CHEVY CASE, MD(July 16, 2014) – The Mills®, regarded as leading outlet and value retail shopping destinations throughout the U.S, will offer savings and promotions second only to the Black Friday shopping holiday throughout the month of August. Travelers on summer vacation are wise to stock up on great merchandise from top retailers at a fraction of the price and enjoy even more savings during state-wide sales tax holidays at select Mills properties in major cities: Baltimore / Washington, DC, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale / Miami.

“Families from across the country traditionally flock to The Mills during the month of August in preparation for back-to-school, which makes this time almost as big as the holiday shopping season,” said Kelly Mikesell, vice president of marketing for The Mills.  “The combination of our already low prices, back-to-school special sales and sales tax exemptions in select states, allows International shoppers to save even more at The Mills on the brands they love.”

As leading retail destinations featuring an unmatched mix of stores, many of which offer up to 70% off everyday prices, The Mills properties have tremendous appeal to domestic and international visitors. While all properties will offer incredible savings throughout the month, families will be able to take advantage of sales-tax exemptions (from 6% to 9.25%) at select Mills centers:

• Arundel Mills (Baltimore, MD): Sunday, August 10 – Saturday, August 16
• Grapevine Mills (Grapevine / Dallas, TX): Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 10
• Katy Mills (Houston, TX): Friday, August 8 – Sunday, August 10
• Opry Mills (Nashville, TN): Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 3
• Potomac Mills (Washington D.C.): Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 3
• Sawgrass Mills (Miami, FL): Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 3
• Sugarloaf Mills (Atlanta, GA) Friday, August 1 – Saturday, August 2

Plus, Concord Mills (Charlotte, NC) is providing its own version of tax relief with its first-ever Better Than Tax Free Weekend on Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27.  As there will be no sales tax holiday in North Carolina this year, this debut two-day back-to-school savings event will provide shoppers with an additional 10 percent off of already discounted merchandise from select retailers.

Back-to-school is the second-largest shopping season following the winter holidays, according to the United States based National Retail Federation. The average person with children will spend $688 on supplies and clothes. Savings abound on everything from home goods and electronics, to fashion-forward apparel and accessories for the whole family.

The Mills properties draw millions of visitors annually who are looking for designer and name brand merchandise for less.  Classic and trendy apparel, footwear, sporting goods, electronics and more can be found at popular retailers such as Banana Republic Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Coach Factory Store, Cole Haan Company Store, DKNY Company Store, Gap Outlet, Guess Factory Store, Janie and Jack Outlet, J.Crew Factory, LOFT Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Old Navy Outlet andTommy Hilfiger Company Store. Shoppers visiting Sawgrass Mills in South Florida will also enjoy access to exclusive luxury outlets from Armani, Burberry, Diane von Furstenberg, GUCCI, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Tory Burch, Versace and other internationally recognized brands.

For added shopper convenience, out-of-town guests are encouraged to plan ahead and take advantage of exclusive Shop 'N Stay packages in conjunction with select area hotels. Packages may include discounted room rates, free breakfast, American Express® Simon Giftcards and a coveted complimentary Coupon Book, valued at more than $500 in additional savings. Select centers also offer convenient currency exchange, shuttle services, Smartcartes and wheelchair rentals as an added shopper amenity.

To plan a visit to The Mills property nearest you, visit www.simon.com.  Tour operators organizing group travel to The Mills can go to http://traveltrade.simon.com/, which features information on incentives, Shop 'N Stay packages, transportation and more.

About The Mills

The Mills®, a part of Simon, 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 is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG).  Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

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