By Jasen Lee, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY - After years of anticipation, downtown Salt Lake City's newest crown jewel of shopping and economic development opened to the world Thursday with the parting of its signature retractable roof inviting in sunshine, shoppers and the just plain curious.

Dozens camped overnight, lining up along Main Street. Others came in on TRAX, with teenage girls mixing with corporate types as they departed the City Center station to jobs, or now, H&M, Nordstrom, or the 90 other stores and restaurants that make up City Creek Center.

By day's end, City Creek officials predicted the center would meet or exceed the prediction of 50,000 first-day visitors, and they arrived without traffic snarls or significant delays. An indication of the day's success: 75,000 directories were handed out to visitors to help guide them through City Creek during the day.

"This is a momentous day and a momentous time in Salt Lake City," Mayor Ralph Becker said. "This development is unique in America. It is a place where people can live, can work, can shop, can entertain, be entertained and gather."

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