Clothiers Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Loft and Christopher & Banks are among dozens of tenants that have applied for building permits to finish out individual store spaces at Outlets of Little Rock, an outlet mall nearing completion at the intersection of Interstates 30 and 430 adjacent to Bass Pro Shops.
Other retailers that have filed for building permits to finish out their white box -- or bare, basic spaces -- within the project are Old Navy, Chico's, New York & Co., Abercrombie & Fitch, Lucky Brand Jeans, Vanity Fair, Charlotte Russe, Famous Footware, Francesca's, Rue 21, Wilson's Leather, G.H. Bass Shoes and Torrid.
Prospective tenants also include hat company Lids, Rack Room Shoes, Sunglass Warehouse, Journey Shoes, Cole Haan, Uniform Destination, Lane Bryant, Auntie Anne's, Fragrance Outlet, Skechers, Hot Topic, Levi's, Maurices, Asics, Zales, Clarks, Under Armour, Nike, Beef Jerky and TCBY.
Stores that applied in March are Express, Kay Jewelers, Children's Place, China Max, Gymboree, Oshkosh B'Gosh/Carter's, Dress Barn, Banana Republic and Gap.
Some of the applicants have obtained permits while others are in varying stages of getting the paperwork completed. One prospective tenant, Sunglass Hut, has a hold on its plans, said Jennifer Godwin, communications and marketing manager for Little Rock.
Mike Barelli, vice president of the mall's developer, Boston-based New England Development, said Tuesday that construction is 75 to 90 percent complete on the 30-acre site. The interior concourses between buildings are two-thirds complete, and most of the parking is paved. Several stores have been turned over for tenants to finish "with many more to come in the following weeks," Barelli said.
"We're in the home stretch," he said. Opening is scheduled for Oct. 16 with activities planned throughout the following weekend.
New England Development has 75 businesses planned for Outlets at Little Rock, though there may be a few vacancies when it opens. Some of the eateries and retailers that have applied for building permits have other locations elsewhere in central Arkansas.
New England chose the site for Outlets at Little Rock based on the intersection's high interstate traffic count and lack of an outlet mall elsewhere in the state.
Business on 07/22/2015