Southlands Lifestyle Center

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Southlands Lifestyle Center
Mall logo
Mall logo
Facts and statistics
Location Aurora, Colorado, United States
Management Alberta Development Partners
No. of stores and services 143 (Dec. 2007)
No. of anchor tenants 1 (additional sub-anchors)
Total retail floor area 1.7 million sq ft.
(157,936 m²)
Parking Surface lots and street parking (on Main Street)
No. of floors 2 (on Main Street--1 elsewhere)
Website http://www.shopsouthlands.com
Main plaza at Southlands
Main plaza at Southlands

Southlands Lifestyle Center (also Southlands Mall, Southlands, The Southlands, or The Southlands at Aurora) is a regional shopping mall located in Aurora, Colorado. The center is located at the intersection of Smoky Hill Road and the E-470 tollway, about 15 miles south of Denver International Airport, east of the Saddle Rock neighborhood and west of Cherokee Trail High School and the Tallyn's Reach neighborhood. It is the largest non-enclosed mall in the United States, based on retail floor space. It opened in 2005, featuring a unique design incorporating a "Main Street" of shops and smaller eateries, surrounded by larger stores near the perimeter of the center. Currently there are about 40 vacant retail locations on Main Street.

[edit] Design

Half view of Main Street
Half view of Main Street

Southlands Lifestyle Center utilizes an open-aired, mainstreet-style central shopping area. This is suited for the mostly sunny weather of Colorado, but many question its functionality in the winter. Main street runs down the center of the mall and is lined with shops and eateries. The street is adorned with hanging plants and planter boxes and angled parking spaces on both sides. There are stores in each of the 10 blocks on the ground floor, and four of the blocks have additional stores and office space on a second floor. At the end of Main Street is a central plaza where seasonal events take place. In the summer and spring, there is a jumping fountain. In the winter there is an ice rink. Often there are events such as concerts are set up in the fountain area. During the holiday season there is a large Christmas tree, and starting in 2007, an electric Menorah was featured as well. Other holiday festivities include horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa visits, and caroling. The opposite end features a 16-screen movie theater, previously known as Colorado Cinemas Southlands Stadium 16, but now known as Kerasotes Southlands Stadium 16.

[edit] Stores

Ice rink at main plaza
Ice rink at main plaza

The center's anchor store is JCPenney, with dozens of junior anchors including Sports Authority, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, and others. Main Street is mostly lined with apparel stores, including Ann Taylor, American Eagle Outfitters, Coldwater Creek, Talbot's, Limited Too, Gymboree, Zumiez, and Victoria's Secret. Other stores include Claire's and Bath and Body Works.