Lineup of Retailers Coming to Simi’s New Mall Revealed

Builders of a $300-million regional shopping mall and residential project in Simi Valley have announced a lineup of 30 new stores for the development, including seven that will open for the first time in Ventura County.

Simi Valley Town Center, set on a hilltop north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway and scheduled to open in October, will introduce to the county retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers and the No Fear extreme sports store.

Abercrombie & Fitch, Jamba Juice and Victoria’s Secret also will set up shop at the center, the first new regional shopping complex to be built in Ventura County in more than a quarter of a century. An $80-million luxury apartment complex is set for a parcel nearby.

Officials had previously announced that Robinsons-May, Macy’s and Lowe’s home improvement center would anchor the complex.

“That’s only 30 -- we’ve got more to come,” said Simi Valley Mayor Paul Miller of the new retailers, noting that the city has waited more than two decades for a regional mall.

“There was a time you couldn’t even buy a men’s suit in this town,” he said. “We are definitely going in the right direction.”

More than 3,700 temporary and permanent jobs are expected to be created during construction and when the center opens. Moreover, the project is projected to generate more than $3.6 million annually in sales and property tax revenue for the city.

In addition to the anchor tenants, the 800,000-square-foot mall, between 1st Street and Erringer Road, is to include more than 100 specialty shops and restaurants.

Among them will be Bath & Body Works, Brookstone, EB Games, Finish Line sports apparel, Gymboree, Haagen Dazs, Hallmark, Red Robin, Starbucks and Zales.

The other retailers new to Ventura County are clothing stores Coldwater Creek, Hollister Co., lucy’s and New York & Co.