Yep it's true about the Crossroads Dillards last day is 12/29/08. Right now a lot of things are 40% off, some tables are 75%. Fragrances have yet to be discounted.

With Dillard's closing and Steve and Barry's on thin ice at the corporate level, I just do not see how the mall can stay open.

Why don't they just use it for the Factory Outlet Mall instead of building a new one?

Because people don't go to that mall...

Crossroads Mall needs to closed ASAP. It is no longer fun shopping there because it is full of wanta be gang members walking around in groups and badly dressed teenagers walking around making loud noise in groups. It is sort of scary now.
It would be a good location for a new Sams Store?

Crossroads just needs to refocus. It needs to become an outlet mall. An upscale outlet mall like the ones in Dallas and Park City.

Crossroads just needs to refocus. It needs to become an outlet mall. An upscale outlet mall like the ones in Dallas and Park City.

Folks it's over. Crossroads is dead.

Is someone gonna set up a huge event to gather thousands of people for a funeral rememberance of this mall? We need speakers, music, videos, photos, everything. Maybe that will scare the management?

I agree that Crossroads is dead as a retail center whether as a mall or outlet mall. People do not want to drive there anymore to shop. The retail market has moved to south Moore and Norman. Can the owners use the building for something else besides retail and make a profit? I don't know the answer to that. I hope they can because the building is a landmark for South OKC.

Crossroads just needs to refocus. It needs to become an outlet mall. An upscale outlet mall like the ones in Dallas and Park City.

That area will never work for anything upscale.

That area will never work for anything upscale.

We rarely go that far south so I know nothing about the area, so can you explain why ?

The mall is surrounded by

1) a landfill

2) a trashy red light district

3) a lot of vacant, run down retail space


In addition, the surrounding neighborhoods are not "upscale" and do not have the demographics to support upscale retail.

That area of town, just plain sucks. It reminds of a small town that used to be popular. Just bulldoze all of that area and start over. LOL

This all makes me truly sad. I worked at Orbach's in Crossroads (very similar to Harolds for those that don't remember) all through college.

I remember driving down there when I turned 16 to buy some jeans at The Gap and thinking it was as an incredible trip from the NW side of town. And I remember being in awe of the place, as it was the first large enclosed mall I had ever seen. It was really a source of pride for the entire city for quite a while.

It's very hard to imagine how it will ever get things turned around. I fear it will continue to die a slow death and ultimately become a huge white elephant.

Yes, it's been badly managed and it's a sign of the changing times, but it still makes me blue.

Pete the mall is horrid. I go to DEB and to find there is no more men clothes!!!

It's very hard to imagine how it will ever get things turned around. I fear it will continue to die a slow death and ultimately become a huge white elephant.


No, not a slow death. Its already dead. A mall can't survive without anchors.

I remember Orbachs well. That was where I bought my Polo's as a teenager.

Might make for a great NASCAR parking lot in the future...

I think the retail days of Crossroads are numbered.

I predict the mall will be demolished for other use or it will be converted to office, residential (like a retirment community or something like it) or a community college.

I would love to see INTEGRIS build a large hospital comparable to Baptist on that site.

Crossroads Mall loses Dillard’ but stays optimistic.

BY DEBBIE BLOSSOM
Published: October 24, 2008

Sprawling Crossroads Mall, which sits on 46.5 acres at the intersection of two interstates and opened in the mid-1970s, has had a tough time of it for the past several years.

The mall will lose anchor-store Dillard’s in late December. The J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=J.C.+Penney+Co.+Inc.&CATEGORY=COMPANY) store closed in 2007, and Macy’s shut its doors in March.

"We are in the process of working on a redevelopment plan, for which any specifics would be premature to announce at this time,” mall general manager Jim Swenson (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Jim+Swenson&CATEGORY=PERSON) said in an e-mail. Swenson was speaking for management at Springdale (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Springdale&CATEGORY=CITY), Ark.-based Midwest Mall Properties (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Mall+Properties+Inc.&CATEGORY=COMPANY), which bought the 1.27 million-square-foot mall at the end of 2006.

Crossroads not near closing, manager says
Despite the exodus of three well-known anchors, the mall is far from empty, Swenson said.

"Crossroads has over 120 stores and restaurants, and we will continue to provide a wide variety of goods and services to meet the needs of our customers,” he wrote. And shoppers could see some new names soon. "This holiday season we anticipate eight new stores will open between now and Thanksgiving, both local and national retailers,” he said.

Dillard’s store manager Shawn Morris (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Shawn+Morris&CATEGORY=PERSON) said his store has sale-priced fall apparel and accessories for men, women, juniors and children. The store also has spring-summer merchandise from all Oklahoma (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Oklahoma&CATEGORY=STATE) stores that is 75 percent off. Shoes, coats and home merchandise have been moved to other locations, he said.

News that a major retailer is closing a store is unfortunate, but the impact on the city’s sales tax could be negligible, said Alison Oshel (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Alison+Oshel&CATEGORY=PERSON), community redevelopment director for the Oklahoma City (http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1&CANONICAL=Oklahoma+City&CATEGORY=CITY) Chamber of Commerce.

