I think I-240 is significant enough of a route that more lanes will be needed for it, particularly between I-44 and I-35. As the city continues to grow items like HOV lanes will have to be considered.

Since this topic deals with the south side of the city, does anyone know when/if the Kilpatrick Turnpike's southern half may be completed? The H.E. Bailey extension off I-44 seems to be the only part of it. The superhighway stops several miles short of connecting with I-35 south of Norman. And it plops down to two lanes just after going west from I-44.

At the very least, the state needs to work on identifying future highway corridors and securing the rights of way for them in advance. Texas has been very good at doing just this sort of thing, usually by building divided four lane streets with medians wide enough to hold a superhighway to be built in the future. Kell Freeway in Wichita Falls was built in just that sort of manner.

I thought Warren had purchased some land up on Memorial and Macarthur or something like that, supposedly to be used for one of these "luxury" theaters.

I don't know if the luxuries of this Warren theater in Moore will be enough to sway the UppityNorthSiders© to drive 20-25 miles across town away from the doing-their-job-just-fine cineplexes like AMC Quail Springs or Harkins in Bricktown, especially considering they'll be watching a movie surrounded by SouthSiders©.

;)

Trust me Luke, I've been to the Warren in Wichita and it's definitely a destination. I don't know if we Soc's will quite be convinced to come all the way down there to watch movies with Greasers, (;)) but it's going to attract people for sure from all of the Norman/Moore/Midwest/Del City/South OKC area for sure. Harkins and AMC will be okay, but it will be the end of the boring Regal 16 at Crossroads.

it will be the end of the boring Regal 16 at Crossroads.

I dunno...you may be right, but Warren ticket prices are going to be a notch higher - particularly with their balcony service seats - and that's going to mitigate part of the possible draw-down from the Regal @ Crossroads. Also, people/families won't part with the relative expense of the big Warren theater for a more run-of-the-mill kiddie/cartoon movie or casual flick. At least I know I won't.

Right now, our family's "destination" theater is Harkins where it used to be AMC, primarily because Harkins is a darned sight closer to home than the cross-county drive to Quail Springs.

I'm not sure what to think of the Regal @ Crossroads. I think something happened with what they planned to do with that Regal; they shut down the little coffee/snack bar in the lobby about a month after it opened, and it's just seemed kinda stagnant. Nice enough, I suppose, generally clean, etc., but kinda blah. That's our run-of-the-mill movie house.

Destination theaters carry their own risks; when Tinseltown was first opened so many years ago, I thought it would be a "destination theater", but it has turned out to be a place we've gone to once, maybe twice. And part of that is probably location.

-SoonerDave

The Warren in Wichita is no more expensive than Harkins or AMC here for a regular ticket. The balcony seats cost more, but you get what you pay for.

I just know that if I'm on the south side and I can pay basically the same price to see a movie at the Warren, I'm definitely going to choose that over the boring, dead Regal Crossroads.

If the prices are truly the same for the non-balcony seats, then I would tend to agree with you. My understanding is that the balcony seats are there primarily to allow a segregated area for the serving of mixed drinks, which means I will never have any use for it.

I'm all for a nicer, better theater, and it sounds like Warren is going to be a first-class outfit. Looking forward to it.

-SoonerDave

I know this is off-topic a bit, but having grown up in Wichita and experiencing Bill Warren's theaters growing from dollar to upscale top-of-the-line THX-EX.... If you care anything about the actual movie-going experience, you will drive to the Warren from ANYWHERE in the metro..... if you don't really care for the best sound, video quality, and top notch service and amenities.... then you wouldn't go to the Warren anyway.... Once it's built, I will not watch a movie anywhere else in the metro....

Regal's theater near Crossroads Mall will definitely be hurt when the Warren 20 opens. Hurt enough to close? Don't know about that, but it's possible Regal will have to change to a bargain/2nd run model. I think the Wallace/Hollywood Theaters Spotlight 14 in Norman will be in even worse shape than the Regal site from the new competition.

One thing is certain: whenever I want to see a movie in the OKC area the Moore 20 will be at the top of my list once that place opens.

