Simon Breaks Ground on M-U Commercial Center in Tucson Suburb

Anna Spiewak, Senior News Editor

Simon Property Group has broken ground Friday morning on Tucson Premium Outlets, a 366,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial center in Marana, Ariz.

The largest publicly traded retail real estate company is building a multi-million-dollar project (the firm held out on revealing exact price), bringing a mix of more than 90 retailers to the area, according to a news release.

Tucson Premium Outlets is planned to be a value shopping destination with designer brands slashed by 25 to 65 percent savings. The shopping plaza will anchor Marana Center, a 170-acre mixed-use commercial center on the south side of Twin Peaks Road between I-10 and Linda Vista Boulevard. The outlets will specialize in apparel and shoes, including accessories, leather goods, home furnishings and specialty shops. There will also be a food pavillion with various dining options.

“We expect Tucson Premium Outlets to make a significant economic impact with the creation of 300 to 500 construction jobs and more than 800 full-time and part-time retail jobs upon opening,” said Mark Silvestri, COO for Simon Premium Outlets in the release.

Vintage Partners are the developers on the project, which is slated for completion in the fall of 2015.