Some of the new shops set to open in The Outlets of Maui in Lahaina include high-end retailers Coach, Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein.
Construction work started this month to renovate the Lahaina Center on Front Street into Maui's first outlet mall, slated to open in July.
Other outlet tenants will include Adidas, Carters, Guess and Perfumania.
All of the tenants announced so far already have stores at Hawaii's only other outlet mall - the Waikele Premium Outlets on Oahu.
The Lahaina Center's existing anchor tenants - Hard Rock Cafe, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Hilo Hattie - will remain at the center, as well as the Warren and Annabelle's Magic Show venue, ABC Stores and Cold Stone Creamery. The center's Front Street Theaters has closed.
"In all, an estimated 40 restaurants and retailers will occupy The Outlets of Maui," according to a news release.
The project's general contractor has said the 10 existing buildings at 900 Front St. will be remodeled in hopes of turning around the center's historically low occupancy rate and attracting more shoppers to the tail end of Front Street's retail-visitor section.
"The project footprint is already there, but new design elements such as pedestrian comforts, outdoor seating areas with public artworks, new directional signs and two signature clock towers will be fully integrated in the overall design plan," the press release said. "Each (building) will receive significant architectural enhancements that respect the historic character and vibrancy of Lahaina while recognizing modern day retail expectations."
The center, which was built in 1989, is owned by the Weinberg Foundation Inc.
Dan Jordan, principal of Honolulu Builders, the general contractor for the project, previously told The Maui News the outlet project is being funded by The Outlets of Maui LLC, a group of local and Mainland investors, which has signed a long-term land lease for the center.
Another outlet mall is planned by Eclipse Development Group of California off of Piilani Highway in Kihei.
Plans there call for a 300,000-square-foot outlet center called the Maui Outlets. Eclipse also plans to a build a second 400,000-square-foot shopping center called Piilani Promenade.
Tenants for those centers have not been announced.
"We look forward to announcing tenants for the Piilani Promenade retail outlet center early in 2013," Eclipse Executive Vice President Paul Bernard said in a statement to The Maui News.
The delivery of the Kihei centers is uncertain as the landowners await a decision from the state Land Use Commission in a legal challenge brought by opponents of the developments.
The commission earlier this month concluded the evidentiary portion of a "show cause" proceeding to determine whether there has been a violation of land-use conditions imposed on the property in 1995 when the LUC granted a land reclassification from agricultural to urban.
A Jan. 24 meeting date has been scheduled to hear closing arguments and to allow for commissioners to deliberate.
* Nanea Kalani can be reached at nkalani@mauinews.com.
