mall at its Foxwoods Casino Resort in May 2015, and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in California operated an outlet mall before adding gaming at the site in Alpine in April 2014.
