Some much-anticipated upgrades to the high-profile Fashion Mall at Keystone will be ready for shoppers by mid-November, before they slam the retail center at the official start of the holiday shopping season.



The multimillion-dollar improvements ready for Black Friday will include 30,000 square feet of new retail space to the mall, much of which will be occupied by a ritzy new food court with its own high-profile entrance on the mall’s southern face.

“It’s basically our new take on a modern, upscale food court,” said Ed Huebner, director of marketing for the retail center. “We’ll have quick-service dining. It will be very healthy."

Confirmed tenants for the food court—to be dubbed Fashion Café—will include Freshii, a Canadian concept serving burritos, wraps, soups and salads; Elevation Burger, a Virginia-based chain that serves up burgers made from organic grass-fed beef; and Pinkberry, a California based frozen yogurt chain.

Huebner and other representatives of Indianapolis-based mall owner Simon Property Group provided a hard-hat tour on Wednesday morning of the work still under way. Details are available in the video above.

Huenber declined to cite a specific price for the renovation work. It began in late 2011, and is part of Simon’s plans for improvements to many of its properties. Other aspects of the Fashion Mall's current revivification include new flooring and contemporary glasswork throughout the mall; redesign of all mall entrances; and new soft-seating areas.