Sales tax still healthy

Retail sales tax collections through July are up 9 percent over the same time last year, Oshel said. And while some national retailers are in trouble, like Linens ‘n Things, "Oklahoma is somewhat insulated from national trends right now.” And the Crossroads closing doesn’t mean Dillard’s isn’t doing well in this market, she said. "Our local economy is strong.”


The redevelopment plan sounds like a pipe dream. How can you convince a national/regional retalier to stay in a mall where three well known retail companies closed up shop and left. Two of those retail companies chose not to relocate to a location in the area of the old stores. I would like to know the names of those eight stores. I am willing to bet they are seasonal stores like Eskimoe Joe's Joe's Clothes and Hickory Farms.

I wonder if Dillards is going to convert the Crossroads store into one of thier clearance centers?

I wonder if Dillards is going to convert the Crossroads store into one of thier clearance centers?


No, other stores are shipping their clearance items to this Dillards. 12/29 is the last day because they arent making money anymore.

I'm sure Steve and Barrys will probably move to another location in OKC unless they fold up altogether like Linens N Things. Steve and Barrys is the only reason I really go to Crossroads Mall. I'm not really suprised that Dillards is closing the Crossroads Mall store. Most people in that area will probably go to the Norman store which is a lot nicer than that one.

Why is everyone so pessimistic about Crossroads and saying that it needs to be closed/demolished/etc? I think that the building could be put to very good use if its use were positioned right (non-retail)...as has been done with Shepard Mall here in OKC or Eastland in Tulsa (or countless other "dead malls" as well.)

Such a use could possibly be the "redevelopment plan" mentioned by the owner...hopefully it's finally clear to them (if it wasn't before) that Crossroads has practically no future as a retail center. Or looking at how Crossroads has been managed in the past...they could very well do nothing and let it become even more blighted until eventually someone comes along with a plan to redevelop it themselves.

The old Eastland Mall in Tulsa will be really nice when they finish converting the mall to office space.

This is just wishful thinking on my part, but a Super Target, Home Expo and a Crest foods would be great anchors. Don't think Crest will happen. I believe Harroz owns his own buildings.

This is just wishful thinking on my part, but a Super Target, Home Expo and a Crest foods would be great anchors. Don't think Crest will happen. I believe Harroz owns his own buildings.

Target does not want a building like that. lol

Crest is impossible to be there. Two floors!

Target does not want a building like that. lol

Crest is impossible to be there. Two floors!

Actually I've seen a mall with a 2-story Target store before so that wouldn't be out of the question. If Crossroads' owners had put more effort into finding new anchors in the past, then maybe they could have lured Sears and/or Target into the mall from their current location at 44th and Western.

I've started some light campaigning to get our federal agency moved out there. It would make so much sense on so many levels, I doubt it would ever happen. But it can't hurt to try!

This is just wishful thinking on my part, but a Super Target, Home Expo and a Crest foods would be great anchors. Don't think Crest will happen. I believe Harroz owns his own buildings.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, Haroz has the money to buy the mall.....don't give up on the big elephant. There are still plenty of other companies that would relocate if the mall owners made it appetizing enough.......

With better management, Crossroads might have survived. With current management, it looks like it will be a swift decline. It is sad. 10 years ago, the mall was booming. Just 5 years ago, it was still fairly crowded and had a lot of stores. It isn't Heritage Park yet, but it is close.

Did anyone announce that Dillards will be gone completely from the mall by the end of the year? I saw the article in the Oklahoman a few days ago.

I went into that Dillards about a year ago, and I thought it needed some updating. The carpet was kind of dingy and ratty. I was in the purses/handbags section, and it was in clear need of some love. I kind of figured then that Dillard's wasn't interested in keeping Crossroads' store a priority.

I can remember (not too long ago) when I was in middle school and we used to head up to OKC on school trips and hit Crossroads. It was a bundle of good times.

I don't know if Crossroads could really be a "Shepherd Mall" type situation because it's so....alone...it seems. I don't know how else to describe it. Not really a lot to pull in around it.

I wonder if they will build a freestanding Dillard's somewhere. That would be awesome.....but completely unlikely.

I know a lot of people have blamed management, and rightly so. The mall has needed serious updating for years now. But honestly, even with updating, the demographics around the mall would still hold it back. Having areas like Valley Brook nearby are huge turn offs to upscale retailers. Crossroads doesn't have the privilege of having a Nichols Hills right on its doorstep.

The key would've been for mall management to make Crossroads a destination, where folks from outlying areas would've been attracted to drive the distance.

Also, I think development in Moore, especially with JC Penney moving out, really started the downward spiral.

The only way to save Crossroads at this point would be a massive make over the area similar to what the city has done with Bricktown.

I do not see that happening because the city has a full plate with C2S, Midtown and the other city wide projects.

My prediction is that Crossroads will hang on for another year at the most as a retail center.

I cannot see office space there because of all the office space that is under construction/renovation in the suburbs of OKC and downtown.

The best case scenario is for Crossroads to be torn down and replaced with a manufacturing/warehouse district, a hospital or a large hotel/convention center several years from now.

