Week 57: Toronto Premium Outlets (Canada's First Premium Outlet Mall)

Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love to shop.  In fact, I shop almost every weekend.  Toronto is a great place for shopping because you can choose a different mall each weekend without repeat for months.  Our newest mall just opened the beginning of this month and it's a first of its kind in Canada:  Toronto Premium Outlets.  The Financial Post states that, "Simon’s Premium Outlets portfolio features 79 Premium Outlet Centres including 64 in the United States, one in Puerto Rico, nine in Japan, two in South Korea, one in Malaysia and one in Mexico. Premium Outlet Centres in the United States are located primarily in or near major metropolitan markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago and visitor markets such as Orlando and Palm Springs. Leading properties include Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (near New York City), Orlando Premium Outlets (Florida), Desert Hills Premium Outlets (Palm Springs, California) and Las Vegas Premium Outlets (Nevada)." (http://www.financialpost.com/markets/news/Toronto+Premium+Outlets+Grand+Opening+Unprecedented+Success/8739208/story.html)

First of all, this mall is NOT in Toronto.  It's official address is Halton Hills, Ontario which is about 45 km west of downtown.  There is no public transit accessibility; your choices are car or train.  You know it's really far out in the boonies when you see cows and horses and your nose is filled with the ripe aroma of manure.  Anyway, it was a good thing that I arrived late in the day because this place was very busy, and I could tell that it had been much worse earlier in the day because of signs that had been set aside stating "Parking Lot Full".  If you've been to a Premium Outlet mall in the U.S. then this mall would look similar to you, as it did to me.  There are 85 outlet stores to choose from so I suggest you go to their official website to get the list.  The popular stores still had line-ups to get in at 7pm!  I don't care how much you love a leather handbag or runners.  That's crazy.  The mall is so new that some stores weren't even open yet like Mexx and Burberry.  The food court is a bit better than some I've seen in the U.S. because they offer some culturally diverse choices other than grease and more grease.  However, there's only one place to get a coffee and it resembles a gas station quick-stop.  If you want your Tim's you better get it before you park the car.  There's actually a Tim Horton's at the corner of Steeles and Trafalgar.

As for the shopping, I definitely think it's worth a visit to see for yourself.  Just make sure you pack your patience and get there early.  These types of malls are not the places to just leisurely walk around or meet a friend for a coffee.  It's all business here.  There aren't many places to sit and eat or relax, and all doors to stores are outside like a strip mall.  I bought a pair of jeans and saved $20, but that was nothing compared to many people I saw with both hands filled with bags.  I figure it will only get busier as school approaches and then Christmas shopping will come soon thereafter.  The owners of this mall will be laughing all the way past the cows and horses to the bank.  Do you have what it takes to shop here???

The line-up to get into Coach at 7pm!

Food court