Simon to Build Premium Outlets in Nashville, With 75 Retailers, Restaurants and a Hotel
Simon, the nation’s largest owner of shopping centers and mixed-use destinations, is bolstering its presence in the fast-growing metro Nashville market.
On Wednesday, Simon said that it agreed to purchase a large site in Thompson’s Station, Tenn., at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Interstate 840, where it will develop a “luxury shopping and lifestyle destination” known as Nashville Premium Outlets.
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Construction on the approximately 325,000-square-foot, mixed-use center is expected to begin in 2026, with preliminary plans to include about 75 “best-in-class” retailers, restaurants and a hotel, with the potential to add residential options, big-box retailers and more, Simon said in its statement.
Simon said it expects Nashville Premium Outlets to draw residents and tourists from around the state and region.
Simon is collaborating on this project with Nashville-based Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners, a company known for hospitality and real estate development.
Simon did not provide the timing for when Nashville Premium Outlets could open.
The company already has a significant presence in the Nashville area with Opry Mills, which is considered the area’s largest shopping destination, housing more than 200 stores and 20 restaurants, and The Mall at Green Hills, a joint venture with Taubman Realty Group housing high-end fashion brands and luxury boutiques.
“We are excited to bring another premier shopping and lifestyle destination to Nashville, one of our country’s most dynamic and fastest-growing markets,” said Gary Duncan, Simon’s president of the Premium Outlets and The Mills subsidiaries of Simon. The Premium Mills properties contain “great deals from iconic brands, enticing food and entertainment options and elevated amenities for both shoppers and retailers,” said Duncan.
It’s too early to specify any leases that could be signed at Nashville Premium Outlets. However, it’s possible the site could lease to several of the same designer brands operating at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, the largest of Simon’s Premium Outlets properties. Located in the Central Valley section of Woodbury, N.Y., Woodbury Common features Gucci, Prada, Loro Piana, Saint Laurent and Brunello Cucinelli, among other high-end labels, as well as Aerie, Converse, Forever 21 and Gap Factory, and other less expensive brands.
Nashville is crowding up with new retail. Tanger Outlets opened a 290,000-square-foot outlet center in October 2023 joining The Arcade Nashville, Hill Center Green Hills, Nashville West Shopping Center and the Hickory Plaza Shopping Center, as well as The Mall at Green Hills and Opry Mills in the area. The Nashville metropolitan area has a population of about 2 million people and has long been a center for music and a mecca for tourism, but has also evolved into a tech hub and a magnet for world-class hotels and music streaming companies. Amazon, Spotify, Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, Asurian and Live Nation have a major presence in Nashville.
Speaking of music, Simon on Wednesday revealed a new strategy called “Scouting for Stars @themall,” providing opportunities for up-and-coming music talent to participate in workshops and talent searches with auditions, and possibly perform at a Simon property. The performances will be at 20 Simon properties between February and August, beginning with Katy Mills in Houston. For Scouting for Stars, Simon is partnering with Greater Than Distribution, a music distribution and entertainment company founded by Paula Moore and Randy Jackson.
“The mall continues to be a unique gathering place,” David Simon, chairman and chief executive officer of Simon, said last November. “If you talk to really new and exciting companies like Shein or Skims…they all believe in our product. And so we’re seeing a rejuvenation of the younger consumers wanting to hang out at the mall.”
Last fall, Simon launched a nationwide campaign portraying malls as the go-to destination across generations. Dubbed “Meet Me @themall,” the campaign has depicted Gen-Zers meeting up in the mall, taking selfies, applying cosmetics and trying on clothes as their Millennial or Gen X parents watched.
In a statement on Nashville Premium Outlets, Brian Stover, the mayor of Thompson’s Station, said, “This project represents a significant investment in our town and has the potential to enhance local amenities, create jobs, and strengthen our economy. We look forward to working with the developers to ensure this project is a tremendous success while maintaining alignment with the character and general plan of Thompson’s Station and supporting our vision for the future.”
Simon’s most recent opening was Tulsa Premium Outlets in August 2024. Simon said that property is fully leased.
Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager that repositions hospitality, mixed-use, and residential properties. The firm’s current portfolio includes $5.3 billion of assets across 100-plus properties and more than 50 markets.
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