Maybe we can turn it into a Union Station. :numchucks

So fragrances are now 20% off. Will someone keep us updated when the prices drop again?

Its going to be really wierd the the southside of oklahoma city will not havea mall, okc is a large city, why cant we even have one stable mall onthe south side of okc, we have moore, we have the income of almost everything south of 89th street, the north side has 3 malls that i know off hand.

norman is just down the street...i consider it the "south side" because i live out of town

Its going to be really wierd the the southside of oklahoma city will not havea mall, okc is a large city, why cant we even have one stable mall onthe south side of okc, we have moore, we have the income of almost everything south of 89th street, the north side has 3 malls that i know off hand.

You have plenty of malls, you just won't have an indoor mall anymore.

it would be nice to havea a indoor mall that was organized and had anice shops. I justcant see myself walking a long outside shopping strip, in freezing, humid, rainy weather, its nice to have the indoors here in oklahoma.

it would be nice to havea a indoor mall that was organized and had anice shops. I justcant see myself walking a long outside shopping strip, in freezing, humid, rainy weather, its nice to have the indoors here in oklahoma. I see your point as far as the weather is concerned, however, the trend in shopping centers is new outdoor lifestyle centers that have not only shops, entertainment, restaurants with outdoor fountains, benches, for outdoor concerts and events. The indoor mall is becoming obsolete and is becoming more extinct due to trends in marketing and large anchors choosing to relocate outside of malls.

it would be really nice if they can do a outside mall like branson landing along the oklahoma river.. it would be something I would go to a lot

So will Crossroads have any anchors left after December since Dillards and Steve and Barry's will be no more?

So will Crossroads have any anchors left after December since Dillards and Steve and Barry's will be no more?

Steve and Barry's isn't closing.

Steve and Barry's is not closing. A project like Branson Landing along the Oklahoma River would not work because it is way too close to Penn Square Mall

Steve and Barry's isn't closing.

Are you sure, my wife and I were just there last week and that's the impression we got by their staff. They also had very little merchandise and signs everywhere saying store closeout sale or something very similar to that wording.

Yeah, they're definitely not closing. They have signs all over the store advertising their "100 Stores Closing Sale! This store not closing (in fine print). And at the front desk it says something like "We are proud to be keeping this store open."

So, yeah, thats good news. Apparently they lost their contract with Starbury so there won't be any more shoes. :( I liked those things.

I can confirm what Luke is saying.

You know, just about everyone on this thread has fond memories of crossroads....why bury it before it dies? Why not have a rally of old time memories one day. Get as many people as possible to commit to be there for lunch get the media out and help these stores come back alive....maybe the new management will help with the rent to the stores still there and help them get through christmas and begin a new wave of the customer helps the retailer....quit beating them up and help them do something. I'll come and show support how about someone else?

Just to clarify, I don't have found memories of that mall. It needs a management overhaul which apparently isn't going to happen. Best use now IMO is a mass transit hub or station. That will spur other development.

I have fond memories. I think that's not a bad idea General64.

1) The place in question was a business.
2) Said business failed to turn profit.
3) [implosion sounds]
4) Sounds of mexican mowing grass that was once a mall, followed by big "land for sale" sign from real estate agent.



Question- when was the last time that crossroads was actually doing, well? I used to go there every now and then like ten years ago.

Growing up in Sulphur, my family would drive up to the City fairly regularly to do shopping. We'd go to Crossroads too. Good memories of the Braums, the McDonalds, Orange Julius (still there), and just general Christmas shopping especially. The Toys R Us across the way always made me giddy as a kid.

:)

When i was 16 ten years ago, i remember that crossroads mall started going south, they had about 10 shoe stores, and then they started carrying dollar stores, and odd imported gift shops, to me thats when the decline started, once mcdonalds, braums, and kb left, it sunk quick

Growing up in Sulphur, my family would drive up to the City fairly regularly to do shopping. We'd go to Crossroads too. Good memories of the Braums, the McDonalds, Orange Julius (still there), and just general Christmas shopping especially. The Toys R Us across the way always made me giddy as a kid.

:)

I grew up in Sulphur too but before your time as Crossroads was non existent. As a child we shopped downtown OKC ala John A Brown's, Kerr's, and what was the name of that nice jewelry store? and ate at Anna Maude's.

Went to Dillards to check out the sales. Headed up to the third floor to use the facilities--was dark and empty (as we've established) but entirely creepy up there. We kept walking around Dillards talking about how sad everything looked.

Went out into the mall on Saturday afternoon about 4 and it there was plenty of people in the mall. It actually was fuller than we anticipated. However, there were no shops we were interested in going into.

It's really sad.

Went there last weekend there were a fair number of people but, the last time I'd been there was probably 3 or 4 years ago it seemed to being doing a lot better though. I think if people really wanted to they could save it, it is convenient for people on the south side who want to get their shopping done in one place.

If losing Dillards wasn't bad enough news for Crossroads. It looks like Steve & Barrys may be closing it's remaining stores including the one in Crossroads.

where did you hear this soonerman, I believe it, but i havent heard it anywhere else.

I'm pretty sure this was announced a while back, as S&B's filed for bankruptcy.