Sawgrass Mills mall’s The Oasis opens it arms — but not necessarily its businesses — tonight to give people a taste of what an entertainment destination is all about.
The gargantuan mall’s Phase III expansion introduces itself to the public with a grand opening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight, with live music, artists, street performers, free food samples and five $1,000 shopping spree prizes.
It might not be an opening in the strictest sense, but it’s still going to be grand. Only two of the headline tenants, Cheesecake Factory and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, and some of the smaller retailers will be open.
All the other heavy-hitters — Hard Rock Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Caf, Sega Gameworks, Polo Jeans, Legal Sea Foods, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet, Caf Tu Tu Tango and family entertainment complex Jillian’s, the largest new tenant — aren’t ready yet and will open in the coming days, weeks and months.
Larry Costello, Mills Corporation vice president of development, said the main construction is complete. Now the details are being handled.
“When you do your stores, you take great care, and we want them to take great care,” he said.
Mall officials promised a flurry of activity, with fireworks as punctuation.
Most of the as-yet-unopened businesses will be represented tonight, producing a smattering of events: art in creation at Caf Tu Tu Tango, cigars being rolled at Sosa Family Cigars, free chowder outside Legal Sea Food, free video games outside Sega Gameworks, free music outside Hard Rock Caf, and clothes, shoes, luggage and other wares for sale in the various stores that will be open.
The mall’s new pedestrian wing has been crawling with construction workers, putting plastic surfers on gigantic waves, tacking tiny tiles on a restaurant’s faade, planting trees, putting flowers on pink carts and scurrying to complete the 300,000-square-foot addition directly across from National Car Rental Center.
Unique architecture, reminiscent of The Jetsons with a Florida tropical twang, can be gazed upon from the many benches, wrapped around lighted palm trees.
“This is going to be great,” said Fran Reisberg, walking through construction dust and past ornate faade-work and yellow tape.
She and her friends Shirlee Wachovsky and Betty Eisdorfer live in west Broward. So they know the appropriateness of calling this an “oasis” — a restaurant cluster in an area that has precious few.
The trio ducked into Cheesecake Factory, their second time in a few days.
“We’ll definitely come back,” Reisberg said.
Brittany Wallman can be reached at or 954-572-2008.
