The storefronts going up at 6415 Labeaux Ave NE this fall carry brands from Albertville's past. Toys "R" Us is open. Abercrombie & Fitch is open. Ann Taylor Factory and Vera Bradley Outlet are due before the end of 2026. In its October 9 story, North Wright County Today opened with Yogi Berra and called the lineup a case of deja vu.
The tenants are arriving in the same weeks that MnDOT plans to finish the third eastbound lane on I-94 between County Road 19 and Highway 25. The Albertville Lions are holding Christmas in the Park on the last day of Thanksgiving weekend, when the outlets are also open. Familiar stores back in the mall, a wider interstate to reach them, and one Sunday shared by the commercial and community calendars make this season a reset for Albertville.
The Names Coming Back to Labeaux Avenue
On September 12, Bring Me The News reported that two retailers had just joined the outlet center and four more were expected before the end of the year. The two already open were LOFT Outlet and Rare Snacks World. The four in the pipeline were Toys "R" Us, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor Factory and Vera Bradley Outlet.
By early October, North Wright County Today reported Toys "R" Us and Abercrombie & Fitch were "back in the fold already." Ann Taylor Factory and Vera Bradley Outlet were still scheduled to open before the end of 2026.
Toys "R" Us has the longest road back. Minnesota once had eight Toys "R" Us stores, and every one had closed by mid-2018. The brand's return to the state started with a flagship at the Mall of America ahead of the 2023 holidays, according to Bring Me The News. The same outlet also described Abercrombie & Fitch as a brand that "has clawed its way back from the edge of extinction."
Some stores you already know are shuffling. North Wright County Today reported LOFT by Ann Taylor moving close to the new Ulta location, and a perfume and cologne shop joining the mall's west side. If you know the walkways from years of visits, the LOFT and Ulta stretch is where the map is changing.
Peggy Van Alyne, general manager of Albertville Premium Outlets for Simon, explained the additions to Bring Me The News:
"We are thrilled to welcome these exciting brands to Albertville Premium Outlets," adding that their addition "reflects our ongoing commitment to providing guests with an outstanding shopping experience and a diverse mix of brands and offerings."
For people who live a few minutes from Labeaux Avenue, the timing means the stores that drew the most attention in this round are open, or due to be, before the busiest shopping weeks of the year.
The Road to the Mall Is Supposed to Be Finished First
The outlet center sits right off I-94, and for three construction seasons the stretch between Albertville and Monticello has been a work zone. MnDOT's I-94 Gap project widens the interstate to three lanes each direction between Albertville and Monticello. Here is how the work has gone so far, according to MnDOT's project page:
- July 22 to Oct. 25, 2024: work-area prep, road widening and temporary median crossovers. Complete.
- April 14 to Nov. 14, 2025: westbound construction, including the new westbound bridge over Wright County Road 19 and the County Road 18 ramps. Complete.
- April 7 to late October 2026: eastbound construction, including noise walls and County Road 18 ramps, with traffic shifted onto the westbound side.
- Spring to early summer 2027: wrap-up work, with periodic lane or shoulder closures.
The third westbound lane from County Road 37 in Albertville to west of Highway 25 is done. The remaining piece is the third eastbound lane from west of Highway 25 in Monticello back to County Road 19 in Albertville.
The project page says all six lanes will open in late fall 2026. A MnDOT update dated August 12 narrowed that to late October without naming a day. As of this week, the project page still describes the stretch between County Road 19 and Highway 25 as open to two lanes each way at peak times through late October. Drivers should expect lane shifts, no shoulders, concrete barriers, reduced speeds and periodic overnight closures.
If the schedule holds, Black Friday 2026 will be the first Thanksgiving weekend with three lanes in each direction through this stretch. Even then, the 2027 wrap-up season means the lanes being open does not mean every task is finished. MnDOT notes this section of I-94 is busy year-round and tells drivers to plan for sudden slowdowns at peak times. Before any big outlet trip, check 511mn.org for current conditions.
Sunday, Nov. 29 Is Where the Two Calendars Meet
Thanksgiving weekend has a clear commercial schedule. The outlet center's posted holiday hours have it closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, then open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 27. Saturday runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
That Sunday is also the date of the Albertville Lions' 12th annual Christmas in the Park, 2 to 6 p.m. at Albertville Central Park, 5801 Main Ave NE. The city's event listing says to bundle up because most activities are outdoors. The lineup:
- Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus
- Horse-drawn wagon rides
- Hot cocoa, cider and cookies
- S'mores over the fire
- Photos with reindeer and a sleigh
- Caroling by the STMA High School Choir and SOAR
- A tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m.
The Lions' own Christmas in the Park page describes the event as an annual community gathering run with local partners. The city's calendar does not list a separate city tree lighting, so the 5 p.m. lighting in Central Park is the one on the books for Albertville this season.
The park opens at 2 p.m., three hours after the outlets. The tree lighting comes two hours before the outlets close. Central Park is on Main Avenue in the older part of town, and the outlet center is out on Labeaux Avenue by the interstate. Those are two ends of the same small city on the same afternoon.
The Lions' outdoor event has the tighter window. With the tree lighting at 5 p.m. and the event ending at 6, the late afternoon is the part of the day that only happens once a year. Outlet hours keep going for weeks.
The Rest of the Season, Date by Date
After Thanksgiving weekend, the holiday calendar spreads into December. The FYCC Santa Bingo is on the city calendar for Thursday, Dec. 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The outlet center's special hours carry through New Year's Eve. Here is the full season in one place:
| Date | What's happening | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Albertville Premium Outlets closed for Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Black Friday at the outlets | 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Holiday shopping hours at the outlets | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | Holiday shopping hours at the outlets | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | Lions Christmas in the Park, Central Park | 2 to 6 p.m., tree lighting at 5 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | FYCC Santa Bingo | 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 24 | Christmas Eve at the outlets | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | Outlets closed for Christmas | Closed |
| Sat., Dec. 26 | Boxing Day at the outlets | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve at the outlets | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
The outlet hours come from Simon's live hours page, which has no publication date, so treat them as the posted schedule and check them again closer to the date. As of now, the center's news and events page has no Santa visit or Black Friday event listed, only retail promotions. Any special in-mall programming would be announced there.
Two openings are still pending. Ann Taylor Factory and Vera Bradley Outlet only have a before-year-end window, so either one could open in time for Black Friday or as late as the last week of December. The same goes for the interstate. Between now and late October, MnDOT's project page is the place to see whether the third eastbound lane is open.
I keep a close eye on what's changing along Labeaux Avenue and the I-94 corridor, because it shapes how this part of Wright County lives day to day. If you have questions about Albertville or the neighborhoods around the outlets and Central Park, Stephanie Houghton is glad to help. Let's Connect.
