ULI Chicago staff checked out the new Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont this week to see if it lived up to all the hype around the high-end outlet mall.  The 530,000 SF mall is actually a mixture of more than 130 outlets, factory stores and brand-name retailers like Michael Kors and Gucci.  With 11 restaurants and on-site baggage check and passenger check-in for O’Hare travelers, Rosemont officials hope the mall will become a tourist destination.  Read more

The staff verdict:  customer-friendly layout, but small store footprints … still, no one had trouble finding something to purchase.  Go retail!