As someone stated earlier. Monday the website goes dead. Every store is to be closed by 3-31-09.

I read Circuit City corporate web page earlier. Four liquidation companies are taking over the stores. Those liquidation companies reserve the right to retain and fire employees during the liquidation sale. Circuit City will provide pay and benefits for the employees who remain for up to 60 days.

One thing that everyone reading this should know is that all CC Gift Cards will be void after the stores close. If you have a CC gift card or know of someone who does. Tell them to get to the store and use it.

This makes me sad... We lose our only bookstore on Southside, Circuit City, and my friend has me antsy with the fact OKC is losing all of its businesses to Moore.

I see unused, out of date plazas like the one Dodsons Cafeteria was in, Almonte, while I see new undeveloped patches of field off of 19th in Moore get tons of businesses and a new Theatre.

I have a huge passion for my city, but fear it is dying.

So what, if Crossroads Mall dies, I have to drive 10-15 minutes to get some Chic-Fil-A? If Best Buy were to close the mall location, and rely on the ones on Northside, Midwest City, Reno and McArthur (which I thought was a ghetto area, boy was I wrong,) AND NOW MOORE, I would have to drive 10-15 minutes just to shop at one of my favorite stores?

This is getting out of hand, and the city isn't doing anything to try and get some of these empty buildings filled.

Even the plaza where Conns is at, isn't doing anything with a ton of empty buildings. It just sits there, slummy, and outdated.

Why can't the metro, which now has its own NBA team, not get a drive thru Chic-Fil-A, a nicer movie theatre, and a Barnes and Noble?

We should even have an updated mall... Penn Square and Quail are flourishing, but that is because the owners actually fix the place up. Crossroads looks like something from 1974... OH WAIT!!! That's because they are using the same floors.

I fear this city is dying, while places like Moore, a small town, gets uber lucky. Even people off of gangland ave (ie Rockwell,) get a nice shopping plaza made from an empty field, while we have tons of plazas sitting empty, and one nice one that is about to lose the nations second biggest retail chain.

If southside could just get a bookstore, keep Circuit City, get Dairy Queen back, fix up the plazas and get new businesses, and get a Chic-Fil-A, I would be very happy. I'd be even happier to see my favorite mall, fixed up and revived.

As someone stated earlier. Monday the website goes dead. Every store is to be closed by 3-31-09.

I read Circuit City corporate web page earlier. Four liquidation companies are taking over the stores. Those liquidation companies reserve the right to retain and fire employees during the liquidation sale. Circuit City will provide pay and benefits for the employees who remain for up to 60 days.

One thing that everyone reading this should know is that all CC Gift Cards will be void after the stores close. If you have a CC gift card or know of someone who does. Tell them to get to the store and use it.

The website is already gone, with a rather sad apology for not being able to save Circuit City's 60-year-old business. Sale at the I-240 store starts tomorrow, but as is often the case with these "liquidations," prices will be moved to "full retail" and discounts taken from there. The prices won't be very good for a while yet.

The website is already gone, with a rather sad apology for not being able to save Circuit City's 60-year-old business. Sale at the I-240 store starts tomorrow, but as is often the case with these "liquidations," prices will be moved to "full retail" and discounts taken from there. The prices won't be very good for a while yet.

I would imagine Best Buy, Conn's and Ultimate and every other competitor for that matter will have advertised sales that compete with the going out of business sales.

The liquidations companies are not really concerned with selling all of Circuit City's merchandise. After the store's close whatever is left will be sold to closeout companies and websites.

I would imagine Best Buy, Conn's and Ultimate and every other competitor for that matter will have advertised sales that compete with the going out of business sales.
Ultimate closed down here in Texas a few years ago, my wife was surprised to see the one on I-240 still open on the way to my parents house after they closed up shop down here.

I would imagine Best Buy, Conn's and Ultimate and every other competitor for that matter will have advertised sales that compete with the going out of business sales.

The liquidations companies are not really concerned with selling all of Circuit City's merchandise. After the store's close whatever is left will be sold to closeout companies and websites.

