Groundbreaking ceremonies were held this morning at the site of the new Tampa Premium Outlets, now under construction on State Road 56 just off Interstate 75 near Wesley Chapel.
And after years of delay, Simon — the mall’s developer — says it plans to have the 441,000-square-foot mall ready for a grand opening in October.
“We are excited to be breaking ground on this long-awaited project,” said Danielle DeVita, senior vice president of development for Simon Premium Outlets, in a release. “We are looking forward to serving the Tampa Bay region, and expect Tampa Premium Outlets to make a significant economic impact with the creation of 300 to 400 construction jobs, and more than 800 full-time and part-time retail jobs opening.”
The mall will feature “a diverse mix” of more than 110 retailers, primarily designer and name brands at savings of between 25 to 65 percent, according to a release. It will offer a mix of products including apparel and shoes, fashion accessories, leather goods, home furnishings and specialty items. The mall also will feature a food pavilion with multiple dining options.
The design elements will incorporate what Simon describes as a “relaxed, contemporary Key West style,” that includes a soft color palate scheme, palm trees throughout the common area, and water features to help enhance the company’s outdoor shopping experience.
Saks Off 5th, the popular store related to Saks Fifth Avenue, will still be a tenant at the new shopping center, according to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. The retail outlet announced it would join the mall back in 2012, but it had been unclear whether it would be part of the new project once it got kickstarted late last year.
The Indianapolis-based company didn’t say how much it was spending on construction of the outlet mall in the general Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes area, but said all of its current construction projects totaled about $2.2 billion.
Tampa Premium Outlets LLC purchased the more than 48 acres of land on three parcels for $14.1 million on Oct. 3, according to Pasco County property records. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simon Property Group, according to state corporate records, and Simon’s financial filings with the SEC.
The full project will be built in seven phases, according to plans filed with the county last February, which would include the main outlet mall in the first phase located in nine buildings. It will include nearly 2,400 parking spaces, far more than the 1,600 spaces required by the county for a project of this size.
