By Matt Wiley
The clamor of construction still echoes through the halls of the looming Tampa Premium Outlets off S.R. 56, but the stage is set for an impressive Grand Opening on Thursday, October 29, for the shopping destination that seemed like it always destined to never happen.
While workers are the people frequenting the spaces that will be taken up by more than 100 stores on opening day, signs are going up and retailers are beginning to move into the nine buildings of the 441,000-sq.-ft. outlet mall, located just west of I-75.
The central water feature, or “lagoon,” as general manager Stacey Nance refers to it, is not yet filled in the “Key West”-style mall, but most of the outer features were complete, as the Neighborhood News took a preview tour on October 8.
“When I got here from Indiana, (the mall) was just concrete walls,” Nance explained to the small group. “Seeing the mall’s transformation has been amazing.”
Nance says that she is expecting a full house during opening weekend, which also will feature an appearance from reality TV star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel (of “The Real Housewives of New York City” fame and also the founder of Skinny Girl Vodka). Nance said it wouldn’t be surprising to see more than 10,000 people per day during the opening weekend.
“This project has been in the making for so long that people are really excited,” Nance explained. “It’s going to draw a lot of people here.”
And not just for opening weekend, she added, explaining that the opening launches holiday shopping season and is open in time for snowbird season, as well.
“We’re expecting consistent traffic,” she said.
Simon Mall’s final list of stores includes:
- Adidas
- Aldo,
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Ann Taylor Factory Store
- Asian Chao
- ASICS
- Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
- Banana Republic Factory Store
- Bass Factory Outlet
- Billabong
- Brooks Brothers
- Calvin Klein
- Carter’s
- Christopher & Banks
- Clarks Bostonian
- Coach
- Cole Haan
- Columbia Sportswear
- Converse
- The Cosmetics Company Store
- Crocs
- Direct Tools Factory Outlet,
- Disney
- Diva In U
- Easy Spirit
- Ecco
- Express
- Famous Footwear Outlet
- Flip Flop Shops
- Forever 21
- Fossil
- The Fragrance Outlet
- Gap
- GNC
- Go! Calendar & Games
- Godiva Chocolatier
- Green Leaf’s Beyond Great
- Guess Factory Store
- Gymboree Outlet
- Häagen-Dazs
- Haggar Clothing Co.
- Hanesbrands
- Hanna Anderson
- Hartstrings
- Helzburg Diamonds
- Hurley
- J.Crew 41
- Janie and Jack
- Jewelry Addiction
- Jockey
- Johnston & Murphy
- Johnny Rockets
- Journeys
- Kay Jewelers Outlet
- Kitchen Collection
- Levi’s Outlet Store
- Lids
- The Limited Outlet
- Lindt Chocolate
- LOFT
- Lucky Brand
- The Luggage Factory
- Luggage Outlet
- Michael Kors
- Mimmic Fashion Jewelry
- Motherhood Maternity Outlet
- Naturalizer
- Nestle Toll House/Edy’s Ice Cream
- New Balance Factory Store
- New York & Company Outlet
- Nike
- Nine West
- O’Neill
- OshKosh B’Gosh
- PACSUN
- Papaya
- Perfumania
- Perfumes 4U
- Pepper Palace
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- Puma
- Rack Room Shoes
- Reebok
- Robert Wayne Footwear
- Saks OFF 5th Ave.
- Samsonite
- Seiko Company Store
- Skechers
- South Philly Steaks & Fries
- Sperry
- Starbucks
- Sunglass Hut
- Swarovski
- Talbots
- Tillys
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Toys “R” Us Express
- Tumi
- Under Amour
- Van Heusen
- Vera Bradley
- Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen
- Wilsons Leather
- Yankee Candle
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