Jenks Mayor Cory Box provided an update on the Simon Premium Outlet Mall construction in Jenks, posting a picture to Facebook that shows crews working on the site where the mall will sit.
After many halts in the building process due to the pandemic, it seems work is beginning for good this time.
"Yeah, the word got out pretty quickly," said Jenks Mayor Cory Box.
Originally announced in 2020 with a projected 2021 opening date, not even a wall has been built at the mall's site, just south of the Creek Turnpike near the banks of the Arkansas River.
NewsChannel 8 asked Box if he had any concerns about the new property flooding.
"No, I'm not worried about it because I'm trusting the professionals," he said, noting the construction company added several feet of dirt to get it out of the floodplain.
In June 2022, Simon said it planned to resume construction in 2022 with a projected opening date of 2024.
"I have no reason to doubt it," said Box. "That's a vague timeframe."
But its impact on Jenks, Box said, is crystal clear.
"I believe this will be the premier shopping destination period in the whole state," he said.
The president and CEO of Jenks' Chamber of Commerce, Heather Turner agrees.
"I think it's going to attract people from all around," she said. "We absolutely have the the capacity to support this outlet mall. I think it'll be a huge success."
Once completed, the outlet malls will be approximately 330,000 square feet and feature almost 100 retailers.