Great Lakes Crossing Outlets

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is an enclosed shopping and entertainment complex in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit. It is the largest outlet mall in Michigan and serves both the regional population and visitors traveling through the Detroit metropolitan area and toward northern Michigan. The property combines outlet retailers, conventional mall stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, and family attractions rather than operating as a narrowly focused discount center. The mall opened on November 12, 1998, on land that had originally been proposed for a project called Auburn Mills. Western Development Corporation announced Auburn Mills in 1990, envisioning a large hybrid center with traditional department stores, outlet tenants, and several major anchors. The project encountered lawsuits concerning traffic and environmental effects, difficulty obtaining construction financing during the savings and loan crisis, and pressure from its land lender. Western Development ultimately surrendered the property to Union Bank of Switzerland in 1991, and Auburn Mills was never built. Taubman Centers revived the site in 1996 after agreeing to acquire the land from the bank. Its plan used a smaller footprint than Auburn Mills and organized the center around an oval corridor with themed districts and a mix of outlet and full-price retailers. The completed complex contained approximately 1.35 million square feet of gross leasable area and more than 185 tenant spaces. The location beside Interstate 75, together with improvements to the Baldwin Road interchange, helped make the property accessible to shoppers from across southeast Michigan. At opening, the center emphasized novelty and variety. Early tenants included Burlington, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Bass Pro Shops, JCPenney Outlet, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Oshman's Sporting Goods, FYE, Rainforest Cafe, GameWorks, and Star Theatres. The complex also offered a 1,000-seat food court and attractions intended to make it a family destination. More than 54,000 people reportedly visited on opening day, while the developer forecast more than 17 million visitors during the first year. Although some retailers later expressed concern about the post-opening decline in traffic, reported first-year sales per square foot exceeded the national average cited at the time. The property continued to evolve as retail conditions changed. JCPenney's outlet closed in 2002, and Taubman assumed full ownership in 2003 after buying out UBS's minority interest. New tenants such as H&M, Michael Kors Outlet, Calvin Klein Outlet, and other fashion and specialty brands broadened the customer base. In 2010, Taubman renamed the property Great Lakes Crossing Outlets to communicate its outlet positioning more directly. The rebranding coincided with new factory and outlet stores and a public reopening event. During the 2010s, the center increasingly combined shopping with entertainment. Sea Life Michigan replaced the former GameWorks space, Legoland Discovery Center opened in 2016, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade took over the former Sports Authority location after that retailer's bankruptcy. Other changes reflected the disruption in department stores, specialty retail, and furniture. Last Call, Off 5th, and Art Van all eventually left the property following broader corporate financial difficulties, while Nordstrom Rack relocated into the former Off 5th space and Arhaus announced a clearance center for the former Lord & Taylor space. The mall's current identity is therefore that of a large, highway-accessible regional outlet and entertainment destination. Its tenant mix includes discount and off-price anchors such as Burlington, Primark, Bass Pro Shops, TJ Maxx, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Marshalls, alongside restaurants, a multiplex cinema, an aquarium, an indoor LEGO attraction, and bowling and arcade entertainment. The property was historically owned and managed by Taubman Centers; following Simon Property Group's acquisition of Taubman, Simon is identified as the owner and manager in the supplied reference material.