Rather, the liquidators are concerned with squeezing as much $$$ out of the inventory as they can. One way they accomplish this by marking everything up to the "retail price" (that you would probably never see the items sold for) then taking their "discounts" off of that. Liquidation sales simply aren't deals....Good Morning America even did a segment where they exposed the markups at such sales. See ABC News: Going-Out-of-Business Sales Not Always Such a Bargain (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=6326174&page=1)

Lenscrafters is looking for a new home. Considering the Moore or Norman area.

Ultimate closed down here in Texas a few years ago, my wife was surprised to see the one on I-240 still open on the way to my parents house after they closed up shop down here.

Mark Wattles bought the company out of Bankruptcy a few years ago. He only kept the better performing stores open. The Oklahoma City stores (240 store and the Memorial store)were among those stores.

Rather, the liquidators are concerned with squeezing as much $$$ out of the inventory as they can. One way they accomplish this by marking everything up to the "retail price" (that you would probably never see the items sold for) then taking their "discounts" off of that. Liquidation sales simply aren't deals....Good Morning America even did a segment where they exposed the markups at such sales. See ABC News: Going-Out-of-Business Sales Not Always Such a Bargain (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=6326174&page=1)

True, I have yet to see any store where you can get a good deal. I have checked out several closing sales over the years. It does not matter what time you go the prices are not even close to being a good deal.

The only "closing" sale I've ever gotten a deal at was when Best Buy moved across the street from the old Crossroads location and they were clearing out their display inventory.

I got such a SMOKIN' deal on a couple of amps that were static (non-operating) displays, I bought two extra ones that I didn't even need.

Wound up with a total of 5 amps for the cost of retail of only ONE of them. I've since used all but one of them, and they've been great.

But yeah...I won't be holding my breath (or checking in at the CC store) for good deals on any new electronics I need...er...Want.

There were some good deals on books at Waldenbooks, other than that Crossroads was a sad place to be yesterday.

I was out there yesturday and Steve and Barry's was already closed up empty and dark. So no more anchors for crossroads now.

great area for a theme park!!!!!!!!!!

I was out there yesturday and Steve and Barry's was already closed up empty and dark. So no more anchors for crossroads now.

Geez, that's sad. Almost expect to see a Crossroads Mall Death Watch list, with an (hourly?) updated listing of what vendors are left. I mean, what is left? Bath and Body Works, Radio Shack, Candyopolis, Quick Test (the survey place) some sort of day spa, a greeting card store, a couple of dress shops, and maybe a couple of jewelry stores? I mean, we're down to fewer than 20 stores (to be generous), aren't we?

As a measure of just how badly the owners don't care about the mall, I saw a commerical *yesterday* for Crossroads telling viewers about Sbarro's (which has been gone for months now), Taco Mayo, Auntie Anne's, etc.

Really, really sad.

As a measure of just how badly the owners don't care about the mall, I saw a commerical *yesterday* for Crossroads telling viewers about Sbarro's (which has been gone for months now), Taco Mayo, Auntie Anne's, etc.

Really, really sad.

Yeah and the only eateries that are open there now is Sonic and a couple of Chinese joints.

I talked to one of our employees at our location there in the mall and he thinks there are roughly 50 smaller businesses still in operation, just places that don't make you think 'oh I've got to go to Crossroads Mall to check out that place!'.

Fifty? Wow. I'd never have guessed anywhere near that number.

Oh, well, power to 'em...for whatever is left, it can't be an easy time.......

their website, shopcrossroadsmall.com, lists about 100 stores on its directory. granted, a lot of them look like sketchy "ghetto mall" stores, but its still 100 stores nonetheless. and among them are

American Eagle
AT&T
Bath & Body works
Chick Fil A
Claire's
(about 4 shoe stores)
Frederick's of Hollywood
GameStop
GNC
Hot Topic
Journeys
Master Cuts
Moto Photo
Pac Sun
Radio Shack
Sonic
Spencers
Sunglass Hut
Tuxedo Junction
Victorias Secret
Waldenbooks
Zales

Are any of those or the rest of the 100 stores they list closed or closing?

