McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport's opening day draws thousands of shoppers

Fashion-forward bargain hunters attend the province's first designer outlet mall's grand opening

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      Style-savvy residents of the Lower Mainland can finally rejoice, because they won't have to cross the border for designer outlet shopping anymore.

      British Columbia's first designer outlet mall celebrated its grand opening today in Richmond, and thousands of people showed up to be the first customers at stores like Coach, Armani, Nike, and Hugo Boss.

      Richmond mayor Malcom Brodie, MP Alice Wong, MLA Teresa Wat, Musqueam elder Mary Charles, YVR Airport Authority president Craig Richmond, property general manager Robert Thurlow, and McArthurGlen Development Director Gary Bond each addressed the audience before the ribbon was cut and shoppers were let loose to raid the shelves of more than 30 designer shops.

      "We have worked hard to bring Vancouver something unique, something special and new and an exciting way to shop. As soon as we were presented with the opportunity in Vancouver, we knew that it would be perfect for a McArthurGlen designer outlet," said Bond at the opening, who went on to highlight the convenience of the location.

      The outlet is the company's first in North America, adding to its list of 20 outlets across Europe. Centered around a luxury piazza and lined with trees and iron street lamps, the outlet is wheelchair accessible, pet-friendly, and fully accessible by public transit, just across the street from the Templeton Canada Line station.

      Free Wi-Fi and flight information booths are also features of the new shopping hub.

      "After years of planning and construction, here it is. I'm always delighted when you see the drawings come to life and I think you'll all agree this is something special. I'm sure you're all itching to check it out," said Richmond prior to the ribbon cutting.

      "At YVR, we're in the business of creating exceptional experiences and we believe this will be part of that."

      Richmond also noted that this is just the first phase of the outlet's opening; once the final phase is complete, the mall will be responsible for creating 1,000 new jobs in the city

      "The more you shop today, the faster phase three happens," he said, encouraging shoppers to take advantage of being the first people to step through the gates.

      Richmond MP Alice Wong called the outlet a welcome addition to "a world-class aiport in a world-class city", and said that it would help put the city on the map as a luxury shopping destination.

      "Not only will travellers shop here, but also locals, keeping Canadian dollars within Canadian businesses... I hope the years ahead will bring great success," said Wong to the audience.

      The grand opening continued with a Musqueam welcome dance and and the official unveiling of Michael Yahgulanaas' latest public art piece, SEI, which is located in the centre of the mall. The festivities continue with live music between 1 and 3 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. performance by the Vancouver Orchestral Club.

      For more information, visit McArthur Glen Vancouver Airport's website.

      Comments

      26 Comments

      Richard S.

      Jul 9, 2015 at 10:12pm

      A strong wind should blow this play-land construction down in minutes. What an abomination, but the newly-arrived Richmond people love it. Shopping is the only thing they know. Bring on those cheap branded goods. (And this used to be farm land).

      I give it a year...

      Jul 10, 2015 at 8:58am

      Before you start seeing 'Dollar Stores' or a London Drugs or a Shoppers Drugmart here. Vegas can do this sort of thing and survive due to the fact it's Vegas. Once the 'novelty' wears off with our local Asian shoppers here, it'll be like Richmond Centre. Looking forward to this winter when the Vegas like atmosphere turns wet.

      Duane

      Jul 10, 2015 at 9:14am

      I don't wish to seem cynical nor negative, but this mall and the traffic jam resulting from the lemming-like movements caused by the target demographic's worship of designer labels pretty much encapsulate the key issues impacting Metro Vancouver. Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, "Everything is going to become unimaginably worse and never get better again."

      Here's your proof. Here's our future. And nobody took transit, either.

      cathy

      Jul 10, 2015 at 10:25am

      These so called designer outlets sell low quality items made especially for them.
      The big designer names would not be caught dead selling outlet items in their regular upscale stores.
      RIPOFF.
      btw-anyone else find it ironic that B.C. is burning and people flocked to get cheap imported crap stuff?

      YVRer

      Jul 10, 2015 at 11:54am

      I have to take a flight in a month and the time to get to YVR what with my wife and I working that day is going to be very tight....Now I'm stressed a month in advance because of the new traffic gridlock at the Airport!

      Anti-shopper

      Jul 10, 2015 at 12:44pm

      I agree with many of the other comments that this is a depressing sight seeing people willingly creating a traffic jam and then standing in line for hours just because of their addiction to shopping. Talk about creepy.

      Old School

      Jul 10, 2015 at 12:46pm

      What a laugh! People are sitting in traffic jams to go shopping? Do people not have a job to go to? What has become of this city? YVR needs more revenue because the temporary Airport improvement fee is not raising enough for their "art gallery". One thing you won't find ath the outlet mall is anything in size large.

      ACMESalesRep

      Jul 10, 2015 at 12:50pm

      I don't know why everybody is assuming Richmond is the target market (other than, well, the usual reason people make dumb assumptions about Richmond and its citizens). A lot people from Vancouver and the other suburbs cross the border to visit outlet malls each year.

      just what we need

      Jul 10, 2015 at 3:30pm

      havent we shopped enough? why is there this incessant desire for MORE THINGS

      I heard that

      Jul 10, 2015 at 7:37pm

      some people missed their planes because of the traffic jam of cars going to this mall on opening day.