CANADA'S LARGEST OPEN-AIR OUTLET MALL BREAKS GROUND TODAY

Canada's largest open-air outlet mall breaks ground today. We first reported on The Outlet Collection at Niagara in December 2012 and we've got updates and renderings.

According to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the project's first phase will be about 520,000 square feet and is scheduled to open May 15th, 2014. The second phase will open at an undisclosed time and will be about 720,000 square feet. The entire project is expected to cost close to $200 million.

The mall will include almost 100 retailers. These will be a mix of manufacturer and retailer outlet stores, large format stores, restaurants and a food store/market that will promote local Niagara Region products. Also included will be a gathering place that can be used as an area for a farmer's market. 

Included will be anchors such as a 77,000 square foot Bass Pro Shops and Forever 21. Other stores will include Michael Kors Outlet, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Brooks Brothers Outlet, among others. 

Landlord Ivanhoe Cambridge expects The Outlet Collection to bring between 6 and 8 million visitors per year, half of which will be from outside the Niagara Region. The mall is expected to reduce cross-border shopping in the region.

Thank you to our Retail Insider Eric Lewis for directing us to this link with the project's images and information. Further images, subsequently posted, were provided by landlord Ivanhoe Cambridge. Ivanhoe Cambridge also issued this press release on Monday May 6th notifying us of the ground breaking.