Though this article doesn't even mention the Michael Kors store, there are some interesting things to note: Sounds like a hotel is all but assured, sounds like the possibility of an auto mall is real, looks like there were some initial thoughts of an outlet mall in Vail, and it's not for sure that the Foothills mall will survive - at least in its current form.
Michael Kors store joins Marana outlets; hotel, auto mall possible
A hotel developer is in escrow and plans to construct lodging on the site of a new outlet mall in Marana.
And, developers of Tucson Premium Outlets, near Interstate 10 and Twin Peaks Road, are in negotiations with car dealers in the hopes of opening a second auto mall.
“They know there’s a large population on the northwest side of town and they want to serve that population,” Casey Treadwell, with Vintage Partners told members of the Pima County Real Estate Council at their quarterly meeting Thursday.
In partnership with Simon Premium Outlets, Vintage has recruited and been sought out by many outlet retailers because of the mall’s location, Treadwell said.
“Many outlets told us they were looking to stay within the 75 miles of free trade zone,” he said. “They really want that Mexican market.”
Under a federal program, Mexican visitors with a border crossing cards can visit Arizona for up to 30 days but must stay within 75 miles of the border. For many shoppers, that puts outlets malls in Chandler, Scottsdale or Phoenix out of reach.
Tourism officials estimate shoppers from Mexico spend more than $7 million a day in Arizona at malls, restaurants and hotels.
J. Felipe Garcia, executive vice president at Visit Tucson, said those shoppers are closely following the progress of the new outlet mall.
“I get between 3,000 and 4,000 ‘likes’ from Mexico when I post something about the new outlet mall on Visit Tucson’s Facebook page,” he said.
Garcia met with developers and prospective tenants that were being recruited to the new mall and said they all inquired about Mexican shoppers.
“They all asked,” he said. “They all wanted to be sure it was within the border zone.”
Simon Premium Outlets also has outlet malls within the border zones of California and Texas.
In response to questions from the audience about a second outlet in Vail, Treadwell said the outlets have conducted their own market studies and determined, “Tucson is a one-premium-outlet market.”
Asked how the new outlet might impact Foothill Mall, Treadwell said, “In my opinion, Foothills won’t remain an outlet mall.”
He predicted that the mall would take a different direction with its retailers.
Regina Harmon, general manager of Foothills Mall, said corporate directive was that she should not comment on the mall’s future plans.
Mall owner Schottenstein Property Group has Foothill Mall as the featured property on its website homepage.
Calls to the corporate office in Columbus, Ohio Thursday afternoon resulted in three hang-ups.
Tucson Premium Outlets is scheduled to open in October.