The owner of yet-to-reopen Colorado Mills shopping center in Lakewood broke ground on a new mall Thursday in Thornton.
Denver Premium Outlets is slated to open next fall northeast of Interstate 25 and 136th Avenue, according to Simon Property Group. The Indianapolis-based property company said the outlet mall will provide space for about 80 high-quality designer and name-brand retailers.
The outlets would be just south of The Grove shopping center and less than a mile southeast of The Orchard Town Center in Westminster.
"Simon's chosen location for this project reflects the site's superior attributes for retail development," said Heidi Williams, mayor of Thornton.
The outlets will bring in sales and use tax dollars for the city "in the heart of Thornton's development boom."
"There are over $350 million in projects currently under construction within one mile of the future Denver Premium Outlets," Williams said in a statement.
"The tremendous development, economic and population growth" in the area and larger Denver metro area is what attracted Simon to the site, said Stephen Yalof, CEO of Simon Premium Outlets.
At 330,000 square feet — nearly 8 acres — the site is about a third of the size of the Colorado Mills mall in Lakewood. Simon Property Group opened Colorado Mills during fall 2002. The company also owns the nearby Denver West Village shopping center in Lakewood.
Colorado Mills closed after a May hailstorm “created openings in the roof, which allowed rainwater to intrude into the mall interior, including all common areas and tenant spaces,” per the company’s description of the event. Dick's Sporting Goods, Yard House sports bar and other retailers with exterior entrances have reopened, but many others still have their doors closed to customers.
An exact reopening date has not been announced for Colorado Mills, but interior areas leading to stores are expected to be “safe and functional before Black Friday," according to Simon.
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