Annapolis (Map, News) - More over, Arundel Mills.

Westfield Annapolis mall announced Thursday that it will add 21 new stores as part of its $100 million expansion, making it the largest shopping destination in Anne Arundel County.

Combined with support from the local business community, this development is poised to serve as a landmark in local economic growth. The finished mall is expected to generate more than $500 million in annual sales while employing more than 3,500 people.

“These types of economic opportunity and growth to economic centers [in Anne Arundel] has the opportunity to surpass what we have seen in our last 50 years,” said Bob Burdon, president of the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.

Developed by Whiting-Turner, the mall’s expansion began in May of 2006, with a tentative completion date of November.

Mall officials said one of the largest challenges of the project was modifying and working on the mall while trying to draw the same number of customers. Jackie May, the regional assistant marketing director for Westfield, said things couldn’t be going better.

“Whiting-Turner has done a great job meeting our needs,” May said. “But there has been a lot of planning involved.”

Once completed, the 240,000-square-foot project will include 60 new specialty stores, new entrances and atriums, upgrades to the food court and children’s play area, and more trees and greenery. Of the new national retailers coming to the mall, 10 will come to the county for the first time. Westfield also told The Examiner that for every tree it has removed, 2.5 would be planted in its place. New garages will also add more than 1,000 parking spaces to the property.

One of the pivotal elements of the development will be the construction that Westfield initiates around the roads surrounding the development to help condition them to handle the excess traffic, mall officials said.

Another way to alleviate traffic concerns, along with fostering more development in Anne Arundel, would be to develop a form of mass transit linking the county’s economic centers, Burdon said.

More stores

Stores new to the county will include:

» ESPRIT

» Levi’s

» Lucky Brand Jeans

» McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant

» Metropark

» Sole Mio

» Pottery Barn

» Quicksilver

» Under Armour

» Zumiez

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com