Florida Star

The two-story The Mall at Millenia opens today in Orlando, bringing new anchor and specialty stores to central Florida. A project of the Forbes Co. (Southfield, Mich.) and Taubman Centers Inc. (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), the mall opens 80 percent occupied and is expected to reach 94 percent by the end of the year.

With a mix of dining and retail establishments, the design of the 1.2 million-square-foot mall features glass entries, vaulted end-to-end s-shaped skylights, innovative uses of water and technology and an advanced LED audio/visual system.

Anchored by central Florida's only Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Macy's, several other retailers make their debut to the area at the mall, including, Apple, Bang & Olufsen, BCBG, Brighton Collectibles, Cole Haan, Crate & Barrel, J.Jill, Kenneth Cole, Oilily, Pottery Barn Kids, Tommy Bahama and Z Gallerie. For dining, the mall offers P.F. Chang's China Bistro, The Cheesecake Factory, Brio Tuscan Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Panera Bread and Johnny Rockets.

“This is the first time that a shopping center has opened with such an outstanding assemblage of retailers,” said Robert Taubman, chairman, president and ceo of Taubman Centers. “It is a true testimony to the confidence that retailers have in The Mall at Millenia and the Orlando market.”

The Forbes Co., a national owner, developer and manager of regional shopping centers, and Taubman Centers Inc., a real estate investment trust, are each 50 percent partners in The Mall at Millenia.