Stories of 2012: Merrimack Premium Outlets Open

Merrimack Patch has it's first full year in the books and what a year it's been! We re-elected President Barack Obama to another four years, and hey, the Mayan apocalypse didn't happen, so congratulations, we're all still here.

From the opening of the Merrimack Premium Outlets to another Halloween storm that cut power to thousands for days, there's been no shortage of news in town. We've seen businesses and residents in the community doing wonderful things to support their neighbors and communities as far away as Haiti. There's been business growth, and sadly a few closures.

There have been exciting moments in sports with the boys varsity basketball state championship, the baseball team playing, but unfortunately losing their state championship, and the Merrimack Cardinals Midget Cheerleaders win at nationals earlier this month. Another Rock'n Ribfest was written into the books, as was a continually-growing Merrimack Fall Festival and Business Expo, and the midway returned to town on the Fourth of July after a short hiatus.

Join us as we count down some of the top stories of the year between today and Dec. 30. Thank you for making this a wonderful year. Enjoy the final days of 2012, we can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

1. Merrimack Premium Outlets Celebrate Grand Opening

There's been a lot of news in town this year, but none was more followed than the opening of the Merrimack Premium Outlets and the stories that led up to it. From announcements of stores that would be opening at the open-air shopping center, to a job fair for hundreds of jobs to a protest outside the entrance in the days leading up to the opening, to the stores that have trickled in since the bulk of stores opened in June.

On June 14, the doors opened after nearly a decade of planning and meetings and a bit more than a year of construction. With a solid traffic plan in place, Merrimack was ready for the thousands of people turned out to the opening weekend at the malls, a four-day grand opening celebration that featured a grand-opening ceremony, live music and first weekend discounts.

We spent the day at the grand opening starting with the ceremony and then walking the facility, talking to shoppers and putting together a fun video with a couple of young men who lost their car in the expansive parking lot.

Six months in, the Merrimack Premium Outlets has its first holiday shopping season, replete with Midnight Madness for Black Friday, under its belt.

The volume of stories produced and readers who came to learn more about the destination shopping center for residents around northern New England and Canada make the opening of the Outlets our number one story of 2012.

Catch up on our other stories of the year:

2. The Year of the Election

3. Sandy Strikes the East Coast

4. Burgeoning Business in Merrimack

5. Recall on Tainted Steroids has Far Reaching Effects

6. Teacher Awarded for Leadership in Science

7. Building a Sense of Community

8. Gone too soon

9. Jehovah's Witnesses Get OK to Build