Company officials said they were "blown away" by the number of shoppers at last weekend's opening of Tanger Outlet Center, which drew more than 100,000 people.

The company won't say how many shoppers showed up at the 75-store center in South Strabane, but the crowd was a record for Tanger, possibly double what the company expected, said General Manager Frank Salucci. He had expected about 75,000 shoppers during the opening weekend.

"It was an unbelievable turnout," Mr. Salucci said. "It was the largest turnout that any of our centers have ever had."

The Greensboro, N.C., company operates 31 other outlet centers in 22 states, including one in Lancaster County. The South Strabane outlet sits on a hill above Racetrack Road adjacent to Interstate 79 and The Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

And the thousands of shoppers opened their wallets wide, as sales at some of the stores over the weekend exceeded monthly totals at other locations.

By Saturday, most of the stores had realized their projected sales for the extended holiday weekend, Mr. Salucci said.

"It just really gets everybody excited when they see all the people that were here," he said.

That excitement is spilling over to some merchants who signed lease agreements but planned to wait a year to open their outlet shops.

Now, Mr. Salucci said, those tenants plan to open before the holiday season. And, he expects the second phase of the project to fill up quickly as well.

The company opted to begin work on the second phase earlier than anticipated. One vacant building and several stores are still available.

Feedback from shoppers has been positive, Mr. Salucci said, especially about the rest rooms, which have all-tile floor-to-ceiling walls and shelves inside the bathroom stalls.

Shoppers also appreciated the family rest rooms, designed for parents with young children.

"Tanger really looked at [putting in] all the amenities to make the shopping experience as pleasant as possible," Mr. Salucci said.

Shoppers said they also were impressed with the discounts.

"You definitely get good deals," said Chris Krishak, of Weirton, W.Va., who likes to shop at outlet malls.

The Trinity Area School District high school marching band played at the opening, and former Steeler Jerome Bettis signed autographs Aug. 29.

"When you look at a center like this, you say to yourself, 'How is it possible?' It's a team effort," Mr. Bettis said. "I know a little bit about team effort."

The center's parking lots were filled all weekend, forcing some shoppers to park along the winding drive leading to the hilltop outlet center.

On Wednesday, South Strabane police Chief Don Zofchak said no arrests had been made since the opening, although some cases of road rage over parking occurred.

Construction on Racetrack Road, including new traffic signals and a road widening project, was temporarily halted last weekend but restarted on Labor Day, Chief Zofchak said.

Four police officers from South Strabane continued to be stationed at Racetrack Road intersections, from opening day until today, when police believe their constant presence no longer will be needed.

Tanger is paying the additional cost of having officers work four-hour overtime shifts.

Chief Zofchak said traffic tie-ups weren't bad and, most importantly, vehicles didn't back up onto I-79. New traffic signals installed at the center's entrance didn't work during the first five hours of the opening day.

"They weren't gridlocked, but it was slow," he said of the traffic.

The outlet center may have been expecting 75,000 customers, but Chief Zofchak said he and his crew had anticipated more.

"It was what we expected. We were prepared just from looking at Grove City," he said, referring to the Prime Outlets at Grove City, Mercer County, about 75 miles north of the Tanger outlets. "We felt we needed to prepare for the worst."

Chief Zofchak said the department will prepare again for huge crowds during Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when shoppers traditionally hit the stores for the deepest discounts of the holiday season.

Mr. Salucci said the outlet center will open at midnight Thanksgiving, and he anticipates the crowds to rival that of last weekend.

Chief Zofchak, whose officers worked hand in hand with those of neighboring North Strabane last weekend, said police will be ready.

"We'll certainly be prepared to deal with at least that much during Black Friday," he said.