Holiday shoppers will want to load up their wallets and put on their comfortable walking shoes because the two-level, open-air expansion at The Oaks mall will be awaiting them on Sat., Nov. 15.

The 103,000 square feet of new retail stores and restaurants was expected to open in October to take advantage of the holiday shopping season, but construction was delayed until November, according to Nicole Flynn, The Oaks marketing manager.

At 6 p.m. Nov. 15, a treelighting ceremony will take place under the stars and around the fire pit. The Oaks will unveil its new look, decorated for the holidays. And a sweeping light show with a sprinkling of snowflakes will be presented nightly throughout the season.

"There will be holiday entertainment and a special appearance by the 'real' Santa Claus," Flynn said.

Those attending will have a chance to win a glowing strand of pearls from IRIDESSE, and they'll be offered refreshments compliments of Peet's Coffee and Tea, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Nordstrom eBar, and Teavana.

"Our goal was to create a truly exceptional experience for our guests, and we think that the transformation of The Oaks reflects what the community desired in their shopping center," said senior property manager Julia Ladd.

When completed, the lower level of expansion will offer fashion and accessory stores for juniors and young adults as well as several options for fast-casual dining, the fire pit and soft seating areas. The upper level will have women's lifestyle and fashion retailers. The expansion is centered around a curved wrought-iron staircase, but escalators are also an option.

Restaurants will include Ruth's Chris Steak House and Lazy Dog Café.

Muvico Theaters will not be opening until the end January because of construction delays, according to Muvico director of marketing Jodi Pine.

"We would've loved to be open for the holidays—our peak movie time—but we cannot," she said.

The 14 stadium theaters, built with a Parisian theme, will feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling curved screens and Sony 4K digital technology sound and projections, she said.

A Levy's restaurant and a full bar will be located on the upper level. Four "Premier" theaters—for those 21 and older—will offer valet parking, free popcorn and plush 74-inch loveseating. Appetizers and alcoholic drinks from the bar and restaurant will be permitted inside the theater, but food that might necessitate the clanging of silverware will not be permitted, Pine said.

A Muvico theater in Florida costs $9.75 for general admission and $20 each for a Premier ticket, she said. Matinee prices are $7 for general admission and $17 for Premier. Ticket prices for the Thousand Oaks theater have yet to be decided.

The redevelopment of The Oaks that began in 2007 is the first significant change in the shopping center's 30-year history. The inside mall area improvements include a Southern California Spanishrevival-style look, with a new food court, restrooms, outdoor dining patio and multilevel parking deck that opened in July. A Nordstrom department store opened in September.

"The Oaks warmly invites families to join us around our cozy fire pit in the crisp fall outdoors as we celebrate the opening of The Oaks new expansion," Flynn said.

The Oaks mall is a 1millionsquarefoot regional shopping center off the 101 Freeway in Thousand Oaks. The Oaks features Macy's Women's; Macy's Men's, Children's & Home; JCPenney; Nordstrom; The Cheesecake Factory; and Sisley Italian Kitchen. On completion The Oaks will include more than 170 specialty stores. For information, visit www.ShopTheOaksMall.com.