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| Chicago Premium Outlets | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chicago Premium Outlets |
| Caption | Entrance at Chicago Premium Outlets |
| Location | Aurora, Illinois, Kane County, Illinois |
| Developer | Simon Property Group |
| Manager | Simon Property Group |
| Owner | Simon Property Group |
| Number of stores | 70+ |
| Opening date | March 2015 |
Chicago Premium Outlets is a large open-air outlet center located in Aurora, Illinois, developed and operated by Simon Property Group. Positioned in the Chicago metropolitan area, the center serves shoppers from Chicago, Naperville, Illinois, Joliet, Illinois, and surrounding suburbs, and draws visitors from Cook County, Illinois and Will County, Illinois. The property features national and international retail brands, food tenants, and seasonal events that connect it with regional transportation hubs and tourist corridors.
Chicago Premium Outlets is part of the Premium Outlets chain operated by Simon Property Group and joined a portfolio that includes Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Desert Hills Premium Outlets, and San Marcos Premium Outlets. The center offers brand-name apparel, footwear, accessories, and home goods at discounted prices, competing with regional shopping destinations such as Oakbrook Center, Fashion Outlets of Chicago, and mall properties managed by Taubman Centers and Brookfield Properties. The outlet's tenant mix combines legacy retailers like Nike, Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, and Calvin Klein with value-oriented chains such as H&M and Levi Strauss & Co. outlet formats. Accessibility from major highways positions the property as a retail node in the Illinois Tollway network.
Plans for the outlet center emerged in the early 2010s amid expansion by Simon Property Group into the Midwest. The project was announced alongside economic development initiatives in Aurora, Illinois and coordinated with Kane County officials and local planning agencies. The center opened in March 2015, coinciding with contemporaneous retail developments and redevelopment projects in the Chicago metropolitan area such as expansions at Gurnee Mills and mixed-use plans in Schaumburg, reflecting national outlet growth trends led by brands like Gap Inc., VF Corporation, and Under Armour. Over time, tenant turnovers mirrored broader retail cycles influenced by corporate restructurings at J.C. Penney, Sears Holdings, and strategic shifts by Macy's, Inc. and fast-fashion entrants. Simon Property Group implemented periodic renovations and re-tenanting strategies similar to those used at King of Prussia Mall and The Mall at Short Hills to maintain regional competitiveness.
The outlet sits near the intersection of Interstate 88 and regional arterials, providing east–west access across the Fox River corridor and proximity to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport for visitor inflow. Public transportation and commuter rail links connect regional population centers via Metra routes and nearby park-and-ride facilities serving Union Pacific West Line commuters traveling to Chicago Union Station. Its location in Aurora, Illinois places it within driving distance of tourist attractions like Cantigny Park, Bluestem Center for the Arts, and historic districts in Naperville, Illinois, integrating retail visitation with leisure patterns common to visitors to Lincoln Park Zoo and Millennium Park.
The center is configured as a single-level, open-air village with pedestrian promenades, landscaping, and a central parking field modeled on contemporary outlet design principles used at Philadelphia Premium Outlets and Sawgrass Mills. Architectural elements reference traditional storefront facades and covered walkways similar to those at Premium Outlet centers across the U.S., combining materials and signage standards deployed by Simon Property Group. Facilities include family restrooms, seating areas, stroller rentals, and seasonal kiosks. The property provides accessible parking compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 standards and customer service amenities paralleling those at regional malls like Oakbrook Center and Woodfield Mall.
Tenants encompass a mix of luxury, contemporary, and value brands: examples include Nike, Inc., Coach, Inc., Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, CHANEL licensed outlets, and specialty stores reflecting portfolios of Tapestry, Inc. and PVH Corp.. Food and beverage options range from quick-service concepts to sit-down eateries inspired by regional food halls and chains such as Starbucks Corporation and franchise operators common in outlet centers. Services include curbside pickup partnerships with national retailers, gift card centers, customer service booths, and seasonal staffing coordinated with e-commerce fulfillment strategies employed by brands like Amazon.com, Inc. and Walmart Inc. for omnichannel retail experiences.
The development generated construction employment and ongoing retail jobs, contributing to municipal sales tax revenues in Aurora, Illinois and Kane County, Illinois. It augmented regional tourism by attracting shoppers from neighboring states, supporting lodging providers affiliated with brands like Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International. The center's presence influenced local planning for traffic mitigation and infrastructure, coordinating with county transportation agencies and economic development boards. Community partnerships have included promotional collaborations with regional chambers of commerce and workforce development initiatives resembling programs run by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and nonprofit organizations focused on retail employment.
Chicago Premium Outlets coordinates seasonal sales events such as clearance weekends, holiday shopping promotions, and outlet-only launches, aligning with national retail occasions like Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales cycles. The property has hosted community events, charity fundraisers, and brand pop-ups similar to activations at Roosevelt Field and regional festival tie-ins. Marketing campaigns leverage regional media outlets and social platforms to amplify events during peak travel seasons tied to conventions at venues like McCormick Place and spectator events at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field.
Category:Shopping malls in Illinois Category:Tourist attractions in Kane County, Illinois