90-store fashion outlet mall coming to Winnipeg

A massive outlet mall is coming to Winnipeg, set to open near Ikea in spring 2017.

The 385,000-square-foot Outlet Collection at Winnipeg will be at the Seasons of Tuxedo development at Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway in southwest Winnipeg.

The project is a partnership between three real estate companies: Regina-based Harvard Developments and Forster Projects, and Quebec-based Ivanhoe Cambridge.

"Outlet Collection at Winnipeg will be the first pure outlet centre in Greater Winnipeg and will offer superior brands … from more than 90 renowned retailers, all housed under one roof," stated a news release from the companies.

​Blair Forster, vice-president of Harvard Developments, told CBC News he isn't prepared yet to reveal the stores that will be part of the mall but said many of the retailers are from the U.S. and will be new to Winnipeg.

“We are thrilled to work alongside established real estate players to bring the Outlet Collection experience to Winnipeg, which promises to offer an unparalleled retail mix to local shoppers and tourists from neighbouring provinces and U.S. states,” John Scott, senior vice-president at Ivanhoe Cambridge, stated in a news release.

Tourism Winnipeg echoed Foster's statement, saying the outlet mall could keep local shopaholics from crossing the border for deals, and it may even attract more tourists.

Shoppers like Jenny Prest and her mom are looking forward to having the mall in Winnipeg.

“Having big brand name stores and lots of them all in the same place is just exciting,” said Prest. “It's nice to have it here — especially in such a central place”

Outlet Collection is also opening locations in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., in May and in Edmonton, Alta., in 2016.

The site for the Outlet Collection at Winnipeg is part of an overall 117-acre parcel owned by Harvard, which also just became a co-owner of one of the city's tallest office towers.

Harvard, along with Saskatchewan-based Greystone Managed Investments, announced Monday that it purchased the former CanWest Global Place at 201 Portage Avenue.

The 32-storey tower is located at the corner of Portage and Main.