Cardboard boxes fill the sales floor at the Nike store, it’s all bare window displays at Michael Kors, and so far the Brooks sign is missing its Brothers, but Tucson Premium Outlets will be ready to open next week.
“By October 1st we think it will just be a madhouse,” said Rich McKeown, general manager at the shopping center. “Based upon experience it will be very, very busy.”
The outlet mall, 6401 W. Marana Center Blvd., offers 360,000 square feet of retail space and is part of an almost 170-acre commercial project. A hotel developer is in escrow, officials have said, and there are hopes of opening a second local auto mall.
Mall representatives said they look forward to other businesses setting up shop in the area.
“We think we’re going to be able to feed off each other,” McKeown said. “We’re the first one’s here, so we’re going to feed some of the other interests in the project first.”
More than 800 people will be employed, either full-time or part-time, during the holiday season, officials said, with between 350 and 450 positions expected to be available year-round.
The mall is scheduled to open with 60 stores in operation and should reach current capacity at about 90 shops. The management team expects to have more retailers in the center by Christmas, with most of the spaces filled up by the end of first quarter 2016.
Name brands at the mall include Bebe, Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Lucky Brand, TaylorMade Golf, Guess and Le Creuset.
But, believe it or not, it’s not all about the shopping.
“Shopping centers, especially the premium outlet shopping centers, have evolved. It used to be just a place to go in, shop, get your discount merchandise and run out,” McKeown said.
“Shoppers have told us over the years that they want more.”
Those additional amenities include a VIP shopper club, a nursing room, a play area for children, a media lounge and a food court, said Elyse Munger, assistant director of marketing and business development at the center.
Tourists and large groups can also expect additional benefits when they visit the guest services booth.
“They can check in here and we can give them something special and really give them a specific experience, especially if we know ahead of time,” Munger said.
The shopping center’s location — right off the freeway, about 90 minutes from the border, on the way to Phoenix — is expected to be a key to its success, mall officials said, and they anticipate it will pull customers from throughout Southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
“It’s a great location and the town of Marana is just a wonderful town to work with,” McKeown said. “They’ve bent over backwards to help us get this project through.”
Mall officials said a traffic mitigation plan is in place so shoppers can expect as smooth a parking experience as possible, with offsite parking for employees and overflow parking and shuttle services for customers.
Opening weekend will feature live entertainment, food trucks and prize giveaways as well as special in-store events and sales.
As for any holiday events in the works, Munger said they’re taking it one step at a time.
“We’re still planning for the holidays. We’re going to get through the grand opening first,” she said.
