Love outlet shopping but hate that long trip to Seattle Premium Outlets in Washington?

You may be in luck.  Construction is now underway on B.C.’s first luxury outlet mall … and it happens to be conveniently located along the Canada Line.

The mall is situated on a parcel of land owned by Vancouver International Airport, next to the Templeton SkyTrain Station on Richmond’s Sea Island, according to an article in the Vancouver Sun. Plans call for 100 stores in an initial phase, ultimately growing to 35,000 square feet of retail space.

The layout will be familiar to anyone with outlet shopping experience.  The mall is designed as a kind of open-air village, with pedestrian-only streets linking up different stores. It will be a partnership between the U.K.’s McArthurGlen Group and the Vancouver Airport Authority.

As for the proposed name for the new complex, it’s a bit of a mouthful: McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre Vancouver Airport. (Here’s hoping they come up with a catchier name than that. Maybe a crowd-sourced contest is in order?)

But now onto the important stuff: Which luxury stores are going to set up shop in the new outlets?

The official list of tenants hasn’t been announced yet.  But we can infer a few possibilities by looking at McArthurGlen Group’s existing European outlets.  Brands across the pond include such familiar high-end designers as Gucci, Boss, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Armani, Michael Kors and Salvatore Ferragamo.

It’s hoped that the outlets will turn a relatively undeveloped section of Richmond’s Sea Island into an international shopping destination, frequented by international travellers going to and from Vancouver’s airport. Because the mall is a joint venture with the airport, revenue from the project will flow back to YVR.  Around 1,000 jobs are also expected to be created.

Outlet shoppers will have to be a bit patient, however.  Opening for the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre Vancouver Airport is scheduled for spring 2015.