The Tsawwassen Mills outlet shopping mall is now officially open to the public.
At 1.2 million square feet, it is one of the largest malls in the country.
People started lining up at 1:30 a.m. to get a deal this morning. The first 1,000 people through the doors received a $50 gift card and there were just over 1,000 people in line when the doors opened.
Some people were sprinting into the mall when it opened.
“I go to the ferry a lot so I’ve been watching it build,” said one of the first people in line. “There’s lots of outlets here.”
Traffic in the area is heavily backed up this morning so BC Ferries passengers are being warned to allow some extra time to get to the terminal.
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The B.C. Government says traffic control personnel will be on site to help control and direct traffic until Oct. 11.
There are 16 anchor stores in the mall, with about 200 stores eventually opening. About 180 of those will open today. Stores include Calvin Klein, Canucks Team Store, The Children’s Place Outlet, DSW, Forever 21, Guess, Gap, Levi’s, Michael Kors, Nine West and Winners. For a full list of the stores click here.
There are 6,000 parking spaces available for shoppers.
“It is amazing,” said Delta councillor Sylvia Bishop. “It’s definitely different at every gate, it’s a different style.”
The mall is one of the first major developments on Tsawwassen First Nation Lands and Bishop said Delta council has a good relationship with the Tsawwassen First Nation. “We have managed to cobble together 12 to 13 different service contracts, so police, fire, libraries for example.”
“I think as a resident we have looked at what has seemed to be endless highway construction, which everyone grumbles about, but that’s done.”
Tanya Corbet, a council member with the Tsawwassen First Nations, said this day is an exciting one for them. “This is definitely a foundation development that’s key for how it’s going to shape the future of the Tsawwassen First Nations, for not only the current generations but future generations to come,” she said.
“Becoming self-governing has really allowed Tsawwassen First Nation to develop the lands in the way that we would like to see the lands developed,” added Corbet. “So we worked with our community and worked through a community planning process, land use planning process, so this is exciting to see this first major project open its doors.”
There is still more construction in the area expected, such as a waste treatment plant, homes and a secondary mall.
Tsawwassen Mills is located near the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal at 5000 Canoe Pass Way.
WATCH: Shoppers were lined up early for the grand opening of the new Tsawwassen Mills outlet mall. Global’s Steve Darling speaks with those behind the massive project that is backed by the local First Nation.