SAN CLEMENTE, CA—Outlets at San Clemente will be a lifestyle retail center with five-star customer service, dining, entertainment, resort-like services and more, developer Craig Realty Group's VP Lori Smith, who is leading all aspects of management, marketing and operations for the project, tells GlobeSt.com. As construction continues on the project, we spoke exclusively with Smith about what will make the center special and what customers can expect.

GlobeSt.com: What stands out for you the most about Outlets at San Clemente?

Smith: Location. Location. Location. Outlets at San Clemente boasts an unparalleled coastal location with expansive ocean views. It is the first and only ocean-facing outdoor outlet shopping and dining destination in Orange County, where browsing will meet ocean breezes. Plus, Outlets at San Clemente offers prime visibility and easy accessibility from the 5 freeway, which is the primary route connecting Los Angeles to San Diego via Orange County.

GlobeSt.com: What type of retail is most needed in this particular market?

Smith: Orange County generally is under-represented in outlet shopping, so this will address that for the entire county. Due to anticipated heavy residential growth in South Orange County over the next decade, all retail will be in high demand, and there will also be a need for community gathering locations. Upon completion of the first phase, Outlets at San Clemente will offer up to 70 retailers with additional stores and restaurants opening throughout 2016. We're creating more than just a collection of outlet stores, but also focusing on developing a lifestyle center with five-star customer service to combine shopping with ocean-view dining, entertainment and resort-like services. There will be a series of outdoor courtyards and promenades which will offer family-friendly activities and special events, such as an outdoor tree-lighting concert during our grand opening weekend in November. Plus, we are looking at proposals to build a boutique luxury hotel on the property in the future, which would also boast ocean views.

GlobeSt.com: How does this center fit in with nearby luxury retail outlets like Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza?

Smith: Outlets at San Clemente will complement nearby luxury retail centers by offering a quality, high-end look and feel, plus a similar five-star level of service. At Craig Realty Group, our properties are known for outstanding customer service, superior architecture, beautifully manicured settings and thoughtful attention to detail. At Outlets at San Clemente, resort-like services and amenities will include a VIP loyalty program with an exclusive lounge, valet parking, restrooms with an emphasis on family as well as luxury, complimentary Wi-Fi, baggage check, stroller or wheelchair rentals and a concierge-style customer-service area with destination experts. We'll showcase unprecedented ocean views and an emphasis on great values at budget prices in a luxury atmosphere. While luxury brands may not be among the tenant list for Outlets at San Clemente's November opening, our goal for the completion includes luxury offerings at budget-friendly prices. We'll also host signature community events, including an annual tree-lighting ceremony and concert and a shopping extravaganza event, of which proceeds will benefit select local charitable organizations. 

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about this development?

Smith: Our goal is for Outlets at San Clemente to help bolster economic development in the region by increasing tax revenue, attracting visitors and creating job growth. We believe Outlets at San Clemente will become a Southern California treasure and a community hub for Southern Californians and visitors alike to shop, dine and relax in the sunshine and surrounding natural beauty. 

Also, we envisioned a shopping, dining and entertainment lifestyle center on the ocean more than 18 years ago, and now that Outlets at San Clemente is opening in November, we couldn't be more excited. This history makes Outlets at San Clemente a particularly special project to us.