The site now occupied by Great Lakes Crossing Outlets was first associated with Auburn Mills, a proposed shopping center announced by Western Development Corporation in 1990. The plan called for a large hybrid mall containing traditional stores, outlet retailers, and nine anchors, including proposed outlet locations for Sears and JCPenney. The project received conditional environmental approval, but the city of Lake Angelus challenged the development in court over anticipated traffic and environmental effects. A county judge ruled for the developers in August 1990. Despite the legal victory, Western Development struggled to finance construction. The company delayed the planned start date after failing to obtain a construction loan, and the broader lending environment had tightened following the savings and loan crisis. Union Bank of Switzerland, which had financed the land acquisition, threatened foreclosure. In July 1991, Western Development agreed to let the bank take ownership of the property, effectively ending the Auburn Mills project. A Kmart prototype store was later built across Joslyn Road, but the proposed mall itself never materialized. Taubman Centers revived the property in June 1996 by announcing plans to purchase the land from Union Bank and develop a new outlet-oriented mall. Taubman had previously owned the site when it was zoned for residential use, then sold it to Western Development in 1989. The new proposal reduced the project's footprint to limit environmental effects and envisioned more than 185 tenants arranged along an oval corridor. The approximately 1.35-million-square-foot center was divided into nine themed districts, with different architectural treatments and tenant mixes. The property occupied about 39 acres, while the mall building extended almost half a mile from end to end. The development plan combined outlet stores with full-price and big-box retailers. This approach was intended to distinguish the project from Birch Run's outlet center while also attracting shoppers who might otherwise visit conventional malls such as Oakland Mall and Summit Place Mall. The Interstate 75 location was an important part of the concept, and the Michigan Department of Transportation expanded the Baldwin Road interchange to support the expected traffic. Taubman also anticipated that a significant portion of sales would come from tourists visiting or passing through the region. By spring 1998, announced tenants included Star Theatres, Rainforest Cafe, GameWorks, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Finish Line, FYE, and Burlington Coat Factory. Bass Pro Shops, Oshman's Sporting Goods, JCPenney Outlet, and Neiman Marcus's Last Call were among the tenants expected to bring their first Michigan locations or distinctive outlet formats to the center. Steve & Barry's also selected the mall for its first shopping-mall location and an expanded superstore concept. The center included a large food court and outparcels for restaurants and a bookstore. Great Lakes Crossing opened on November 12, 1998. The four-day opening program featured musical performances, entertainers, appearances by Miss Michigan, shopper giveaways, and a Bass Pro Shops boat drawing. The center opened with 91 percent of its storefronts leased and drew more than 54,000 shoppers on its first day. Several major attractions and tenants were still being completed around the opening, including Bass Pro Shops, Oshman's, Star Theatres, Stir Crazy, and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. Wolfgang Puck Cafe ultimately did not open because of financial difficulties. The mall's first year illustrated the volatility of large retail developments. Some retailers reported that traffic and sales had fallen from opening-period expectations, while management maintained that performance was on target. Reported sales of approximately $300 to $400 per square foot were above the national average cited at the time. Early closures were limited, with J. Riggings and The Wild Pair affected by the 1999 bankruptcy of parent company Edison Brothers Stores. New tenants added in 1999 included Victoria's Secret, White Barn Candle Company, Limited Too, Forever 21, and Zales. In 2000, a tourism study found that the mall attracted fewer tourists than some other major Detroit-area destinations. A tourism specialist working for Taubman attributed this partly to marketing that focused too heavily on tour buses and partly to the center's relative newness. Nevertheless, the mall continued to influence the regional retail market. By 2001, Summit Place Mall's vacancy rate had increased substantially compared with the period before Great Lakes Crossing opened. JCPenney closed its outlet in early 2002, and part of the space later became a Circuit City store. Taubman obtained complete ownership in 2003 by purchasing UBS's 15 percent minority stake. Tenant turnover continued through the 2000s. Steve & Barry's moved to a location near Summit Place Mall in 2007, with Urban Behavior taking over the space. H&M opened a large store in 2007 as part of its expansion into Michigan. In 2009, Michael Kors Outlet, Calvin Klein Outlet, Dakota Watch Company, and Bar Louie joined the center; Bar Louie replaced Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill. Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill opened in 2010, while GameWorks closed that March during a corporate restructuring. In August 2010, Forever 21 moved into a larger former anchor space, and FYE shifted to a smaller store. Later that year, Taubman renamed the property Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. The new name highlighted the center's extensive factory-store presence and accompanied additions such as Lord & Taylor Outlet, Hugo Boss Factory Store, Talbots Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren, Wilsons Leather Outlet, and aerie. Art Van Furniture opened a large store on Black Friday 2010 in the former Circuit City space. A reopening event featured gift cards, tote bags, local musicians, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The property continued adding attractions while replacing obsolete retail concepts. Borders closed in 2011, and its outparcel became a 2nd & Charles bookstore in 2013. Sea Life Michigan was announced in 2014 for the former GameWorks site, and Legoland Discovery Center opened in 2016 in the former Jeepers! location. Sports Authority closed in August 2016 after entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade took over the space. Neiman Marcus closed the mall's Last Call outlet in January 2018 amid the chain's bankruptcy-related restructuring; Planet Fitness subsequently replaced it. Off 5th closed in December 2018, and Nordstrom announced in 2019 that Nordstrom Rack would move from Baldwin Commons into the former Off 5th premises. The late 2010s and early 2020s brought further consequences of retail-sector bankruptcies. Art Van announced in March 2020 that it would close all company-owned stores, including its Great Lakes Crossing Outlets location, while seeking Chapter 11 protection. In May 2020, Arhaus announced a clearance center for space previously occupied by Lord & Taylor. Through these changes, the property retained its central role as a large Michigan outlet destination, but its business model increasingly depended on a balanced mix of off-price retail, restaurants, cinemas, attractions, and experiential entertainment. The supplied reference identifies Simon Property Group as the current owner and manager following its acquisition of Taubman Centers.