The Regal could survive if it drops the prices significantly. That's what Tinseltown has had to do. I think tickets are like three dollars cheaper than AMC because that's the only way they can get anyone there.

The Regal could survive if it drops the prices significantly. That's what Tinseltown has had to do. I think tickets are like three dollars cheaper than AMC because that's the only way they can get anyone there.

And it actually works. Heck, I've been going to Tinsletown a lot lately for $4 1st run movies. Pretty good deal considering you're gettig stadium seating and great sound! And really, the clientale there isn't bad. The employees are average, but I really go for the movie anyhow.

Concerning Crossroads, like has already been stated, a major re-branding will have to take place now for it to take off. It can happen, but not as long as Macerich is in charge. I really think Macerich is trying to run Crossroads as a mall targeting low income folks. Just go into Steve and Barry's. Those people down there love that store. Cheap clothing!!!

This reminds me of a story my pastor told us several weeks ago. I go to a church in an inner city neighborhood. We hired some consultants awhile back to help form a master plan for the church. They told us that there were no chances our church would ever grow, that we'd just enter a steady decline, and we should just hang on for dear life. Obviously, we took that as a challenge and have completely formed a new image for our church, offering tons of stuff for young folks, a livelier more contemporary worship service, building a brand spankin new gym and youth center, reaching out to kids at nearby schools, and really making an impact in our community. So far, we're proving the consultants wrong.

I'm saying all this to say that the neighborhood Crossroads is in, does not have to dictate the quality of service they offer. They can continue to hang on to what they have, or invest to try to reach out to upscale shoppers. Choice is theirs.

If mall management had any common sense, the first thing they would so is talk to the city council and the South OKC Chamber of Commerce.

They could attack the problems of that area on several levels.

Apply for a federal weed and seed grant for the immediate area surrounding Crossroads. OCPD could combine resources with Oklahoma County and Valley Brook to curb crime in the area.

The city could send code enforcement out in full force to correct issues with derelict properties. Those who could not afford property clean up and repairs can be connected with community and volunteer organizations.

You could also look at taking on an urban renewal project with in a 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile radius of Crossroads. The most advanced project could be started and completed with in a two-year period.

In all actuality, I think it is what Patrick said, Maerich wants to keep it a low-income mall. I think in their perspective they believe it is impossible to compete with the other area malls. So why not cater to the lower income crowd.

I hope someday somebody will come up with the right plan to improve that area. In my own honest opinion, I think the mall will close with in the next three years. I predict Macy’s will be the first to go.

I don't think the mall will close. I think it will just continue to exist as it is, catering to low income people. In all honesty, replacing Macy's with a Wal-Mart might not be a bad idea. A few flea markets, liquor stores, and pawn shops added, and we're set.

There is a Walmart less than a mile away at I-240 and Santa Fe. I severely doubt Walmart would want to get involved in Crossroads.

If Crossroads has a chance to survive as anything above a flea market mall, I believe they will need to invest millions of dollars on inner renovations along with most of the outer ideas OklaCity_75 was floating around. For some reason, Steve and Barry's just isn't along the lines of Macy's and Dillards. If somehow Crossroads could lear Sears away from its 44th and Western superstore, that could give it a boost along with the inner and outer improvements.

Right now, I see Crossroads as being on life-support with the doctor just waiting for it do die away. My confidence is dimishing significantly however, due to the massive growth in areas in Moore and Norman.

If somehow Crossroads could lear Sears away from its 44th and Western superstore, that could give it a boost along with the inner and outer improvements.


Sears tried to get into that space when Montgomery Wards went bankrupt, but there were legal entanglements on the Ward's bankruptcy/Crossroads side that couldn't be resolved. I think, in retrospect, it had to do with the rumor that Wards actually owned the building it used in Crossroads, rather than having leased it.

Sears is a story unto itself; the 44th and Western location is worse than a snakepit. Sad, too, because I remember it in its heyday with a filled parking lot (!), a candy counter, a coffee shop, and as the place mom and I used to go just about every week to pick up some sort of catalog order...alas, memories...

