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BURLINGTON — The discount stores are still in Burlington, but the self-proclaimed Outlet Capital of the South's factory-store image is fading.

Big-name retail center Alamance Cross ing, home to clothing stores, bookstores and restaurants, officially opened Aug. 1, 2007.

The day's ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurated the latest of a series of new retail centers, including big-box spot University Commons, built in recent years along Interstate 40/85 and University Drive.

Mac Williams, president of the Alamance County Are a Chamber of Commerce, said the new developments are a result of increased growth in Alamance County.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Alamance County's population growth rate from 2000 to 2006 at about 9.1 percent, just shy of the state's 10 percent population growth rate during the same time period.

Alamance County in 2006 was home to about 143,000 people.

"A lot of the reason they're here is because of the influx in population and the new housing that preceded it," Williams said. "A lot of new residential developments came into Alamance.

"It's primarily because of our location halfway between Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, and the Research Triangle."

Bob Harkrader, Burlington's director of planning and economic development, said an old adage explains the sudden influx of big-name retailers, which will include a 16-screen Carousel West End Cinema theater when the newest expansion of Alamance Crossing opens in July.

"Retail follows rooftops," Harkrader said. "The initial planning began several years ago. I think that it came about as a result of the fact that (developer) CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. was aware that we had considerable residential growth planned."

Beth Wilson, 25, of Burlington, who works at Alamance Crossing gift shop Gotcha Covered, said the new developments met with mixed reactions from locals.

"A lot of older people don't like it. Younger people really do," she said, adding that problems with traffic and parking have not kept crowds away from the retail center.

"Before, all we had was the mall. Most of the time, people would go to either (Streets at) Southpoint (in Durham) or Four Seasons (Town Centre in Greensboro). It's starting to pick up."

Contact Emily Stephensonat 373-7080 or emily.stephenson@news-record.com