Southlands (Aurora, Colorado) facts for kids
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| Location | Aurora, Colorado, United States |
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| Coordinates | 39°36′16″N 104°42′26″W / 39.60456°N 104.70718°W |
| Opening date | 2005 |
| Management | M & J Wilkow Ltd. |
| No. of stores and services | 189 (May 2009) |
| No. of anchor tenants | 16 (additional sub-anchors) |
| Total retail floor area | 1,700,000 sq ft (160,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 (on Main Street--1 elsewhere) |
| Parking | Surface lots and street parking (on Main Street) |
Southlands Lifestyle Center is a big outdoor shopping area in Aurora, Colorado. People also call it Southlands Mall or just Southlands. It's located where Smoky Hill Road meets the E-470 tollway. This makes it easy to reach from different parts of Aurora.
Southlands opened in 2005. It's special because it's the largest outdoor mall in the United States. It looks like a small town with a "Main Street" full of shops and places to eat. Larger stores are located around the edges of the center.
Contents
What Makes Southlands Special?
Southlands Lifestyle Center has an open-air design. This means you shop outside, which is great for Colorado's weather. The main shopping area is called "Main Street." It's lined with many different stores and restaurants.
Main Street Fun
Main Street is decorated with hanging plants and flower boxes. You can park your car right on the street. Some buildings on Main Street even have a second floor with more shops or offices.
The Central Plaza
At one end of Main Street, you'll find a big open space called the central plaza. This is where many fun events happen throughout the year.
- In spring and summer, a cool jumping fountain splashes water.
- In winter, the plaza turns into an ice skating rink! You can go skating with your friends and family.
- Sometimes, there are concerts in the fountain area.
- During the holidays, a giant Christmas tree lights up the plaza. You can also enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, visit Santa, and listen to carolers.
At the other end of the plaza is a large movie theater. It has 16 screens and is owned by AMC Theatres. It's a great spot to catch the latest movies.
Where to Shop and Eat
Southlands has many stores, from big ones to smaller, unique shops.
Big Stores You Know
The main big stores, called anchor stores, are Walmart and JCPenney. There are also many other well-known stores like Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Petco, and Michaels.
Main Street Shops
Main Street has lots of clothing stores. You might find places like American Eagle Outfitters, Torrid, Justice, Gymboree, H&M, Zumiez, and Victoria's Secret. Other popular stores include Claire's and Bath and Body Works.
A Stormy Day in 2009
On June 7, 2009, a strong thunderstorm hit the Aurora area. Around 1:53 PM, a tornado touched down near Southlands.
Tornado Impact
The tornado was an EF2 tornado. It caused some damage to nearby houses and trees. A few stores at Southlands were also damaged. Red Brick Pizza was hit hard, and JCPenney, Jamba Juice, and Lowes also saw some damage.
Luckily, no one was hurt during the tornado. The mall had to close for a couple of days to clean up. Some stores, like Del Taco and Sam's Club, were able to open again the very next day.
Gallery
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The main plaza at Southlands, where events happen.
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A view of Main Street with shops and parking.
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The ice rink at the main plaza, lit up at night.
