Eight New Stores Open In MallThe new $60 million, 150,000 sq. ft. expansion to Westfield Brandon brought 30 additional stores and restaurants to the center, which is now a combined total of 1.15 million sq. ft. The latest opening involved Sinigual Contemporary Mexican Cuisine, a 7,000 sq. ft. restaurant that specializes in upscale Mexican fare. Having opened in early June, the restaurant, a concept of El Tortito Grill, prides itself in its creation of authentic dishes ranging from handmade Jalapeño Rellenos, Plantains with BBQ Carnitas and Filet Mignon Enchiladas to Garlic Shrimp Torta, Chipotle Barbecue Ribs, Fire-Roasted Grilled Shrimp and Mesquite-Grilled Citrus Salmon. The warm, rich ambience promotes an inviting atmosphere, seating up to 338 patrons with menu items spanning from $5.50 – $18.  According to General Manager Jaime Franco, the business opened in Brandon “because we wanted to introduce our brand name to the local area being that we are a California-based corporation.” Commenting on the demeanor of Brandon, Franco mentioned that like Brandon, Sinigual, meaning “like no other,” is family-oriented as well. Located at 805 Brandon Town Center Dr., the restaurant is open from Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

A few recent unveilings include the highly-anticipated, new Apple store, the second in the Greater Tampa Bay area, branding the MacBook, Mac accessories and software as well as iPod and iPhone accessories. The store, located at 459 Brandon Town Center Dr., is open from Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 413-3400.

Coach recently opened in the new wing, featuring accessories and gifts in leather, suede and fabrics that include purses, wallets, handbags and accessories. Open from Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., the business is located at 873 Brandon Town Center Dr. For more information, call 654-9025.

Opened in the existing center court of the mall, aerie by American Eagle unveiled, giving young women ages 15-25 another lingerie choice. The retailer will also be selling dormwear which includes boxers, tanks, accessories and the like. Located at 432 Brandon Town Center Dr., the store’s hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 654-9187.

Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, located at 459 Brandon Town Center Dr., offers young men the opportunity to sport a variety of new threads from semi-tailored separates and sweaters to active wear and premium denim. Open from Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., the store can be contacted at 651-5951.

Torrid, owned by Hot Topic, also unveiled this summer, providing young women, sizes 12-26, an array of labels to choose from with half its inventory being comprised of well-known brands and the other half being made-up of private labels. For more information, visit www.torrid.com.

Yoasis, a new frozen yogurt store, is coming to the mall soon, offering eight flavors of yogurt. According to Westfield’s Website, the yogurt is created with Mirage Flavors containing “the lowest calorie products in the world, with only five calories an ounce.”

Opening in the fall, Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) will bring designer men’s and women’s footwear to the mall with prices ranging from the teens and up. Selections will include Steve Madden, BCBG and Clarks. To see some of the soon-to-be released styles, visit www.dsw.com.

Adding to the already 170 stores within the mall’s corridors, negotiations are in effect for the space adjacent to The Cheesecake Factory in the Restaurant Courtyard. “Brandon is growing and we’re seeing more higher-end housing developments expand to our east and south. As a result, we want to provide a broad spectrum of retailers, from Apple, Coach, Lucky Brand Jeans and White House|Black Market to teen retailers Tilly’s, Anchor Blue and Quiksilver, to serve all of our shoppers. Restaurants play a role in making the Westfield Brandon shopping experience a well-rounded experience for our customers,” commented Westfield Brandon’s Marketing Director Dawn Richter who mentioned that nearly 10 million patrons walk the hallways of the mall each year.

Opened in 1995, Westfield Brandon, owned by Australian-based Westfield Group, is one of 121 shopping centers that span Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are approximately 59 centers throughout the U.S. that comprise of more than 9,000 specialty stores and 65 million sq. ft. being situated in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington.

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Carisa Biesecker
Carisa is a Senior News Reporter and Assistant Editor at the Osprey Observer. When she's not at work, she continues to write, working on future projects; hangs out with friends and family, her best friend (aka her husband) and her four dogs.