Easton Town Center is due for a big year with eight new stores opening, six existing stores moving and the Station Building getting an update.

The new stores include many firsts for central Ohio and includes the arrival of Zara, one of the world's largest international fashion chains for men, women and children.

"Zara is a global leader in contemporary fashion,” said Beau Arnason, executive vice president of Steiner + Associates, co-developer and managers of Easton Town Center.

“We are constantly seeking out the most compelling brands and retail concepts to keep the customer experience fresh. Zara will greatly add to our mix of more than 200 fashion, dining and entertainment options.”

The expansion of offerings is "a testament to Easton and how well they're doing," said Lee Peterson, an executive vice president at WD Partners, a Dublin retail-consulting company.

Zara is a notable addition, he said, because the company is one of the original and most successful creators of "fast-fashion" retailing.

"When they started in the '80s, they would go to Milan, look at the latest styles and then go to their factories," he said. "Within five or six weeks, they'd have those fashions in the stores. And they're still like that. They've always been on top of fashion."

New this year

The eight new tenants will occupy more than 50,000 square feet at Easton:

• Zara, the Spanish clothing and accessories retailer, is scheduled to open in November across the street from the Lego Store at the intersection of The Strand East and Gramercy Street. The two-story, nearly 36,000-square-foot store will be Zara's second Ohio location. The first Ohio location opened in November at Beachwood Place mall in the Cleveland area. Zara operates 80 stores in more than 20 cities in the United States and online.

• Shinola, offering watches and hand-crafted leather goods for men and women, is scheduled to open in the fall. This will be its first Ohio location.

• Filson, a brand affiliated with Shinola that offers American-made outerwear, apparel and accessories for men and women, will open its first Ohio location in the fall.

• MAC Cosmetics is expected open its first standalone location in the state of Ohio in the summer.

• A Pea in the Pod, offering maternity apparel, will open in the fall.

• Soft Surroundings, which offers soft shoes, apparel, fragrances and swimwear, will open its first central Ohio location in the summer.

• Lilly Pulitzer, which offers apparel, accessories and giftware in signature prints, will open its first company-owned location in central Ohio in the summer.

• Condado Tacos, the Columbus-based taco restaurant whose first location opened in 2014 in the Short North, will open its third location in May at Easton.

New locations

Easton stores plan (or already have) new locations within the retail center:

• Eddie Bauer has moved across the street from its previous location into space once occupied by Urban Home & Garden.

• J.Jill, the women's apparel retailer, is scheduled to move in the spring to The Strand West.

• Bubbles Tea & Juice Company, which operates a food and drink kiosk near the Central Park Fountain, will open a second Easton location in the Station Building near AMC Theatres.

• Occasionally Yours, which sells gifts, accessories and home accents, plans to move in the summer to the North District on the corner of The Stand East and Fenlon Passage adjacent to American Girl.

• Swarovski, known for its crystal jewelry, accessories and figurines, plans to move in the summer to Gramercy Street adjacent to the new MAC Cosmetics.

• Lush Cosmetics, which specializes in scented soaps, perfumes and lotions, will significantly expand and relocate in the fall to a location adjacent to the Gap.

Station Building update

The Easton Station Building, built 18 years ago to evoke train stations of the past, will undergo a renovation throughout the year that will result in new colors, fixtures and flooring as well as additional natural light. Officials say the work will occur mostly at night and is expected to be completed before the 2017 holiday season.

tferan@dispatch.com

@timferan