Prime Outlets - Phase II comming soon!

[BridgeTroll]

That is great for the area... of course on this site if it doesnt happen to the urban core it is derided as sprawl and unhip...

[Jason]

Yeah, its sprawl.  But unlike Avenues Walk, there are no plans or existing means for any sort of transit in the forseeable future.  I'm just glad that St. Augustine as a whole is still seeing development, especially retail.  Says good things about the economy.

[Jason]

Prime Outlet expansion proceeds

By KATI BEXLEY   |   More by this reporter  |  kati.bexley@staugustine.com   |   Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 ; Updated: 12:42 AM on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

With nothing but bad news about the economy, Prime Outlets is staying positive and forging ahead with its $35 million expansion opening in November.

And as part of the 20 to 25 new high-end stores, Saks Fifth Avenue has announced it will bring even more of its upscale merchandise to its new 28,000-square-foot store.

Karen Fluharty, Prime marketing senior vice president, said Tuesday that at previous Prime Outlets, Saks has distanced itself from its outlet store, calling the store Off 5th. But in the St. Augustine store, the company has shifted its emphasis, and the name is Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. This is the second outlet store where Saks has made the change, Fluharty said.

"It's a subtle difference," Fluharty said. "But you'll see stronger representation in upscale merchandise like Prada and Chanel."

Fluharty and other Prime Outlet staff gave media a tour Tuesday of the property.

The expanded mall will be 340,000 square feet when completed on Nov. 7. Numerous construction workers were busy doing various jobs at the site and the building was surrounded by equipment. Reporters were not allowed to go into the new stores, which are not yet completed.

Fluharty said despite the sour economy, Prime Outlets is confident the mall will do well. She said the stores can draw from a strong, affluent base in St. Johns County and Jacksonville, as well as tourists.

"The consumer in this area is very sophisticated, savvy and brand-conscious," she said. "We're bringing the brands that they love at smart prices.

"People want to shop smart now."

The latest store to announce it will be a tenant in the new mall is American Apparel.

Other new stores include Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, Juicy Couture and Kate Spade. They will offer savings of 25 to 65 percent off regular price.

Prime bought the property on the northeast side of Interstate 95 and State Road 16 two years ago with the intention of creating this upscale makeover. It was formerly called the Belz Mall.

Prime Retail, the parent company of Prime Outlets, is one of the largest retailers in the United States and has 8 million square feet of stores throughout the nation and Puerto Rico, according to the company. It has outlet malls in Orlando, Texas, Williamsburg, Va., and Pennsylvania.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

I cant wait for American Apparel. I sure hope there's tons of sexual harassment going on!

[Ocklawaha]

That is great for the area... of course on this site if it doesnt happen to the urban core it is derided as sprawl and unhip...

I wouldn't agree to this, seems to me that a City that's been around since 1564 next to a bigger City that has been settled (in part) since 1563, are "all in the family". I welcome St. Augustines success, outlet malls are a major attraction and venue unto themselves. A Disney World for bargain hunters.

IDEAS?

St. Augustine should come aboard with JTA and offer a shuttle bus from both malls to BOTH cities.

The Malls would make a fantastic PARK AND RIDE facility, if we would enhance our MCI coaches for the long distance commute.

That would equate to local services into both cities, and a freeway flyer into JAX.

As the St. Augustine Airport expands into more commercial destinations, the local buses should stop there as well.

FINALLY: as commuter rail becomes a reality, a direct AIRPORT-RAIL-TOWN-MALL connector would rock.

MALL PROPERTY:

The two malls, FDOT, St. Johns County and St. Augustine, should push for a roadway to connect the two mall halves together. Next to that a micro-Skyway, built with amusement park technology, it could be done on the cheap. At the very least give us a pedertrian over-pass. At best, do all three.

OCKLAWAHA

[nicktooch]

there will be a Cole Haan outlet, too!

[gradco2004]

Add Gucci:

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/10/20/daily6.html

[alta]

I drove by the Prime Outlets on Sunday.  The exterior is a big improvement over Bealz.  I would assume the interior has been completely overhauled also.

[blizz01]

I walked through today & there is still PLENTY of work to be done prior to the anticipated Nov. 7 grand opening.  Some stores are already open though - Lucky being one of them; that's in addition to some of the existing stores that were carryovers.  I'm really curious to see what will become of the local "Mom & Pops" that are still in there.  Nascar memorabilia & knick-knack shops don't seem like they'd play well with the likes of Gucci & Saks - even if they are outlets.  Although I wish any entrepreneur the best, my guess would be that PRIME Retail will raise the rent such that they'll feel the pinch, get squeezed, & there will be yet another flip flop of stores from across I-95 to (a la Polo, Coach, etc.).  

[gradco2004]

Confirmed New Stores:

[ ] Saks Fifth Avenue: Off 5th
[ ] Gucci
[ ] American Apparel
[ ] Hugo Boss
[ ] Michael Kors
[ ] Kenneth Cole
[ ] Juicy Couture
[ ] Kate Spade
[ ] Tail Activewear Inc.
[ ] Papaya
[ ] BCBGMAXAZRIA
[ ] Cole Haan
[ ] LOFT Outlet
[ ] Lucky Brand Jeans
[ ] Guess by Marciano
[ ] Charlotte Russe
[ ] Gander Mountain (near by)

"When complete, Prime expects to have expanded the current shopping area by 35 percent and added 90 stores."

... they are adding 90 stores. Any guesses or hopes?

Sources:

http://www.staugustine.com/stories/100108/news_1001_012.shtml
http://staugustine.com/stories/043008/news_txt01_027.shtml
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030207/bus_8330751.shtml
http://www.primeoutlets.com/eventDetail.asp?cntrId=1079&eventId=14519

[Jason]

Kenneth Cole signage is already up.  Haven't noticed any others yet.

Everything looks to be on shcedule for a November opening.

[blizz01]

The place was packed Friday a.m. - they've really done a nice job with the outside remodel (which is where most of the new stores have set up).  It's still a really weird mix though, once you walk through GUCCI & then go inside past knock-off tool(s), Wrangler Jeans, & Maidenform liquidators.......As it stands right now, you can buy a $600 pair of shoes and then continue inside & get a pair of purple slacks with an elastic waist & an extra large t-shirt with silk-screened cherubs on it.  I wonder also if some of the higher end stores will have trouble remaining autonomous with the "one stop shop" that Saks Off 5th has become as they are carrying several of the labels within that have stand alone stores outside (i.e. Juicy, Kate Spade) - and if Friday's sales were any indication, they're doing it with better pricing as well.

[Jason]

You're right about the madness at the Outlets on Friday.  Talk about PACKED!  I took a walk through the mall a week before Thanksgiving and was really impressed with the expansion and the interior upgrades and changes.  The fact that the stores along the front face of the mall open up to the street really enhances the activity levels.  Throw in a few pedestrian friendly restaraunts across from the mall entries and that place will be hopping, IMO.