Scratch Chick Fil A from the list it was closed down also sign down off the wall and everything. Taco Mayo was gone as well everything ripped out but the Coke Fountain was still sitting on the counter(it didnt work ) Orange Julius was still there but looked nasty and smelled like old cigaretts when we walked by the counter.



their website, shopcrossroadsmall.com, lists about 100 stores on its directory. granted, a lot of them look like sketchy "ghetto mall" stores, but its still 100 stores nonetheless. and among them are

American Eagle
AT&T
Bath & Body works
Chick Fil A
Claire's
(about 4 shoe stores)
Frederick's of Hollywood
GameStop
GNC
Hot Topic
Journeys
Master Cuts
Moto Photo
Pac Sun
Radio Shack
Sonic
Spencers
Sunglass Hut
Tuxedo Junction
Victorias Secret
Waldenbooks
Zales

Are any of those or the rest of the 100 stores they list closed or closing?

Still a sad ending...was big-time when it opened.

Scratch Chick Fil A from the list it was closed down also sign down off the wall and everything. Taco Mayo was gone as well everything ripped out but the Coke Fountain was still sitting on the counter(it didnt work ) Orange Julius was still there but looked nasty and smelled like old cigaretts when we walked by the counter.

Damn Chick Fila is closed? Well on the bright side, there is going to be one in Moore so no big loss!

moore seems to be getting the good stores that are leaving crossroads area. It is kindaweird that on the south side of the metro there is going to be only 1 small enclosed mall (sooner), compared to 3 on the north side.. penn square, quail, and northpark, am i missing any others?

moore seems to be getting the good stores that are leaving crossroads area. It is kindaweird that on the south side of the metro there is going to be only 1 small enclosed mall (sooner), compared to 3 on the north side.. penn square, quail, and northpark, am i missing any others?

I think that is it

What about the Lenscrafters? Haven't been out there to see if it is still there.

What about the Lenscrafters? Haven't been out there to see if it is still there.

Yep, still there.

And American Eagle.

Does anybody remember the pet store? After the pet store was gone, the mall has went downhill ever since

Docktor Pet Center was the name of the pet store.

They closed after 20/20 exposed the chain for using puppy mills. After Docktor closed, a mom and pop pet store opened in its place;however, it failed a short time later.

I thought it was Pets Unlimited. I loved going there as it was always the place to stopped by and visit the animals, especially the bunnies. I had 2 bunnies from there, one lived to be almost 6 years. I had a hamster from there, Sugar, such a sweet hamster.

Is 20/20 still there?

i thought it was pets unlimited. i loved going there as it was always the place to stopped by and visit the animals, especially the bunnies. i had 2 bunnies from there, one lived to be almost 6 years. i had a hamster from there, sugar, such a sweet hamster.

there will be plenty of bunnies to pet when you and george get that ranch! -M

Is that hobby shop still there? It was a 2 story shop and they always had interesting collector items, games, and cards.

^
no... unfortunately the hobby shop is long gone... i believe the last tenant in that space was some sort of indoor, glow-in-the-dark mini golf. -M

-M

Would there be some place to find a complete history of tenants at the mall?

^
that'd be cool... but i can't think of a place that would have that kind of info. maybe that'd be neat direction for this thread... people could recall what was where.

i can't remember what was in that space before hobby shop... if memory serves, walden books used to be in the spot right next door to it. across the way, garfield's was the last tenant... before that wasn't it lion's share?

-M

I thoght Garfields was on the lower level right next to JCPenney. Also didn't Crossroads have a Braums at one point in time?

^
yes. as one exited jc penney onto the mall's first floor, the hobby shop would be the first store to your immediate left. walden's was the second store on the left. the first store on your right was garfield's... i don't know for sure if that was the same spot occupied by lion's share.

the mall did have a braum's. it was situated near one of the entrances... can't remember which anchor it sat next to, though... i'm pretty sure it was either foley's or ward's rather than penney's or dillard's.

-M

i use to work at crossroads in the late 90s at the expensive over priced beanie booth located by the arcade, does anybody remember that place, I couldnt believe how many people would spend 50.00 for a beanie they could get at hallmark for 5.99..

Is that Chinese Buffet still open?

yes my parents ate there about 2 weeks ago, I like that place compared to the other chinese buffets on the south side

The pet store that took over the space occupied by Doktor Petz (or whatever it was called) moved out of Crossroads a few years ago to the Walnut Creek shopping center, where it has since gone out of business.

Braums was on the north corridor near JC Penny, on the west side, always thought it was a strange place esp considering Braum's was getting into groceries and such at the time.

