Two Orlando-area outlet malls

are staying open later, and some employees aren’t happy about it.

A move to later closing times at two Metro Orlando outlet malls has some employees crying foul.

Orlando’s Premium Outlets malls in the tourist district extended operating hours starting July 4 to close at midnight instead of 11 p.m. They’re also opening at 9 a.m. for shoppers to gain another extra hour.

Employees say the late closings put them at risk at driving home at hours too close to bar and club closing times. An online petition pushing back against the change has more than 7,000 supporters.

“Most store employees will be forced to drive home or walk at unsafe hours (i.e. 2 a.m.) due to the push-back of closing procedures,” reads the petition started by Lydea Strickland, who said she works at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets.

The two outlet malls are major attractions in Orlando’s busiest tourist industry. Already the two shopping centers were open about two hours later than the region’s other malls. They have more than 160 stores each.

The outlet malls’ owners, Simon Properties, said they are responding to customer demand by extending hours.

“Given Orlando's growing tourism business, we have adjusted hours to reflect the ongoing market trends – especially during prime seasons such as summer, back-to-school and holiday,” said a statement from Dan Dooley, area general manager of Orlando Premium Outlets. “We are committed to meeting the needs of our shoppers with different preferences and schedules, allowing our customers better access when it’s most convenient for them.”

Simon Properties did not respond to a request asking if closing time would shift back after the peak tourist season has closed.

Strickland said she has the support of nearly all of her co-workers, who don’t see the need to have the stores open so late, especially when mall traffic is lighter starting at about 9 p.m.

“It’s dead at that time anyway,” she said in a phone interview.

Typically, she said it takes an hour or more after closing before employees can go home for the night, meaning they would leave the mall after 1 a.m.

Many of the people who signed the online petition say they are outlet workers, but it has also garnered support from local friends and family members of workers, as well as others as far away as California and New York.

Simon isn’t the only retail landlord with late hours. Disney Springs has extended its hours until midnight daily this year, after opening until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday in past years.