Coach, Ghirardelli, Toys R Us join The Shops of Grand River

photo by Mark Almond The Birmingham news

The Shops of Grand River outlet mall is still adding big-name tenants to its mix of stores and restaurants, with Toys R Us, Coach Factory and Ghirardelli joining the lineup with less than two weeks before the $127 million mall's grand opening.

They join 54 others previously announced for the 330,000-square-foot retail center off Exit 140 of Interstate 20 near the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds. Other retailers include Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Banana Republic, Gap, Aeropostale, Vanity Fair, Izod, Brooks Brothers and Polo Ralph Lauren.

A four-day grand opening event starts Oct. 28.

"It seems like it's turning into an upscale outlet mall, which sort of sounds like an oxymoron, but is really what it will be," said Jack Taylor, retail professor at Birmingham-Southern College.

Taylor said the number and quality of tenants in the project's first phase is an endorsement of the Birmingham area as a retail center.

"I think it's a good sign," he said. "Evidently these retailers are seeing some potential there. It speaks well for the greater Birmingham area because this is expected to draw from a wide area."

Jeremy Tickle, development manager with Daniel, said Toys R Us and Ghirardelli are expected to be ready for the store's grand opening while Coach Factory will open later. He said the mall will be 86 percent leased by opening date and he couldn't rule out more announcements in the interim.

Coach Factory was named "Best Overall Outlet Chain and Tenant" at the 2010 Outlet Retail Chain Awards by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Coach Factory is the outlet store for Coach, a retailer known for its high-end leather products that operates a store at The Summit.

Ghirardelli's chocolate and ice cream shop will be the first location for the company in Alabama.

Some vacancies, including some large anchor positions, remain in what will be the project's first phase, slated to have more than 60 stores. Officials for Birmingham-based Daniel Corp., which is developing the center, said they already area preparing to build a second phase, which will boost the size by nearly 50 percent and give the mall as many as 120 stores.

Several stand-alone sites are also planned for restaurants, bank branches and one or more hotels. A food court at the center of the development will offer several types of cuisine.

The mall, located near the Bass Pro Shops location, is expected to create at least 650 jobs. More than 4,200 people attended a job fair for the stores last month.

Workers this week are busy finishing installation of signs, lights and water features at the mall and stores are stocking shelves and installing the last of equipment.

The Bruno Event Team is planning a grand opening celebration for Oct. 28 that will include live entertainment, special promotions, prize giveaways, celebrity appearances, fashion shows, face painting, balloon art, store trick-or-treating, Halloween costume contests and more.

SOURCE: AL.COM Michael Tomberlin -The Birmingham News