CONCORD, NC - Concord Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in North Carolina, has added Sea Life Charlotte-Concord to its roster of popular retail stores, plus family dining and entertainment options.  Sea Life Charlotte-Concord will further solidify Concord Mills’ position as a leading attraction for local shoppers and visitors from across the U.S. and beyond.

"Concord Mills is thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Sea Life Charlotte-Concord, which adds another dimension to our unique brand of shopping with great retail, dining and entertainment all under one roof,” said Ray Soporowski, general manager at Concord Mills.  “This much-anticipated family attraction is the perfect fit for Concord Mills, enhancing our already celebrated shopping experience with more stores, more value and more fun.”

Now open at Entry 7 at Concord Mills, the new Sea Life Charlotte-Concord will provide a fun, interactive and educational experience for kids and adults with more than 5,000 sea creatures and more than 20 spectacular displays of diverse marine life with everything from shrimp and starfish to seahorses, sharks and rays.  The aquarium also features a shoaling ring, an indoor play area and a 360 degree viewing tunnel surrounded on all sides by water.

“Sea Life Charlotte-Concord is proud to join the incredible group of shopping, dining and entertainment options at Concord Mills,” said Trisha Ruf, general manager of Sea Life Charlotte-Concord.  “We look forward to providing families visiting the mall with an interactive, educational experience they won’t find anywhere else in our area." 

Already home to an impressive array of popular family-friendly dining and entertainment venues, Concord Mills features several eateries, such as Dave & Buster’s, Chili’s Too and Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza.  Visitors can also relax and catch a movie at AMC 24-Screen Theatres / IMAX and test their go-kart skills at Concord Mills’ iconic attraction, The SPEEDPARK.

Concord Mills has gained national prominence for its unmatched selection of retailers.  Shoppers enjoy a variety of stores such as American Eagle Outfitters Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, The Children’s Place Outlet, Forever 21, Gap Outlet, The Limited Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, Old Navy Outlet and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.  Other recently announced new additions opening in the coming months include Torrid, J.Crew Factory, Buckle and a first-in-state location from Janie and Jack Outlet. 

For more information about Concord Mills or a complete list of retailers, please call (704) 979-3000 or visit www.concordmills.com.  Concord Mills also may be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ConcordMills) and on Twitter @ConcordMillsNC.

About Concord Mills

As the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in North Carolina, Concord Mills brings together over 200 stores, plus great dining and family entertainment options. Popular retailers include Michael Kors, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH,Banana Republic Factory Store, Coach Factory Store, LEGO Brand Retail Store and the only Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in the state.  Shoppers can also enjoy quality dining and entertainment at Chili’s Too, Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza, AMC 24 Theatres, Dave & Buster’s and The SPEEDPARK.  Adding a new dimension to its unique shopping experience, during spring 2014 Concord Mills will debut SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord.

Concord Mills is located 10 miles north of uptown Charlotte, at exit 49 off of Interstate 85.  Regular hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday.  For more information on Concord Mills, please call (704) 979-3000 or visit www.concordmills.com.  Concord Mills also may be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ConcordMills) and on Twitter @ConcordMillsNC.

About Sea Life Charlotte-Concord

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord is a one-story, 26,000-square-foot indoor aquarium with another 10,000 square feet planned for future expansion. This one-of-a-kind attraction will allow visitors to experience the magical world beneath our seas with marine habitats, displays, and close encounters with over 5,000 sea creatures. SEA LIFE provides a glimpse of the diversity of marine life while also playing an active role in animal and environmental conservation. Visitors will see strong evidence of SEA LIFE’s Breed, Rescue and Protect activities around the world, including new projects developed locally.
 
SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium chain with over 45 attractions around the world. SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord is the sixth SEA LIFE aquarium launched in the U.S. and is located at Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. in Concord, NC. For more information, visit www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord

About Merlin Entertainments

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 99 attractions, 9 hotels/3 holiday villages in 22 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 54 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 22,000 employees. 

Merlin has eighteen attractions and one hotel in the USA  - including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – LEGOLAND Florida with its theme park, water park and LEGOLAND California theme park with water park, SEA LIFE aquarium and themed hotel; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Hollywood; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Kansas City Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; and Westchester, New York; and SEA LIFE aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas/Fort Worth; and the Mall of America in Minneapolis - underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator.  Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

About The Mills, A Simon Company

The Mills®, one of Simon Property Group's five real estate platforms, offers a unique brand of shopping with a mix of popular name brand outlets, value retailers and full-price stores, plus family-oriented dining and entertainment concepts. The Mills are well-located in major metropolitan markets and many are recognized as leading tourism destinations. Notable properties include Arundel Mills (Baltimore), Gurnee Mills (Chicago), Grapevine Mills (Dallas), Ontario Mills (Los Angeles), Opry Mills (Nashville), Potomac Mills (Washington, DC) and Sawgrass Mills (Ft. Lauderdale/Miami).

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

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