GAMECHANGING Fashion Outlets of Chicago, By the Numbers

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The erratic weather we've been experiencing isn't the most buzzworthy thing to happen to Chicago this week. In what will be a retail GAME. CHANGER., the Fashion Outlets of Chicago is opening on Thursday, August 1.

Here are a few things you might already know about the outlets. They're breaking all the rules (mall rules that "needed to be broken"). They're really artsy. They'll have all sorts of good shopping and, bonus, fro-yo! Nothing gets a party going like fro-yo.

But that's not all: Without further ado, here's our by-the-numbers guide to the massive outlet structure that'll give Michigan Ave a serious run for its money.

530,000: square feet of outlet mall goodness.

250: million spent on this project.

130: stores strong. Included are discount favorites like Forever 21 and Last Call by Neiman Marcus as well as luxury brands like Gucci and Barneys.

15: miles from downtown Chicago.

10: am, the time of day at which these outlets will open. They'll close at 9pm every day except Sunday, when they'll shut the doors at 7pm.

5: minutes—the time it'll take you to walk from the North Central Metra Rail Line's Rosemont stop. There will also be frequent shuttles taking shoppers to and from O'Hare airport.

4+: stores that will open their first Chicago-area outlet stores. These include Longchamp, Vince Camuto, Ports 1961 and L'Occitane.

4: days of grand opening festivities, which will include live entertainment, informal modeling, balloon artists and face painting.

3: ways to virtually connect with the outlets for up-to-the-minute updates before they open. There's a website, a Facebook page, and a Twitter account.

2: floors spanned by the outlets.

Stay tuned for more updates and perhaps we'll see you in line Thursday morning?
· The Fashion Outlets of Chicago [Official Site]
· The Arts Initiative [Official Site]
· Fashion Outlets "Broke Rules That Needed to be Broken" [Racked]
· All Fashion Outlets of Chicago Coverage [Racked]