VIP guests entered the new portion of the mall through a wood dock surrounded by sea grasses.
As attendees munched on candy bacon and drank from champagne glasses full of orange juice, the gravelly voice of a pirate came over the loud speaker: "Ahoy maties! We'll be preparing our program in just five minutes. Crew, prepare to dock ship!"
A singer soon took the stage to belt out a rendition of the national anthem that echoed throughout the mall's new lofty atrium before former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Sen. Janet Greenip, R-Crofton, and other heads of state.
The grand opening marks a major event for both Anne Arundel County and Westfield. The company last year embarked on the expansion project, which has been praised as a catalyst for economic development that will generate more than $500 million in annual sales.
The expanded mall now is the largest shopping center in Anne Arundel County at 1.5 million square feet.
"Anne Arundel County is one of the most important counties in the state," County Executive John R. Leopold told the crowd at the grand opening. "It's an exciting place to live and work and I'm excited to congratulate Westfield for expanding this new site."
Mr. Leopold joined Westfied officials in taking an oversized pair of scissors to cut a rope and signal the grand finale: Three giant anchors descended from the ceiling as loud music pumped in the background. Bursts of blue and white confetti filled the air.
Then, a "Kabuki" curtain fell to the floor to reveal a 240,000-square-foot wing home to more than 60 new shops, including Under Armour's first retail store featuring a tunnel-like entrance and performance apparel.
Yesterday's event also kicked off four days of shopping events. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will show up at Under Armour tomorrow. On Sunday, U.S. figure skater Kimmie Meissner will be at the store.
"This was amazing," said attendee Judy Buddensick, sales manager for WRNR Radio, which will be at the mall Sunday to give away a $5,000 Breitling watch. "The anchors were fabulous."
A highlight of the event took place when Westfield officials presented giant $1,000 checks to their local nonprofit partners, Annapolis High School, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.
Westfield CEO Peter Lowy of Westfield surprised the crowd when he crossed out the ones on all of the checks and replaced them with fives, raising the donations to $5,000 for each partner.
"We like to reinvest in our community, reinvest in our assets," he said, later thanking the mall's retailers. "They share in our confidence in reinvesting into your community."
Linnell Bowen, executive director of Maryland Hall, said she was appreciative of the gift.
"It was exciting. I always appreciate more money."
Inside the new portion of the mall, shoppers perused stores including a 20,700-square-foot Pottery Barn and Martin +Osa, a retail store owned by American Eagle that targets men and women ages 28-40 and features "refined casual clothes" such as chunky sweaters, merino jackets and "great fitting jeans," said Leslie Smith,the company's retail brand manager.
The store provides customers with all the elements of their wardrobe so they don't have to trek from store to store, she said.
"We want our customers to find their home here."
The newly expanded Annapolis mall opened with dramatic flair yesterday, in an event that highlighted the $150 million redevelopment project and showcased 60 new stores.
Westfield, the Australian-based company that owns the mall, designed its grand opening around a nautical theme to "anchor" the project.
VIP guests entered the new portion of the mall through a wood dock surrounded by sea grasses.
As attendees munched on candy bacon and drank from champagne glasses full of orange juice, the gravelly voice of a pirate came over the loud speaker: "Ahoy maties! We'll be preparing our program in just five minutes. Crew, prepare to dock ship!"
A singer soon took the stage to belt out a rendition of the national anthem that echoed throughout the mall's new lofty atrium before former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Sen. Janet Greenip, R-Crofton, and other heads of state.
The grand opening marks a major event for both Anne Arundel County and Westfield. The company last year embarked on the expansion project, which has been praised as a catalyst for economic development that will generate more than $500 million in annual sales.
The expanded mall now is the largest shopping center in Anne Arundel County at 1.5 million square feet.
"Anne Arundel County is one of the most important counties in the state," County Executive John R. Leopold told the crowd at the grand opening. "It's an exciting place to live and work and I'm excited to congratulate Westfield for expanding this new site."
Mr. Leopold joined Westfied officials in taking an oversized pair of scissors to cut a rope and signal the grand finale: Three giant anchors descended from the ceiling as loud music pumped in the background. Bursts of blue and white confetti filled the air.
Then, a "Kabuki" curtain fell to the floor to reveal a 240,000-square-foot wing home to more than 60 new shops, including Under Armour's first retail store featuring a tunnel-like entrance and performance apparel.
Yesterday's event also kicked off four days of shopping events. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will show up at Under Armour tomorrow. On Sunday, U.S. figure skater Kimmie Meissner will be at the store.
"This was amazing," said attendee Judy Buddensick, sales manager for WRNR Radio, which will be at the mall Sunday to give away a $5,000 Breitling watch. "The anchors were fabulous."
A highlight of the event took place when Westfield officials presented giant $1,000 checks to their local nonprofit partners, Annapolis High School, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.
Westfield CEO Peter Lowy of Westfield surprised the crowd when he crossed out the ones on all of the checks and replaced them with fives, raising the donations to $5,000 for each partner.
"We like to reinvest in our community, reinvest in our assets," he said, later thanking the mall's retailers. "They share in our confidence in reinvesting into your community."
Linnell Bowen, executive director of Maryland Hall, said she was appreciative of the gift.
"It was exciting. I always appreciate more money."
Inside the new portion of the mall, shoppers perused stores including a 20,700-square-foot Pottery Barn and Martin +Osa, a retail store owned by American Eagle that targets men and women ages 28-40 and features "refined casual clothes" such as chunky sweaters, merino jackets and "great fitting jeans," said Leslie Smith,the company's retail brand manager.
The store provides customers with all the elements of their wardrobe so they don't have to trek from store to store, she said.
"We want our customers to find their home here."
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