CrossIron Mills opened in August 2009 at 261055 CrossIron Boulevard in Rocky View County, immediately north of Calgary off the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2), with approximately 109,000 sqm of gross leasable area and around 200 retail and service units. The property is owned and managed by Ivanhoé Cambridge as the largest outlet and off-price retail destination for the Calgary metropolitan area.
The Rocky View County location, outside Calgary city limits, was deliberately chosen to take advantage of Rocky View’s lower tax rate relative to the City of Calgary, translating into potential cost savings for retailers and a commercially distinguishable offer from the standard Calgary enclosed mall. CrossIron Mills operates an outlet and entertainment format: the tenant mix combines outlet stores for national and international brands (operating at reduced price points on prior-season or irregular merchandise), off-price retailers, and entertainment anchors including a Bass Pro Shops flagship. The Bass Pro Shops at CrossIron is one of the largest in western Canada, drawing destination visitors from Calgary, Edmonton, and rural Alberta for whom outdoor recreation retail is a planned shopping trip rather than an incidental purchase. Nike, Adidas, Michael Kors and Polo Ralph Lauren anchor the outlet fashion tier, with lululemon and Arc’teryx among the sporting-goods specialty stores.
The Calgary metropolitan area population of 1.7 million provides the primary catchment. The Queen Elizabeth II Highway position gives CrossIron visibility and access from both the Calgary north and from the Edmonton-Calgary corridor, capturing travellers midway between Alberta’s two major cities. The Rocky View County location is a 30-minute drive from downtown Calgary. Surface parking for thousands of vehicles accommodates the car-dependent highway catchment.
Ivanhoé Cambridge manages CrossIron Mills as a format complement to its urban enclosed malls: where Metropolis at Metrotown and Guildford Town Centre serve as fashion and lifestyle destinations, CrossIron serves the outlet value-seeker and outdoor recreation enthusiast with Bass Pro as the experiential anchor. The highway position and the Bass Pro flagship create a visit occasion that the city’s enclosed malls cannot replicate.
