It was 15 minutes before the stores officially opened, and the parking lot at Tucson Premium Outlets was pretty near full Thursday morning.
The dignitaries and guests who had arrived an hour earlier for a catered breakfast and casual meet-and-greet filled the staging area for the official ribbon-cutting. But out of ear-reach of the back-patting speeches by the gathered mall officials β including the CEO of mall owner Simon Property Groupβs outlet division β a line on the verge of 200 deep waited for the Nike store crewβs ceremonious huddle.
With a loud cheer that resembled a football team kickoff rally, the crew of about a dozen, decked out in black Nike logo-emblazoned polo shirts, had their own ribbon cutting. Then they lined the main entrance inside the store with hands outstretched to low-five everyone who entered.
βThis is beautiful,β shopper Salvador Pedraza from Mexico said.
He watched the Nike line snake through the store and was just as caught up in the excitement as those who entered, some of whom were rewarded for their patience with gift cards and earbuds.
βI will come back every weekend, if I have money,β Pedraza said, as the Pride of Arizona Marching Band stomped past, its horns and drums blasting out tuneful, triumphant music.
The scene resembled a victory lap, not just for the mallβs developers, but for the town of Marana, which Mayor Ed Honea said was so intent on bringing Tucson Premium Outlets to fruition that it fast-tracked the necessary permits; instead of a couple of months, it took a couple of weeks, he told the ribbon-cutting crowd.
Thursdayβs opening kicked off a weekend of sales incentives meant to entice folks to make the trip from all parts of Tucson and Southern Arizona.
βItβs going to be a tremendous (economic boon) for this end of the valley and for all of Southern Arizona,β said mall General Manager Richard McKeown, who noted that the mall is not quite built out. There are 60 stores now, but when itβs finished, there will be as many as 89, making Tucson Premium Outlets the largest outlet mall in the region.
βI think this is the most exciting thing to happen to Tucson,β Famous Footwear manager Jake Mullen said Thursday morning as he counted down the minutes to opening the doors.
In addition to the Nike and Famous Footwear outlets, other stores include Calvin Klein, Wilsons Leather, Taylor Made Golf Factory Store, Converse, Aldo, Under Armour and Le Creuset, making its Southern Arizona debut.
The mall announced Thursday that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Coach and the Disney Store Outlet will open in early 2016.
They are stores that will bring Deena Katterman to the mall on a regular basis.
βWe mostly drive to Phoenix malls,β the Casas Adobes resident said. βWe have seven kids. Whenever thereβs a deal, weβre there.β
