Palm Beach Outlets Celebrates First Birthday Feb. 14

A birthday cake-eating competition, entertainment, activities for kids, gifts with purchases and free kisses for all will be part of Palm Beach Outlets’ one-year birthday celebration on Saturday, Feb. 14.

In addition, up to 25 mothers who gave birth on the day Palm Beach Outlets was “born” — Feb. 14, 2014 — will be recognized. The activities will begin at 11 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m.

“These mothers couldn’t be with us last year as they were in labor, and we wanted to give them a chance this year to be a special part of our celebration,” Palm Beach Outlets’ Marketing Director Pam Rada said.

Any mother who delivered a child that day at any Palm Beach County hospital is eligible to sign up for “A Shopper is Born” recognition, which includes a free brunch, a baby gift and a goodie bag. It’s limited to the first 25 mothers who pre-register.

Those who qualify should send an email to info@palmbeachoutlets.com and include the time of birth, hospital name, baby name and mother’s name.

It was on Valentine’s Day one year ago that Palm Beach Outlets opened to much fanfare with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrity fashions and charitable tie-ins. The shopping center opened with 90 stores and today features more than 130 retail shops and three restaurants. Additionally, the Marketplace at the Outlets, adjacent to the main facility, opened in October.

Credited by West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio as being a symbol of the economic revitalization happening in the city, the Palm Beach Outlets has delivered in drawing both local residents and tourists.

“We have been very pleased with the number of shoppers our center has attracted in the past year,” Rada said. “Our traffic counts for the first six months — which add up to some 4 million shoppers — indicates a bright future not only for our tenants, but for shoppers who are looking for great deals as well.”

The highlight of the birthday celebration will be the world’s first birthday cake-eating championship, sanctioned by Major League Eating and sponsored by Whole Foods Market, which will open at the Marketplace at the Outlets on Feb. 25. This eight-minute, all-you-can-eat championship will feature a field of 12 eaters battling for their share of $5,000 in cash prizes.

Musicians and entertainers will add to the ambiance, and kids will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities. Shoppers who purchase $100 or more at stores will receive a free Palm Beach Outlets bag by showing their receipt at the customer relations desk at the food court. And everyone will receive free Hershey’s kisses, while supplies last. For more information, call (561) 515-4400 or visit www.palmbeachoutlets.com.