"[They're] different stores that the other malls don't have. They've brought in more variety and that's something this town really needed," shopper Diana McLeod said.
"It's very beautiful, very attractive. I think it will attract a lot of people in north Raleigh to this location," shopper Kimberly Jones said.
More than 1,000 shoppers were on hand for the unveiling of a sculpture and the opening of the front doors at 10 a.m.
"I think we have something for everybody," said Mike Robbins, mall manager. "I think you've got a very nice mix of middle price-point merchandise as well as designer lines. In wanting to be more than a mall, but a town center, one of the focuses on leasing was to try and have that variety of merchandise."
With the mall's grand opening, 95 stores, four department stores and 24 specialty carts are officially open.
"By the end of the week we should have another 10 stores that open, by fall, another 10 and by spring another 10," Robbins said.
Saks Fifth Avenue will not open until fall 2004.
As workers finished last-minute work on the 1.3 million-square-foot mall, mall management worked out its plan to make sure shoppers can easily get to the mall on the new roads around it.
"We've added some additional message board signing on Interstate 540 and on Capital Boulevard. There will be police officers at every entrance of the shopping center in addition to eight officers circulating the property on a regular basis," Robbins said.
Shoppers will be treated to performances through Sunday.
The Triangle Town Center is the second major mall to open in the Triangle this year. The Streets at Southpoint opened in Durham in March.
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