The owners of Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores today announced plans to expand their existing outlet center by 110,000 square feet of leasable space by 2016. Sutton Properties, Inc. has received approval by Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners to build on an adjacent tract to the existing 238,000-square-foot center on State Road 535.

The center’s ownership, development and management team anticipates breaking ground on the $22 million project in the third quarter of 2015 and grand opening the enlarged and refreshed center in the summer of 2016. At that time, the outlet center will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Ownership estimates the expansion will create 225 new jobs.

Opened in August 1996 as one of Central Florida’s first outlet centers and a 2014 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award winner, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores offers 50 stores selling factory-direct, premium quality merchandise from nationally-known brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Nike, Gap, Ann Taylor and Guess. The center is home to several retailers that can’t be found elsewhere in Central Florida, including the area’s only Old Navy Outlet, Big Dogs, Rawlings Factory Store and Eddie Bauer Outlet. All existing stores will remain fully operational throughout the expansion.

“Our factory stores experienced significant sales growth in recent years as increasingly-savvy visitors and local shoppers, alike, demand their favorite brands in broad selections at tremendous savings,” said Sutton Properties President Sam Sutton. “With this growth has come more inquiries from potential new tenants, but with low store turnover, we needed more space to maximize these opportunities. Expanding our center by nearly 50 percent will enable us to do so.”

Sutton anticipates the expansion will house both nationally-popular brands as well as new to the market international stores and restaurants, “making this a winning proposition for both visitors and our loyal local resident customer base,” he added.

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores’ existing amenities include convenient store front parking, free daily scheduled shuttles servicing 66 Orlando and Kissimmee area resorts and hotels comprising 34,338 rooms (the area’s only outlet shopping center with such a service), a food court, World of Coffee Internet Café, and Frankie Farrell’s Irish Pub & Grille.

The ownership and management team for the center developed the TripAdvisor®, Expedia and Virgin Holiday award-winning adjacent sister property, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, with its 496 unit condominium hotel, signature health spa, interactive pool, tiki bar, and numerous resort amenities.

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores is located just one mile from Walt Disney World at 15657 State Road 535 (S. Apopka Vineland Road), Orlando, FL 32821-6316, and two miles south of I-4, Exit 68. For current hours and more information, including a downloadable coupon to be exchanged on site for a coupon booklet valued up to $400 in savings, visit www.LBVFS.com, or call 407-238-9301. For current store news, deals and discounts, connect with the center on Facebook, Twitter (@LBVFS) and Pinterest.

Lake Buena Vista Factory StoresTerry Lynn Morris, 407-238-9301, x 106Director of Marketingtlmorris@lbvfs.comorBisbee and Co. PRJennifer Bisbee, 407-857-6443jennifer@BisbeeAndCo.com