I know of an organization that was interested in acquiring the old Farmer Jacks bldg, but the overwhelming legal red-tape involved (because of issues with the prior buidling owners) caused interest to ultimately fade.
It's such a nice shopping area on that corner of Front/Telegraph that I can't understand why someone can't make it work.
But, then again . . . . The Outlet sits empty and literally disintegrates more and more with every month.
Such a waste.
When we first moved here someone pointed out to me that at one point that had been the site of the local dump

Maybe too many of the locals still remember that

Not sure what you mean by "the Outlet"...
If you're talking the complexes out on Laplaisance road, they are far from "empty"...
certainly below capacity but not empty....
The Harwood family has purchased the two northern "complexes" and is slowly revitalizing them.
I was out there this week and Joe Bryant was working in the parking lot, filling potholes it looked like.
From what I can see the original "outlet mall" is overloaded...
with fireworks stores... plus there are a couple of "tent" outlets for fireworks at the same intersection!!!
On one of your frequent trips to Catawba maybe you should get off the freeway and actually drive through the parking lots and past the storefronts...
Apparently it's hard to see what's actually happening when you're just zooming by
