CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI-Taubman Centers Inc. has signed 25 leases for stores and restaurants at the Mall at Partridge Creek, a 640,000-sf, open-air shopping center expected to debut here Oct. 18. The $155-million mall development will be the first open-air center to be built in the state by Taubman, a REIT that is based in Bloomfield Hills.

Just-announced tenants include: Brighton Collectibles, J. Jill, Janie and Jack, The Levi's Store, Lucky Brand Jeans, lucy, Samsonite, Sunglass Designs, and Swarovksi Gallery Store. Partridge Creek will also be the only Macomb County location for Crabtree & Evelyn, Papyrus, Clarks, Rockport, Skechers and the Walking Co. Newly signed eateries include Bar Louie, Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip, Marble Slab Creamery and Max & Erma's. Additional just-announced stores include Aldo, Bath & Body Works, Kay Jewelers, Victoria's Secret/Victoria's Secret Beauty, H&M and Zales Jewelers.

The mall is going up along the south side of M-59 between Garfield and Romeo Plank. It will be anchored by a 120,000-sf, two-story Parisian and a 129,000-sf, two-story Nordstrom, which will open in spring 2008. It will also include a 14-screen, 55,749-sf movie theater complex with 2,500 stadium-style seats being built by MJR Theatres.

John Eggert, development manager for the company, tells GlobeSt.com that the mall was modeled after Taubman's Stony Point Fashion Park in Richmond, VA, which also has about 90 stores in just less than 700,000 sf. The developer, which developed the massive Great Lakes Crossing indoor mall in Auburn Hills, decided to try something different with Partridge, he says.

"With the climate concerns, we're not really overly concerned about that having an impact," Eggert says. "One thing we've incorporated into the design at Partridge is a snow-melt system for the pedestrian walkways. It's not inexpensive, but it will pay dividends."

He also says the company is positive about Macomb County, considered the secondary retail market in the area after Oakland County to the west. "We think the area is underserved with fashion retail, we think we're going to be providing a need out there that isn't being met. We'll bring something to the market that they're looking for," Eggert says.