Tampa Premium Outlets will have water, water, everywhere.
The mega-outlet mall will have a center court lagoon, five fountains, and buildings and interiors painted in soft pastels, to give shoppers a “Key West” experience.
Special events and celebrities will punctuate an opening weekend slated for Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.
(Artist renderings courtesy of Simon Property Group)
General Manager Stacey Nance gave guests at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast a peek at the soon-to-open mall, off State Road 56, near Interstate 75.
The breakfast marked the first formal event by Nance who was tapped as general manager in May. She began her career with Simon Property Group 18 years ago, as director of marketing at Muncie Mall, in Muncie, Indiana. She later moved into retail management, overseeing operations at Muncie Mall, Muncie Plaza and Northwood Plaza.
Nance also introduced her staff members, including Office Administrator Kelly Holmes and Operations Manager Dallas Stevens.
“We are very excited to be part of your community for many years to come,” Nance said.
The 441,000-square-foot mall will have 110 outlet shops, though not all will be part of the opening weekend. Among announced tenants are Adidas, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Fossil, Puma and Samsonite.
About 92 percent of the mall will be filled on opening day, Nance said. The extra open space is needed, she said, to allow room for the special events.
Details on the events and the as-yet-unnamed celebrities will be announced later.
A job fair for more than 800 jobs will take place on Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Embassy Suites, at 3705 Spectrum Blvd., in Tampa. The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and Career Central at Pasco Hernando State College are event coordinators.
All of the announced tenants will participate in the job fair, Nance said.
(File Photo)
On opening day, shoppers can try out a valet service. Not all Simon properties have valet parking, but Nance said plans are to see how it is utilized.
Marketing is under way also for outparcels that could bring in more tenants.
“If you all come out and spend lots of money, there will be more development,” Nance said.
She anticipates opportunities for local businesses to bid for contracts including for special events, banners and lighting for the parking lot. Signarama, a Wesley Chapel-based company and a “podium sponsor” of the chamber’s breakfast, was among local businesses that provided items for the outlet mall’s groundbreaking.
“Basically, the sky’s the limit,” Nance said.
Published August 26, 2015
