Here’s the latest on that planned outlet mall off I-77 in Cayce
That undeveloped land along the 12th Street Extension and Saxe Gotha Drive in Cayce may not remain undeveloped for much longer.
The State initially reported two years ago that the 50-acre site might become an outlet mall. On Monday, Peter Edelmann, of E.B. Development, the company in charge of the mall project, said that although plans for The Outlets at Southern Commons have changed, the project is still viable.
The land sits in front of SCANA’s South Campus and is visible from I-77, near its intersection with I-26. It is easily accessible from downtown Columbia.
Paulette Russell, who is handling development of the mall locally for EB Development, said visiting retailers are impressed with the energy in the Columbia area and think the site is perfectly situated for a shopping destination.
The retail business has changed in just the past five years, she noted, with some retailers shrinking their brick-and-mortar footprints in the market. That is one reason why E.B. Development reassessed the initial plans for the outlet mall.
New plans call for dividing the 175,000-square-foot space into approximately 60 shops of varying sizes. The development still will feature retail outlets, but also will include one or two family-oriented entertainment centers, a hotel and spaces for restaurants and a brewery. There will be five outparcels available and an area of the property designated for possible future residential use.
Russell said she is showing the property to possible tenants, and construction could begin toward the end of 2019 with a targeted opening date in 2020.
EB Development has been involved with several other retail malls, according to its website, including The Outlets at The Pike in Long Beach, Calif.; The Outlets at Assembly Row in Somerville, Mass.; and Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego. Retailers have included Nike Factory Store, Gap Factory, Banana Republic Factory Store and Disney Outlet.
This story was originally published August 13, 2018 at 3:58 PM.