text: I hauled my mother along with me to visit the outlets, arriving at 10 am on a Friday (CMS schools were out, and it was Halloween - I thought this was going to be poor planning on my part, but it turned out okay).  \n\nWith the early arrival time during the work-week, I easily found a parking spot at the end of a row near Old Navy.  Be warned - the parking lot was designed by Helen Keller and there are WAY too many C (compact) parking spots.  Some of the compact cars we saw when leaving were a Navigator, a Sequoia, an Expedition and several full size sedans.  Stop with the damn compact parking.  (I know, I know... I work for an arch firm, parking spot quotas and whatnot, but STAHHHHP).\n\nFood Court is bleh.  And there is nothing really close to the outlets to eat.  Eat before or after, or know that you will need to get a cookie at the cookie joint and a coffee from Starbucks to snack on.  The Starbucks is not it's own store, it's more of an overgrown coffee stand/building in the middle of the walkway.  You're going to be standing in line outside and you have to keep moving.\n\nAs a chubby gal, I was happy to see the Old Navy.  Torrid (the big and tall whore store) is also located here, but everything was black and goth'y (I am fat, but I still like to wear colors).  They had great purse deals at the Kate Spade and Coach, though the folks at the Coach were stalking and I can't stand that.  Greet me when I come in and then leave me alone.  Outer wear was well priced at Eddie Bauer, as was the clearance section.  Yankee Candle had the large jars 4 for $44 (be aware that this is truly the outlet for YC - you typically won't find the same scents that they have in the stores/online, though some were stocked).  I was a little disappointed that the GH Bass store had mostly boots, but 'tis the season.\n\nLike Bruce K. said, if you have ever been to a Simon/Premium Outlet, you know what to expect.  This is very similar to the outlets that I have visited in Charleston in design and retailers.  A nice addition to the Charlotte area, and I will definitely return (at 10 am on Sundays or after the first of the year - I wouldn't come here during the holidays unless forced at gunpoint - it's going to be a shitshow).