The Bronx is known for many...a few things. The home of Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens. J. Lo's alleged stomping grounds. But soon it might be known as a retail mecca should plans for an outlet mall come to fruition. 

According to an article over the weekend in the New York Times, real estate developer Lightstone Group is planning to build New York City's very first outlet mall in none other than the Boogie Down BX. Imagine, if you will, racks and racks -- rack city -- of discount Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Armani only a subway ride away.

But before you start revising your attitude to that oft-forgotten borough, nothing's set in stone yet -- or rather, in Lightstone.

The New York-based developer has built and managed outlet malls in Washington, Orlando and San Antonio. In May they bought 19.2 acres at 2505 Bruckner Blvd -- about a mile from a subway station but accessible by bus. Lightstone has yet to reveal their plans for the space but caution that they are still exploring the economic feasibility of developing retail on this site.

The outlet mall, should it happen, would fit in nicely with plans to revitalize the borough. A new Target is being built near Lightstone's recently-purchased property and a mall is being built in Co-Op City featuring a Macy's and other stores.

For now, Woodbury Commons and its 12 million annual visitors -- that's more than the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty combined -- has nothing to worry about. But, if eager shoppers could forego traveling 48 miles out of the city for a quick jaunt uptown to The Bronx, I'd have to agree with 40-something year old operations manager and presumed sassbot Tammy Bevcar, who told the Times, Love J-Lo, very fashionable. I would definitely go. [NYT]