Taubman Unveils The Shops at Willow Bend

PLANO, Texas/PRNewswire/ -- The Shops at Willow Bend, a two level, super-regional shopping center developed by Taubman Centers Inc. (NYSE: TCO), debuted today in Plano, Texas, with over 130 new stores. Twenty more stores are under construction and will be opening over the next few weeks and months. Of these 150 stores and restaurants, nearly 50 are new to the state.

Neiman Marcus, Dillard's, Lord & Taylor and Foley's anchor the 1.5 million square foot shopping center. Willow Bend will ultimately offer more than 175 stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, which will join the line-up in 2004. The new fashion and dining destination, opening just in time for Texas' tax-free weekend, introduces the country's first Armani Collezioni, plus new-to-Texas fashion standouts, such as Bisou Bisou, HUGO Hugo Boss, Nicole Miller, J.Jill and Bernini. Two other Texas firsts, an Apple computer store and Japanese Weekend Maternity, are hot new concepts with only two other locations nationwide.

Food options at the shopping center will range from seven full-service restaurants, including two state firsts -- Napa Valley Grille (featuring over 250 California wines) and Todai Seafood Buffet (a Japanese sushi and seafood buffet), to the acclaimed Dallas restaurant, The Mercury, and a 650-seat, 10-kitchen food court.

"We're certainly feeling Texas pride today as we open our first shopping center in this great state," said Robert S. Taubman, president and chief executive officer of Taubman Centers. "To be able to attract nearly 50 new-to-the-state retailers speaks not only to the quality of the shopping center but also to its outstanding location. The Shops at Willow Bend will immediately become a destination for both retailers and shoppers."

Located at the northwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and West Park Boulevard, the shopping center's prairie-style design is reflective of the arts & crafts movement popularized in the early 20th century. Decorative weeping willow water fountains, bronze and cherry wood escalators, etched glass and natural limestone flooring with fossils add to the setting. The Shops at Willow Bend is the second of four Taubman shopping centers debuting this year. Dolphin Mall opened in Miami in March. International Plaza (Tampa, Florida) and The Mall at Wellington Green (Palm Beach County, Florida) will open over the next two months. In addition, The Mall at Millenia (Orlando, Florida) will debut in 2002.

Taubman Centers, Inc., a real estate investment trust, owns, develops, acquires and operates regional shopping centers nationally. Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the company currently owns and/or manages 29 urban and suburban regional and super regional shopping centers in 13 states.

SOURCE Taubman Centers Inc.
/CONTACT: Investors: Barbara Baker, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-248-258-7367, or Media: Karen Mac Donald, Director, Communications, +1-248-258-7469, both of Taubman Centers Inc.
Web site: http://www.taubman.com /
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