• 2020

  Art Van exits and Arhaus announces clearance center

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Art Van closed its mall location during its company-wide bankruptcy-related shutdown, while Arhaus announced a clearance center for former Lord & Taylor space.

• 2018

  Last Call closes

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  The Neiman Marcus Last Call outlet closed as its parent company dealt with bankruptcy-related restructuring.

• 2016

  Legoland and Round1 expand entertainment offering

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Legoland Discovery Center opened, while Round1 replaced Sports Authority, strengthening the mall's experiential attractions.

• 2013

  2nd & Charles opens in former Borders location

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Borders outparcel was redeveloped for 2nd & Charles, a used-book and media retailer.

• 2010

  Property renamed Great Lakes Crossing Outlets

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Taubman adopted the current name to emphasize the center's outlet positioning and marked the change with new tenants and a reopening event.

• 2007

  H&M opens at the center

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  H&M opened a large store as part of its expansion into Michigan and the center's effort to attract younger shoppers.

• 2003

  Taubman becomes sole owner

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Taubman Centers acquired UBS's minority stake and assumed total ownership of the property.

• 1998

  Mall opens

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Great Lakes Crossing opened on November 12 with a large outlet and conventional-retail tenant mix.

• 1997

  Project receives the Great Lakes Crossing name

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed Taubman center was publicly identified as Great Lakes Crossing.

• 1996

  Taubman revives the site

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Taubman Centers announced plans for a smaller-footprint outlet mall after arranging to buy the land from Union Bank.

• 1991

  Original development plan collapses

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Western Development surrendered the property to Union Bank of Switzerland after failing to secure the financing needed to build Auburn Mills.

• 1990

  Auburn Mills proposal announced

  [1]Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org

  Western Development Corporation proposed a major hybrid mall on the Auburn Hills site, but the project was later abandoned after financing and land-ownership problems.

A large regional outlet and entertainment destination combining factory stores, off-price retailers, conventional mall tenants, dining, and family attractions in an enclosed format.

• Retail destination · 1998

  Outlet and factory retail

  The center's core offer is a broad collection of outlet and factory stores spanning apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, and sporting merchandise. Its tenant mix has included brands such as Burlington, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Michael Kors Outlet, Calvin Klein Outlet, Hugo Boss Factory Store, Talbots Outlet, and Nordstrom Rack. The assortment changes frequently as brands expand, contract, or restructure.

• Retail · 1998

  Anchor and big-box retail

  Alongside factory stores, Great Lakes Crossing has hosted large-format tenants serving outdoor recreation, discount fashion, sporting goods, furniture, and general merchandise. Bass Pro Shops, Primark, Dick's Sporting Goods, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls are among the prominent anchor or major-format retailers associated with the property.

