Looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon? Maybe you’ve heard of the outlet mall that recently opened in Eagan. If you haven’t, here’s a rundown: Twin Cities Premium Outlets opened last month on Aug. 14th. It’s located about seven minutes from the Mall of America, and showcases over 100 popular stores, offering everything from designer dresses to kitchenware. But is it worth the trip, or should you save the trouble and stay at MOA?

Junior Kira Peterson thinks it’s worth the drive. “I like that it’s mostly outside, so if it’s nice out I’d rather go there than the Mall of America,” she said.

The mall boasts both outdoor storefronts as well as covered pathways, however, as with most outlet malls, none of the stores are connected.

The mall does offer a wide array of venues, but as with many outlet malls, the majority of the stores are not in fact outlets. Regular-priced stores such as Steve Madden, American Eagle, Pacsun, and Francesca’s stand among the truly discounted shops.

The best discounts are found at the stores with “outlet” or “factory store” under the sign. While stores like Coach and Saks ‘Off 5th’ are often picked through, they offer the best discounts, and enough sifting may amount to a proud find.

While walking into your favorite stores expecting discounts, and finding only the usual sale rack with out-of season printed shorts can be disappointing, having a cluster of popular favorites can be convenient. “All the stores I like are there. I liked it a lot,” said Peterson.

In the end, Twin Cities Premium Outlets is a great place to spend a warm day as long as you treat it for the most part like a regular mall. The biggest downside? “I wish they had more food. There’s just one small food court,” added Peterson.