The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo provides a shopping experience that bridges two communities across the US-Mexico border. The two-level center is located in the heart of downtown Laredo, on the banks of the Rio Grande, adjacent to two international bridges, where 4.2 million pedestrians, and 5.5 million vehicles cross annually. The Shoppes showcase nearly 60 top-brand restaurants and retail outlet stores, including Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Nike, Under Armour, and Brooks Brothers. The outlet center is ideally located to attract 4.5+ million Mexican shoppers. The outlet center is ideally located to attract Mexican shoppers looking for an American shopping experience. It is the closest outlet center to Monterrey, Mexico, which has a population of 4.5+ million and the highest per capita GDP in Mexico, two times the national average. Serving shoppers from two countries can provide some buffer for economic conditions in any one market, potentially buffering retail sales from the variance in local economic conditions. Laredo, Texas, is located on the north bank of the historical Rio Grande River and is the U.S. principal port of entry into Mexico, located on the Pan American Highway that stretches from Canada into Central and South America. As the historic gateway and trading partner with Mexico, Laredo boasts the #1 inland port along the US-Mexico border crossing with $168 billion+ in imports and exports. The city has been ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities. As oil and international trade fuel Laredo’s business boom, the city maintains an unemployment rate well below the national average. Almost 1 million people live in the MSA, which includes the City of Nuevo Laredo, directly across the Rio Grande. Located within the commerce-trade-tourism border zone and the NAFTA gateway— The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo encourages shoppers from Mexico to visit freely and without any extra documentation. It is the only outlet center to enjoy this direct gateway access.