The local retail picture is mixed, however. Burlington's lure as a shopping center strengthened when several major outlets were built during the boom times of the '90s. But with the bloom off the economy, perhaps only for a short time, the local retail lineup has suffered a series of troubling losses. Good jobs always are the top priority for any community. But good shopping does more than help pay local municipal and school bills through sales taxes.
Shoppers eat at local restaurants, buy gas locally and pay to see local attractions.
For years, Burlington's leaders talked about better highways being the salvation. Soon, four-lane highways could provide faster and safer access to Burlington from virtually any direction. The worry after that will be whether the community has the attractions in place to live up to its regional status. The projected centers offered no blueprint for success. They were sufficiently sized and properly situated to attract regional business.