GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ—Simon Property Group opened its Gloucester Premium Outlets, a new retail destination in Southern New Jersey, serving the Philadelphia market with an array of high-end fashion stores.

“We saw a real hole in the market on the east side of Philadelphia,” Simon president Mark Silvestri tells GlobeSt.com in an exclusive interview. “We identified this area a couple of years ago as one we wanted to serve better.”

The outlet center, which offers more than 376,000 square feet of shopping, features popular stores in a wide variety of retail categories including women's and men's apparel, footwear, fashion accessories, home furnishings and leather goods, including high-profile brands including: Armani Outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Columbia Sportswear, Lucky Brand, Nike Factory Store, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour and Vera Bradley.

The center will employ between 800 and 1,000 people, Silvestri says, adding that about 300 union construction jobs were created during the year-long construction of the center. He declined to disclose the cost of the center, beyond saying it was “tens of millions of dollars.”  

“The local officials have been fantastic, primarily the township, Gloucester Township itself, Mayor David Mayer, was very supportive,” Silvestri says. “These guys actually identified the need for economic development years ago, and they laid the groundwork by putting in a new interchange on Route 42, on the way to Atlantic City Expressway and created this whole opportunity. So it's a perfect example of a community laying the groundwork for private investment.”

“We're excited to open our doors and welcome shoppers to Gloucester Premium Outlets,” said Kristen Murdica, general manager for the property. “Our guests will find an impressive retail roster, amenities designed for the community and a convenient location right off of Route 42.”

The single-level, village style shopping center features an outdoor “racetrack” design for easy access between stores. The site includes a Market Hall with a variety of dining options, indoor and outdoor seating, a media center with flat screen televisions and a large two-sided fireplace feature. Other amenities include free WiFi and a Guest Services center for visitor and merchant information, stroller and wheelchair rentals and gift cards.

“We think Gloucester certainly represents the future of outlets,” says Silvestri. “We went from the days when people just wanted the best brands at discount. Today, customers want something more. So today we have greens, we have artwork, we have public fountains.”

The green will become a center for special events, such as celebrity appearances, movie nights, and musical entertainment, Silvestri says. “We heard from the town that they didn't have that now and really wanted it, so we worked it into the plan.”