There was a Picaddilly Cafeteria directly across from the Braum's space back when the mall first opened. There was a bakery on the first floor (where Garfield's was last operating) back in the day, but I think it ran into hot water after a local TV news show caught it with some problems w/the health department.

Yes, Waldenbooks was originally on the first floor, between the Hobby Shop and LeMans.

Anyone remember the two-floor Emmer Brothers clothing store that was in roughly where Radio Shack is right now? It spanned *both* floors of the mall. There was also Napoleon Nash's menswear just outside of Dillards, and in that time, Chik-fil-A was over on the extereme *east* end of the mall, first floor, next to Ward's and Radio Shack.

More memories...anyone recall when LeMans had real, live bumper cars? And some incredibly cool video arcade games, classics...

One of my favorite stores was Toys By Roy on the lower level approximately where the ATT cellular store is right now (give or take). That place always looked spotless and had all kinds of *unusual* games and toys...got my "Jimmy the Greek Oddsmaker Football" there...and they always had an enormous, animated Lego setup there..

McDonald's used to be on the old Macy's/John A Brown/Sanger Harris corridor, on the east side....

Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors had a small store on the first floor, next to Orange Julius..

Video Concepts moved into the first floor space vacated by Emmer Brothers, and was one of the first big-time video retailers, big screen TVs, and pushed the RCA Selectavision CED video disc formats that predated the LaserDisc by a few years. Back then, video rentals were almost unheard of, and a VHS copy of a movie was $100 or more. They always ran the demo from the first Star Trek movie on their big TV's and it always caught my eye!!

Anyway, those are the things I recall most vividly....if I think about it, I'll come up with more I'm sure..

-SoonerDave

wow , i do remember the mcdonalds, I always thought that was neat asa kid inside the mall, then before its was candyopolis I believethe candy store was called lolipops, located in the upper floor middle area by aunt annies pretzels, I like that store a whole lot better, I remember when the mall went all out for christmas and where you got to meet santa was like a dream northpole village setup. the teen hang out was the payphones by the main entrance of the mall where lenscrafters is. the pet shop was a must, wards had shopping carts and sometimes people would take them out into the mall, which was a huge hassel. thre wqas this place i think called corndogs, it is where hat world was on the 2nd floor by spencers, it had the best fried cheese on a stick. just 10 years ago the mall was popular, how did it really fall so fast!!!

Good grief, how can I forget Farrell's Ice Cream Emporium!!! Since I was (and always have been) on the warpath on my weight, I didn't get to go there more than once, but it was awesome. Just had a basic ice cream cone, but while we were there, someone ordered something called (approximately) the "GastrointestinalGalactical Super Delight", and it set off all manner of sirens and bells and alarms as they rolled it out. It was ENORMOUS, obviously intended for a party....

Also remember when Channel 9 used to have the Jerry Lewis Telethon in the center court....

And the original four anchor tenants were Dillard's, JC Penny, Montgomery Ward's, and John A Brown's.....

...there was an ahead-of-its time electronics store called "Intellectrix" with all kinds of video games...alas, it didn't last...the real "video game" era didn't hit until about 10-15 years later...there was also a stereo shop called "Team Electronics," and the guy who ran it also operated a "Team BBS" where you could dial in and post messages....one user at a time, phone connection (yes, I am an ubergeek)...he ran it until Team Electronics went out of business...wish I could remember the dude's name...

in the same spot as braum's, i remember there was a seafood restaurant... can't remember if it was immediately before or after the braum's existed.

before lollipops, there was a candy store called morrow's nut house... that's where i first became acquainted with the goodness that is coke bottle candy.

lemans used to be quite a spectacle... i'm too young to remember the bumper cars, but my older brothers always talk about them. what sticks out in my head was in the mid-80's there was this sci-fi miniseries called 'v' and lemans had this full-size simulator game of one of the space ships from the show.

waldenbooks was always our second choice for books... we always went to b. dalton first. that was right next to orange julius, if memory serves. later on, they converted the back half of the store into a software etc... loved to browse for games for the family's apple ii e.

picadilly cafeteria was where the chinese buffet currently sits.

loved toys by roy... my favorite as a kid was the brio wooden train sets. my parents must have had ironclad will power to resist my pleadings to get me a huge set of those.

where gamestop is was another computer software store called babbage's. next to that, towards dillards, was a gyro place called olga's... that was the first place i ever had a gyro.

nearly every time we went to the mall, we'd have to make a pass through hickory farms... they'd always have plenty of samples to try out.

the best cookies in the world (when i was a kid!) were at the great american cookie company that was beneath one of the escalators.

i remember that crossroads used to have not one, but two hallmarks.

