McArthurGlen unveils its first outlet village in Provence

Nestled between la Crau and the Alpilles mountains, a new village has just sprung up in Provence… McArthurGlen, the European leader in outlet villages, launched the Provence Designer Outlet on April 13, 2017 at Miramas. Confident in the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area’s potential, the British developer has invested € 120 million. A real architectural achievement, this project is a tremendous opportunity for the region’s economy, with 600 local jobs already created. Provence Promotion, in conjunction with the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been working with the investor since 2009. This partnership will last until 2020, when the opening of new luxury brands will become part of this outstanding village that’s destined to become an engine for attracting tourism.

McArthurGlen chose Mas de la Péronne in Miramas as the setting for its third outlet village in France. The center was unveiled on April 13, 2017, attended by the investor, representatives from the local and regional authorities and a crowd of fashionistas eager to find upscale goods (Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, etc.).

In total, 117 designer shops offer past collections with discounts from 30 to 70%. The Director of the center, Michela Frattini, announced that additional important luxury brands should be opening in the coming weeks.

With 2.5 million visitors expected each year and more than 600 jobs created, the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Provence is a major economic accelerator for the region and an opportunity to revitalize the western side of Étang de Berre. “The confidence shown by McArthurGlen is a sign of the region’s ability to meet the expectations of world-class investors,” applauds Jean-Luc Chauvin, President of the Marseille-Provence CCI and Vice President of Provence Promotion. 

A leisure park and hotel under study

The new outlet’s architecture, as imagined by the MAP firm, is inspired by the best Provençal traditions. It offers the visitor a peaceful stroll between boutiques, punctuated by squares, fountains, and a bell tower in the heart of a park shaded by centuries-old plane trees. The homes, narrow streets and colors are so familiar that it feels as though the village has always been there.

Provence Promotion supported the implementation of McArthurGlen’s project. The regional economic development agency, along with several economic stakeholders, carried out a study for its establishment at four potential sites (Valentine, Saint-Martin-de-Crau, Miramas and Plan-de-Campagne). It then assisted the group in the production of the investment brochure and, in the final phase, helped the managers that were relocated from Roubaix to Miramas get settled in the region (housing, schools, etc.). The realization of the McArthurGlen project is a first step: a project to establish a leisure park and hotel in the vicinity of the outlet village is being studied. “The visitors will be coming especially from Montpellier, Marseille and Avignon, generating tourism benefits for the whole region,” points out Philippe Stéfanini, Executive Director of Provence Promotion.