Developers break ground on new outlet mall in Winnipeg

Construction crews broke ground Friday on what will be Winnipeg's first outlet mall.

Outlet Collection Winnipeg will be home to more than 100 outlet stores and is set to open in May 2017, developers said. It's being built on the northwest corner ofKenaston Avenue and Sterling Lyon Parkway, across from Ikea.

• 90-store fashion outlet mall coming to Winnipeg

Developers at Ivanhoe Cambridge would not say which stores the mall will include, only that it is 30 per cent leased and will be a "premiere shopping destination."

"It'll be a first for this city. It's going tobe a totally new, unique shopping experience," said Paul Gleeson, executive vice-president of global development at Ivanhoe Cambridge.

The tenants willbe announced closer to the grand opening, Gleeson said.

The 400,000-square-foot mall will be enclosed and includea complimentary coat check, he added. It's part of the Seasons of Tuxedo development.

Coun.MartyMorantz saidthe new retail facility will create1,300 jobs and help grow business in his ward.

Deputy premier Kerri Irvin-Rosssaid the project will also attract tourists and keep shoppers on this side of the border.

The ground-breaking happened in the midst ofretail turmoilacross Canada, includingTarget's withdrawal from the country andthe closure of Mexx and Smart Set stores. At Kenaston Commons, not far from this development, three box stores sit empty:Mexx, Lauraand Reebok have all vacated their spaces.

Theproject will costmore than $200 million.