Inside Look at Asheville Outlets As Grand Open

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Construction started last summer and now we're down to the last 48 hours before the opening of the Asheville Outlets this Friday.
This addition to the shopping scene in western North Carolina first required Biltmore Square to be torn down.
News 13's Jerrika Insco got a first look inside to see the finished product on Wednesday evening.
About 60 stores will be open for business this weekend, so store managers and employees are working overnight on finishing touches. Eventually about 75 stores are set to be there.
Parts of it still looks and sounds like a construction site as they near opening day. But first, they're focused on the Charity Shopping Night event on Thursday.
"There's a lot of stuff still to do, but we'll be ready tomorrow at 5 o'clock," Sharon Morgan, the general manager of Asheville Outlets, said. "Everybody is just running around. It's like an ant farm going on!"
In the last 24 hours, a lot has been done on site.
"They're in there doing all their last minute touches and getting it ready to go," Morgan said. "I mean you've got a guy up there on the roof right now still doing some touch up painting."
It's all to welcome customers into one of the largest outlet malls in this part of the state. Tens of thousands of shoppers are expected this weekend.
"To know what it was as Biltmore Square and to see that come down and to see this go up has just been really, really exciting," Morgan said.
Tickets are still on sale for Thursday's event for those who want to shop early. They're $20 and can be purchased online or at the door. All proceeds go to local non-profit organizations.
By Jerrika Insco
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