Sears to Crossroads is a good idea, just don't know if they can get it done now. Steve and Barry's is embarassing. A giant, glorified T-shirt shop. Ugh.

-SoonerDave

Wards owned the space and after the went under, bankruptcy court took control of the property. Macerich spent months working through legal lingo and finally gained control of the property. Not sure why they went with Steve and Barry's over Sears. It is important to note that Steve and Barry's, although a glorified t-shirt shop, is located in some pretty high profile areas across the country.

Macerich Co. has refinanced $61.2 million of debt on Crossroads Mall with a 10-year, fixed-rate loan, said Mark McGovern of CB Richard Ellis-Melody Capital Markets in San Diego, who arranged the financing through Bear Stearns. Crossroads Mall, built in 1974, has 1.1 million square feet of rentable space with tenants including American Eagle Outfitters, Victoria's Secret and anchors J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Foley's and Dillard's.

Maybe they have something planned for Crossroads if they are refinancing debt. Such as renovating or better yet tearing down and rebuilding.

They demolished the Boulder, Colorado Crossroads Mall and they are building this.

http://www.twentyninth.com/about/index.jsp

The 240/I-35 interchange reconstruction is not to far down the road. From what I understand construction is expected to begin in 2007.

Crossroads problem is The Valley. Unless OKC can do something to fix this city, them this area is doomed. Why can the city put gates to check who goes in and out. Maybe those people will leave the city and it will just go away. Death Valley to Crossroads

Crossroads problem is The Valley. Unless OKC can do something to fix this city, them this area is doomed. Why can the city put gates to check who goes in and out. Maybe those people will leave the city and it will just go away. Death Valley to Crossroads

Valley Brook was there LONG before Crossroads. The problem is gang bangers. The mall is fuill of them.

The city is nothing but a nuisance. Why do people live there?

Sorry, please tell us out of towners, what exactly is Valley Brook?

Valley Brook is a small quarter-mile by quarter-mile town completely surrounded by Oklahoma City. It is basically at the corner of SE 59th and Eastern.

Here's a map. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=valley+brook,+ok&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=12&ll=35.411998,-97.482033&spn=0.119199,0.43396&iwloc=A)

Valley Brook is known for its line of strip clubs along with lower-class housing and borders Crossroads Mall. It is literally from the wrong side of the tracks.

SL, thanks.

I wouldn't be surprised if Macerich is setting itself in a better position to sell the mall. I believe they already have the mall for sale, if I'm not mistaken.

Someone is real estate, could you please tell me how one can find out if certain properties are for sale?

For example, if Crossroads was for sale, how would someone know about it?

If Heritage Park can persist in what appears to be an ongoing vegetative state, with only one anchor tenant, a Chik-fil-A, and a handful of no-names, then surely Crossroads can endure.

-SoonerDave

I wouldn't call Bath & Body Works, Cingular Wireless, Claire's Boutique, Economy Hearing Aid Center, El Chico, Eyecare Discount Optical, EyeMasters, Famous Footwear, Finish Line, FootLocker, GameStop, General Nutrition Center, Gordon's Jewelers, J's Hallmark, Mastercuts, Pelican's Wharf, Rainbow Apparel, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Waldenbooks, Whataburger and Zales no name stores.

I guess people would rather deal with parking a mile away and deal with tons of people and go to Penn Square to shop a lot of the same stores. I like the low to medium traffic at Heritage. I despise crowds. It's just my speed.

I wouldn't call Bath & Body Works, Cingular Wireless, Claire's Boutique, Economy Hearing Aid Center, El Chico, Eyecare Discount Optical, EyeMasters, Famous Footwear, Finish Line, FootLocker, GameStop, General Nutrition Center, Gordon's Jewelers, J's Hallmark, Mastercuts, Pelican's Wharf, Rainbow Apparel, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Waldenbooks, Whataburger and Zales no name stores.


Well, I would. Subtract from your list all the outparcels and cellphone shops you mentioned, eg Whataburger (yeah, people are really flocking to a mall for a Whataburger), and Pelican's Wharf, and the fact that you can buy a mobile phone from just about any street corner these days, and (with the exception of one or two) you have a list of absolute nobodies.