...i'm sure i'll think of more. -M

as for anchors, wasn't rothchild's bigger than the average storefront? -M

as for anchors, wasn't rothchild's bigger than the average storefront? -M

Hmmm...may just be having a brain lapse, but I don't remember Rothschild's ever having been in Crossroads. It was an "anchor" at Penn Square for years...

There was a toy store that was in place of Deb's. I can't remember the name, but it was a decent sized toy store. HPM had one too. What ever happened to them?

There was rides that I remember going on many times. One was huge bulky and the other was smaller and twisted. I liked the one where we can choose the path of the track, which included all sorts of twists and loops. That was really fun!

Rothchild's was located in the same side as Piccadilly. They had an outside entrance just like Men's Wearhouse does at Penn Square.

One of the restaurants I miss out there is the Lion's Share. My family would always stop there when we went to the mall. I remember they had the phones at each booth to place your order and the waitstaff would bring it to you. They had some of the best burgers in the city.

I found a link to a Flickr page that has some pictures of the Crossroads most of us grew up enjoying.


Crossroads Mall - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezeiza/sets/72057594130857626/)

Looking through the Oklahoman archives I discovered:


Crossroads opened 2/13/1974
Wards and Dillards had opened the November before
Browns opened summer of 1974
The other anchor was JC Penney


I found some old ads I will post later.

I'm trying to find the original tenant list... Although I bet we could come up with most of them ourselves.

No one has mentioned Penelope & Richard's Comedy Shop, probably the 10th store to open. For the first few weeks we were opened there was hardly any traffic at all. We had more than enough time to redecorate over and over again those first weeks. Oh, in case you forgot, it was a HIGH fashion clothing store. It was an absolute ball to work there. I worked there for about a year and I think it lasted another year after that. It was VERY colorful.

Just found this... Notice the small amount of fast food places compared to malls now. Goes to show how much the American lifestyle has changed since 1974.

Tenants Upon Opening:

Adult Ready-to-Wear
Casual Corner
Claire’s Boutique
Clarke’s Good Clothes
Emmer Brothers
Fashion Conspiracy
Foxmoor
Frederick’s of Hollywood
Gingiss Formalwear
Lane Bryant
Margo La Mode
National Shirt Shop
National Uniform Shop
Piccadilly for Two
Richman Brothers
J. Riggins
The Ranch
Topps & Trowsers
Penney and Richard’s Comedy
Woman’s World Shop
Extension 1
J&L Tie Shop
Jeans West
Lener Shop
Mangels
McCall’s Clothes for Men
Orbach’s
Paraphernalia
Richard’s Ltd.
Chess King
Size 5-7-9 Shop
Susie’s Casuals
The Gap
Today’s Man

Shoes and Related
Burt’s Shoes
Dr. Scholl’s
Florsheim Shoes
Hanover Shoes
Naturalizer Crossroads
Nissen’s Shoes
Thom McAn
Baker’s Shoes
Bell Brothers Shoes
Butler’s Shoes
Hardy Shoes
Jarman Shoes
Kinney’s Shoes
Regal Shoe Shop
Stride Rite Shoes

Childrens
ABC Kiddie Shop

Cards, Candles and Books
Fox Photo Hallmark
B. Dalton Bookseller
Lynn’s Hallmark Shop
Walden Books
Wicks N’ Sticks

Records and Music
Midwest Music Center
Record Town
Record Bar

Home Entertainment and Appliances
Sherman-Clay
Team Electronics
Singer Sewing Center
Radio Shack and Silvernail Magnavox
Home Entertainment Center

Food Specialties
General Nutrition Center
Morrow’s Nuts
Tiffany’s Bakery
Hickory Farms
Mrs. Stovers Candies

Convenience Foods
Carousel Snack Bar
Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor
Sam’s Deli
Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream
Orange Bowl
Swiss Pretzel Shop
Orange Julius

