On July 31, 2015, less than a year after its groundbreaking ceremony, Tanger Outlets, located in Byron Center, had its grand opening. Though Grand Rapids and its surrounding areas contain plenty of traditional malls and shopping centers, Tanger Outlets is Grand Rapids’ first outlet shopping mall.

Tanger Outlets has been buzzing with activity since its opening, with nearly 70 stores already in place and a few stores yet to open, including Rue 21, a pizzeria, a Starbucks still under construction and several other currently vacant storefronts open for businesses.

Along with stores popular to the area, such as American Eagle, H&M, Gap and Old Navy,  Tanger Outlets is also equipped with big name outlets. Though not an exhaustive list, included among these big names are Nike, Kate Spade, Colombia and Polo Ralph Lauren.

While the stores are the main attraction, guests are also given the opportunity to stay comfortable with plenty of seating throughout the shopping complex, perfect for resting or for sitting to enjoy one of the restaurant options, whether that’s a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s, a Subway sandwich or a hot dog from Bella Dawgs, a hot-dog stand. On the south end of the mall, a fireplace has been installed to keep shoppers warm on cold autumn and winter days.

Though much of the outlet mall is canopied to help on snowy and rainy days, it is unknown how all of the uncovered portions will fare through the winter. When asked whether they were planning to move inside or get an awning when the weather gets cold, the owners of Bella Dawgs, one of the uncovered businesses, said that they might take the winter off.

The outlet mall is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, giving shoppers plenty of time to get in and have a new shopping experience.