I already know that the Chick-Fil-A store will be closing as soon as the new store on 29th opens in the middle of next year.

The point is that malls must have anchor tenants to survive, and there's not one reliable, core, anchor tenant in that mall other than Sears. Have you looked in that forsaken "A to Z" consignment store? I walked in there one time and thought I needed a shower. It's embarassing - worse than a flea market. No one who cares about that property would ever lease space to that abomination. As for the rest of the stores you list, I fully expect that most if not all of those stores are there only because their lease agreements just haven't expired yet.

Crossroads still has four anchor tenants (and I'll grant you that Penny's is almost certainly leaving for Moore next year, so call it three), and the location at the I-240/I-35 junction gives it the kind of traffic that can make a rehabilitation discussion plausible. Heritage has no such hope. With the huge new construction going in on 29th, including a Best Buy (and, rumor has it, another Penny's), Heritage just has nothing going for it.

I'm certainly not suggesting Crossroads is a panacea; it has its own share of problems, but it has at least as good a chance of enduring as long as Heritage with more traffic, more anchor tenants, and at least a faint hope for perimeter revival. Not saying it's easy, but it's possible. Getting Sears into the presumptively vacated Penny's spot would be a big first step, but don't know if that's going to happen..

-SoonerDave

Ghetto neighborhoods, gang bangers, high crime... You do the math.

Eyecare Discount Optical, Pelican's Wharf, Rainbow Apparel

Never heard of any of these.

Heritage's problem is location, location, location. I have gone in to Heritage a few times to eat at El Chico's or pick up something from the Radio Shack (I think it's gone now). I've even shopped the A to Z market. SD must have higher standards than me - that or he hasn't visited our local flea markets lately. A to Z is fine for what it is. It's clean and fairly organized. If you're looking for some cheap tools that you don't need to use too often then that's your place. In my opinion, Heritage should consider going the way of Shepard Mall. But even then, location is not in their favor.

As for Crossroads, I go there often as it is close to me. I've never felt "unsafe" there. I think that opinion is based more on herd mentality and a few overblown newscasts.

Crossroads problem is bad recruiting, bad management, and some traffic woes with all the ongoing I-35 construction.

I was surprised at the number of vacancies on my last visit (a few weeks ago). They really need a one-of-a-kind out of state store to come in there to be a draw.

First, let it be known that I know nothing about this industry. To those that do, what are the chances that Simon could pick up Crossroads? I've always been impressed with Simon Malls, whether it be Penn Square here in OKC, the outdoors Arboretum in Austin, Northgate in Seattle or The (incredible) Galleria in Houston. I have noticed that in some markets, they will have two and sometimes three properties. Is there a chance that the Simon Property Group could pickup and reinvent Crossroads? Pipe dream?

-------------------------

They sold off the Shawnee Mall a couple of years ago, as well as Sooner Mall I believe. Looks like they're focusing on Penn Square, and I prefer that.

Heritage's problem is location, location, location. I have gone in to Heritage a few times to eat at El Chico's or pick up something from the Radio Shack (I think it's gone now). I've even shopped the A to Z market. SD must have higher standards than me - that or he hasn't visited our local flea markets lately. A to Z is fine for what it is. It's clean and fairly organized. If you're looking for some cheap tools that you don't need to use too often then that's your place. In my opinion, Heritage should consider going the way of Shepard Mall. But even then, location is not in their favor.

As for Crossroads, I go there often as it is close to me. I've never felt "unsafe" there. I think that opinion is based more on herd mentality and a few overblown newscasts.

Crossroads problem is bad recruiting, bad management, and some traffic woes with all the ongoing I-35 construction.

I was surprised at the number of vacancies on my last visit (a few weeks ago). They really need a one-of-a-kind out of state store to come in there to be a draw.

What is "SD?"

As for Crossroads, I go there often as it is close to me. I've never felt "unsafe" there. I think that opinion is based more on herd mentality and a few overblown newscasts.

Agree completely.