Restaurants
Piccadilly Cafeteria
El Fenix
The Brittany

Jewelry
Gordon’s Jewelers
Helzberg Jewelers
Peacock Jewelers
Zale’s

Gifts, Games and Toys
Eastern Treasures
Black Gold
Odd Moments
Spencer Gifts
World Bazaar
Elephant Trunk
Gift House
The Faculty Group
Toys by Roy
Can-Do Kiosk

Banking
Sooner Federal Savings and Loan
Crossroads State Bank

Maternity Clothing
Mother-To-Be

Miscelleaneous
Daddy Goldbucks (Private Club)
Le Mans Speedway Arcade
Seven Seas Tropicals
The Style Shope (men’s hair)
The Tinder Box (tobacco)
Cosmo Wigs Inc.
Flowerama
Nelly Don’s Fabrics

I had accounts at Team BBS and at Jim Oxford's Torii Station in early 1985, though, um, not under this name.

I remember going out there right after it opened, that was a "long trip" out there from West OKC. Shepherd was always the close mall for us. I remember the bumper cars and Farrell's, at that age that was all that mattered. I still preferred the toy dept. at AMC or TG&Y over the mall.

My sister worked at Gingiss in Crossroads in the mid-90's when she was going to OU. So she spent some time there.

Was El Fenix over there right by Montgomery Ward? I see an empty Mexican restaurant I don't recall the name of it every time I come out of Steve & Barrys

I remember going out there right after it opened, that was a "long trip" out there from West OKC. Shepherd was always the close mall for us. I remember the bumper cars and Farrell's, at that age that was all that mattered. I still preferred the toy dept. at AMC or TG&Y over the mall.

My sister worked at Gingiss in Crossroads in the mid-90's when she was going to OU. So she spent some time there.


I too remember that just a day or two after it opened I went with my friends and their folks to check out the new Crossroads. We drove from NW 24th and Villa area (right across the street from Shepherd Mall where I grew up) all the way down to I-35 and Crossroads (seemed like a very very long trip). Wow what a beautiful place. It was so huge and full of stores. We never thought we would see something so great again. Really sad to think about how far down it has gone.

And on the same subject...I have a case I am handling in Enid, and I am up there quite a bit, and the other day I had some time to kill before my hearing and so I went and checked out Oakwood Mall. I had never been there before. I did not realize it was such a large mall. But it was about half empty also. Again really sad. It has a JC Penney at one end and a Dillards at the other, with not too much in between. Lots and lots of dark empty spaces.

Found it! I'm surprised no one remember this store. Pete posted past tenants didn't include it either.

KB Toys

They're still in business!

KB Toys.com - Toys, Video Games, Collectibles, Software and More (http://www.kbtoys.com/)

Found it! I'm surprised no one remember this store. Pete posted past tenants didn't include it either.

KB Toys

They're still in business!

KB Toys.com - Toys, Video Games, Collectibles, Software and More (http://www.kbtoys.com/)

Not for long though.

Another one bites the dust. They have filed for bankruptcy and have shut down all their mall stores across the US and are doing going out of business in the outlet stores.

This is certainly no surprise:

********************


Oklahoma City mall is at a crossroads
In foreclosure, anchorless shopping hub may go up for bids as soon as spring
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Published: January 23, 2009


Crossroads Mall is in foreclosure, and could be put up for bid as early as this spring.

The mall at Interstate 240 and Interstate 35, which lost its remaining two anchor stores this month, is being managed by Price Edwards & Co. while the bank forecloses on the property. Foreclosure will be complete in about 60 days and then the property can be put up for sale, said Jim Parrack, senior vice president for Price Edwards.
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Economic conditions, which have forced many retailers into bankruptcy, may make it difficult to sell Crossroads Mall.

"With the economy the way it is, it will be more difficult to market than normal,” Parrack said. Ideally, the buyer would be someone who wants to keep the property as a mall and rejuvenate it, he said.

A new owner could change the purpose of the property after honoring the leases of remaining tenants. Louis Almaraz, a retail specialist with Grubb & Ellis-Levy Beffort, said it is unlikely the property will remain a retail mall.

"I think the future as a traditional mall — it’s going to be very challenging for them,” he said.

