FINANCIAL DISTRICT — The massive retail space inside the World Trade Center is just about ready for business.
A slew of shops will open their doors for the first time on Aug. 16, and Westfield Group, the mall's developer, is kicking off the launch with a day of free music and "family friendly" activities, the company said.
Events inside the WTC Oculus — the huge, white winged centerpiece of the WTC transit hub — include performances from the Harlem Gospel Choir, as well as the cast of the Broadway show "School of Rock."
Eataly's expansive new WTC location will also be open and offering hands-on workshops — and, of course, there's the shopping.
More than 100 stores have set up shop inside the 365,000-square-foot mall — a mix of retail, including Sephora, Cole Haan and the Apple store, and food anchors like Eataly and Epicerie Boulud. Westfield Group said "the majority" of them will be open by noon, when the "Family Day" celebration begins.
The expansive retail area takes up space inside the WTC's Oculus, as well as inside 3 WTC, 4 WTC and underground corridors linking the PATH train and subways to the streets above.
Eventually, when 2 WTC opens in the next several years, an additional 90,000 square feet of retail will open inside that building, the company said.
The grand opening events will run from noon to 6 p.m., when an as-yet unannounced special "A-list" performer will play, Westfield said.
Here's a partial list of what's about to open at the mall:
Apple, Aesop, Aldo, The Art of Shaving, Banana Republic, Beer Table, Breitling, Camper, Caudalie, Charles Tyrwhitt, Cole Haan, Crabtree & Evelyn, Designer Eyes, Dune London, Eataly, Edward Beiner, Epicerie Boulud, Fika, Folli Follie,Fossil, Hugo Boss, Joe coffee, John Barrett Salon, John Varvatos, Kate Spade New York, Kiehl's, Kiko Milano, L'Occitane, La Colombe, Lacoste, Links of London, LK Bennett, London Jewelers, Longines, Lore Wine & Spirits, M.A.C, Market Lane, Michael Kors, K. Minamoto, Montblanc, Nobletree Coffee, Nunu Chocolates, Pandora, Penhaglion's, Reiss, Rituals Cosmetics, Sephora, Stuart Weitzman, Swatch,Thomas Sabo, Tissot, True Religion, Turnbull & Asser, Under Armour, Une de 50, Victoria's Secret, Victoria's Secret Beauty, Vince Camuto.
For a full list of stores slated to open, head here.