• Food and beverage · 1998

  Dining and food court

  Dining is an important supporting component of the destination model. The mall opened with a food court seating approximately 1,000 people and has also included standalone restaurants and casual dining concepts. Historical tenants included Rainforest Cafe, Stir Crazy, Wolfgang Puck Cafe as a proposed but ultimately unopened venue, and several other restaurant and bar concepts.

• Entertainment · 1998

  Family attractions

  The property supplements retail with attractions designed to extend visits and appeal to families. Its entertainment history includes the former Jeepers! indoor amusement venue, Sea Life Michigan, Legoland Discovery Center, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade. These attractions help position the mall as more than a conventional shopping center.

• Entertainment · 1998

  Cinema and recreation

  A multiplex cinema and recreation venues have been part of the center's tenant mix. The property is associated with a 25-screen AMC Star movie theater, while Round1 adds bowling, arcade games, and other indoor leisure activities.

• 2010Great Lakes Crossing Outlets rebranding

  United States

  Taubman changed the property's name to make its outlet identity clearer and paired the rebranding with new factory stores, a public reopening, giveaways, local music, and a ribbon-cutting.

  Outcome. The renamed property was promoted as Michigan's largest outlet mall, with more than 185 stores.

  Source
• 1998Grand opening celebration

  United States

  The opening ran for four days and used performances, celebrity and pageant appearances, entertainers, shopper souvenirs, and a Bass Pro Shops boat drawing to generate attention for the new center.

  Outcome. The mall opened with 91 percent of storefronts leased and attracted more than 54,000 shoppers on opening day.

  Source

• 2016

  Entertainment-space redevelopmentProduct launch

  Background

  The center sought to maintain traffic by replacing older or unsuccessful concepts with attractions and activities aimed at families and younger visitors.

  Action taken

  Legoland Discovery Center opened in the former Jeepers! location, and Round1 took over the former Sports Authority space.

  Aftermath

  The mall expanded its indoor entertainment offer beyond shopping and dining.

  Source

• 2014

  Sea Life Michigan development announcedProduct launch

  Background

  The former GameWorks entertainment space became available after GameWorks closed during a corporate restructuring.

  Action taken

  Taubman announced plans for Sea Life Michigan, an aquarium attraction.

  Aftermath

  The decision continued the property's shift toward experiential attractions alongside retail.

  Source

• 2010

  Outlet-focused repositioning and renamingStrategy

  Background

  The mall contained both conventional and outlet tenants, and management sought to communicate its discount-retail identity more directly.

  Action taken

  Taubman renamed Great Lakes Crossing as Great Lakes Crossing Outlets and added several outlet-format brands.

  Aftermath

  The property strengthened its position as Michigan's largest outlet mall while retaining entertainment and full-price retail components.

  Source

• 2003

  Taubman acquires UBS minority interestM&A

  Background

  UBS held a 15 percent minority interest in the mall through its succession to Union Bank of Switzerland.

  Action taken

  Taubman Centers bought the minority stake and assumed total ownership.

  Aftermath

  Taubman continued as the sole owner until its later acquisition by Simon Property Group.

  Source

• 1996

  Taubman chooses a reduced-footprint outlet mall planStrategy

  Background

  The earlier Auburn Mills proposal had failed, and Taubman sought to redevelop the site while reducing the proposed footprint and environmental impact.

  Action taken

  Taubman announced a mall combining outlet stores, conventional retailers, major anchors, themed districts, dining, and entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The plan became Great Lakes Crossing, which opened in 1998 as a large regional shopping destination.

  Source

• 2020.05.28

  Reported2020.05.28

  Great Lakes Crossing reopens with limited capacity[3]Great Lakes Crossing以有限容量重新开放club937.com

  Great Lakes Crossing reopened with limited capacity, new safety measures and limited hours; many stores were to operate by appointment only.

Read more

1. 1Great Lakes Crossing Outletsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Great Lakes Crossing Outlets official websitegreatlakescrossingoutlets.com
3. 3Great Lakes Crossing以有限容量重新开放club937.com