A government agency, a school or a medical organization all could potentially utilize the property, he said.

Rick Lahodny, owner of Bonnie’s Popcorn in the mall, said many of the mall’s current tenants have opted not to renew their leases, and instead are leasing month-to-month as they wait to see what happens.

"The way it is now, nobody knows help is coming,” he said.

The mall was left without anchor stores when Dillard’s and Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear left at the beginning of the year. Women’s clothing retailer Christopher & Banks also closed recently.

Each store that leaves hurts business at the remaining stores, Lahodny said. He said if he starts losing money, he’ll probably leave the mall.

‘Business as usual’
For now at least, the mall will remain open.

"As far as mall operations go, it will be business as usual,” he said.

Lahodny, who brought Bonnie’s Popcorn to Crossroads Mall about three years ago, said he’d love to stay there, but said drastic changes are needed to attract new business.

"Everyone I’ve talked to would hate to see the mall go,” Lahodny said.

"Crossroads needs a shot in the arm.”

It would take a very brave buyer with plenty reserved cash and/or great history with impressionable plans to obtain a large loan to seriously upgrade the inside to rival Penn Square. Complete redesign of the massive parking spaces including repaved surfaces, more landscapings filled with trees, bushes, and flowers. Maybe neon lighting all around the top of the building with multiple spotlights in the centers shooting skyward in motion.

All of that should definately attract retailers back to Crossroads. Some body have to seriously spend so much money in order to see amazing results.

The Oklahoma City market is fairly strong compared to other locations across the nation.

All the anchored retailers left because they're not making enough money. If we can attract those retailers back by working out an agreement to start out the lease at a lower cost, these retailers will be able to manage. While all of this process, more and more people will start coming back and pump more money into businesses. Then, the leases can increase as long the entire mall is maintained, people will keep shopping there.

I do got to say that the mall isn't fully at fault. We got to look at the people, their action, they are a huge part in the failure of Crossroads as well. These people would travel further just because Penn Square and Quail Springs have nicer interiors for things they can equally pay for at Crossroads.

The people banded together and fought to save the Gold Dome, but where is that action for Crossroads? People need to seriously think this through.

Now it has gotten to a point that Crossroads need a buyer that will put heart and soul into this mall. As stated, get the entire property attractive to rival the two other major malls. With that, the people will need to start shopping. May be a few stores, but start shopping to attract more retailers to come back and even new retailers and businesses.

There is still hope for Crossroads. It takes the right buyer and the dedication of the people saving the mall. This can be a blessing in disguise with the empty anchors causing some ends of the mall to be vacant. That should be fairly easy to start the reconstruction. While that time, work out a plan with the remaining retailers and businesses to relocate into the newly reconstructed areas so the remaining areas can start reconstruction.

I would like to see the center play area removed. All that space is needed for massive food court and a water fountain. A mall got to have a water fountain! The mall will need to lease a space for daycare play area for parents to drop off their children. Something simple like matching wristbands with numbers to ensure the children leaves with the right family.

As for the 4 anchors. There must be an agreement that those anchors keep their store maintained and upscale. It doesn't take much to look upscale (neon lights in Target).

Really, the two factors to save Crossroads:

Dedicated Buyer and the rest of us.

I know Crossroads is in OKC. Valley Brooks is right next to it. I think that OKC can afford to sell the entire land from Valley Brooks to I-35 and I-240. Valley Brooks definately need the money thru sales tax and that money can definately be used to fix up the town, including the old strip clubs. It would even help Crossroads, I think, on property tax.

Retail won't work! The cycle is now strip centers instead of malls, and nobody should go against the tide in today's economy. Croosroads can easily be converted to light manufacturing. All of the entrepeneurs outgrowing garages across the metro can have accesss to loading/unloading docks, spaces easily modified to meet thier needs, and close access to the highway.

I just wonder what will happen to the mall.

Tearing it down will not be cheap. Demolition, debris removal, environmental clean up and earthwork so that new structures can safely be built on the site will probably cost a couple of million.

Retail is not going to stay without major anchors returning. The chances of that happening are slim because most retailers want their own building in a thriving shopping area.

My best bet is either a mix use facility, community college, a senior living community or maybe somebody like INTEGRIS will convert it to a medical facility.