Tens of thousands of shoppers visited the Westfield World Trade Center Mall today as it officially opened in NYC.

It’s located at 185 Greenwich Street in downtown Manhattan.

 

 

Construction on the mall began five years ago.

The project cost  about $4 Billion though it was originally estimated that it would cost $2 billion.

 

The 365,000 square-foot retail center has capacity for about 112 stores and eateries. About 60 were open today.Among those already open: ColeHaan, Dior, John Varvatos, Kiehl’s, H&M, Aldo, Sephora, Apple, Eataly, Kate Spade, Tumi, MAC, Breitling, Kit and Ace, Smythson and Banana Republic, among others.

Most of the shops are below street level. However, light streams in through the winged Oculus of the building designed by Santiago Calatrava. The mall sits atop a transportation hub of 13 subway trains and ferries.

Westfield, the company that manages the retail shops, estimates some 15 million domestic and international tourists will visit the area next year.

That’s the Lowdown!