Taubman Redevelops International Market Place in Hawaii

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Bloomfield Hills-based Taubman Centers Inc. broke ground today for the International Market Place in Waikiki, Hawaii. The 360,000-square-foot shopping center, scheduled to open in spring 2016, will support The Queen’s Medical Center, the state’s largest private, nonprofit hospital.

“The revitalized International Market Place will truly complement the Waikiki shopping experience,” said William Taubman, COO of Taubman Centers. “We will feature many distinctive retailers not found anywhere else in Waikiki, thus creating a dynamic retail and dining destination.”

Company officials say the new International Market Place, which replaces an open-air market of the same name, will include approximately 75 retailers, seven restaurants, and the island’s first full-line Saks Fifth Avenue. The center is designed to celebrate the history of the site as well as honor the legacy of Queen Emma of Hawaii.

“The new International Market Place will become a new and sustainable income source for The Queen’s Medical Center, helping us provide much-needed quality health care and access to specialized medical services,” said Eric Martinson, president of Queen Emma Land Co.

The project is expected to create nearly 1,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent jobs, said Neil Abercrombie, the governor of Hawaii, and Kirk Caldwell, the mayor of Honolulu.

Taubman also presented a $10,000 check today on behalf of the International Market Place to the Hawaii Foodbank, which has collected and distributed food to those in need for the past 30 years.