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Casinos Expected to Help Outlet Stores

BARSTOW, California – As reported by the San Bernardino Sun: "Million-dollar Indian casinos, if they are built nearby, are expected to boost customer counts and sagging sales at the two outlet malls.

"Sales taxes paid by mall merchants to the city fell by more than half in less than a decade, based on data from City Hall.

"…'The proposed casinos would give us a definite lift, possibly from 30 (percent) to 50 percent (in shoppers and sales)' said Sabrina Bernal, on-site manager at Barstow Outlets. 'We're looking forward to them, and hope we can attract more shoppers to our malls.'

"Two side-by-side casinos planned by the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon tribes could draw as many as 2.5 million visitors annually, tribal spokesmen claim. A third tribe eyeing the area for a casino , the Chemehuevis, hope to attract an equal number of gamblers.

"…At the two outlet malls alone, the proposed casinos could boost retail sales by $380,000 a year, according to a study by HDL Companies, a financial consultant to the city…"

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