I won't pretend that the area is pristine and perfect, but it is hardly as bad as the media suggests. My family, which is not what I would consider low-income, lowest-common-denominator gutter trash (which some have implied is all Crossroads attracts), goes to Crossroads reasonably often. Heck, I've been going to Crossroads since it opened 30 years ago and I've never felt remotely unsafe there. That includes times when I worked there late, and been there as it closed.


mranderson, in all honesty, I probably overstated the A to Z situation some, but not by much, It's just a smelly, junky little store that I can't fathom is something designed to attract more people into the mall. I think it's sad how Heritage has deteriorated; I work in the MWC area (have for the last 20 years or so) used to go there to the Sbarro's for lunch; there was a nice coffee shop there before coffee shops became trendy. It had its moments.

-soonerdew

Off topic but what part of 29th has the best buy and chick-fillet development.

Flatlander,

There's an entirely new shopping district being built just east of Air Depot on 29th. A Lowe's and new Target have already opened, several new shops are being opened including a Steak n Shake, and in the open parcel between the Target and the Lowe's is where the BestBuy and/or Penny's is supposed to be going. Chik-fil-A is supposed to be built on an outparcel in that area; specifically where I do not know (the Chik-fil-A person that told me all this wasn't sure).

This person also told me that there was no question that the Heritage Park Chik-Fil-A would close upon or shortly after opening of the new standalone location, and that Chik-Fil-A is building six such stores in the metro. One is getting ready to open on NW Expressway in OKC, and with this one pending on 29th, that leaves four in the metro slated for construction....I really like Chik-Fil-A, and will be hoping one of those goes in near my house!!

-SoonerDave

Thanks SoonerDave,I do not get out that way very often,guess its time to drive around town and see all the progress.I too like chik-fil-a,thanks for the detailed information.Just read in the Daily Oklahoman that the NW Expressway location will open Thursday (30th) at 6:30 in the morning.About crossroads I do not shop in that area ever,so Im not familar with the mall,just what I hear on the forum here.When I drive by I dont see that much traffic,so yes I think crossroads is dying away.Also havent heard anything about the pole road exit.Crossroads said they need an exit at pole rd ODOT Shows no exit at pole rd.

Flatlander,

One is getting ready to open on NW Expressway in OKC, and with this one pending on 29th, that leaves four in the metro slated for construction....I really like Chik-Fil-A, and will be hoping one of those goes in near my house!!

-SoonerDave

Another one is going in Moore as an outparcel at the new shopping center.

Is Crossroads dying in its present state? Yes. Can anything be done to save it? Yes, and I think the saviour is the red line I drew on this aerial photo of Crossroads: the future commuter rail right-of-way between Edmond, downtown OKC, and Norman. Crossroads could become the station for south OKC and the mall redeveloped into a large TOD (transit-oriented development) with the mall being the retail/restaurant portion and then housing and parking around it and the train station. Something like that would require some major private investment (for the TOD) and public investment (for the rail) but it would really improve the whole area of south OKC. That rail line, and the areas it goes through and stops, will prove to be very valuable someday soon when OKC finally gets serious about commuter rail.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bg918/crossroads.jpg

^
wow... and practically walking distance to a potential TORD (transit-oriented redlight district)

-M

^
wow... and practically walking distance to a potential TORD (transit-oriented redlight district)

-M

You may be on to something. Close the mall and turn it into the worlds largest legal brothal with the anchor stores being adult video stores and strip clubs. "yeah, that's the ticket." (quote from John Lovitz)

You may be on to something. Close the mall and turn it into the worlds largest legal brothal with the anchor stores being adult video stores and strip clubs. "yeah, that's the ticket." (quote from John Lovitz)

Mr. Anderson, That was a great movie. With this thread we could also say:

"The TRAIN moves ----- NOT THE MALL!"

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Mr. Anderson, That was a great movie. With this thread we could also say:

"The TRAIN moves ----- NOT THE MALL!"

----------

Please explain your quote. It makes no sense.

Please explain your quote. It makes no sense.

It makes sense if you were talking about the same movie I was.

I thought your John Lovitz quote was from the movie, "A League Of Their Own." In that movie, Lovitz is having a hard time getting Gina Davis on the train at the train station - as she and her dad are having a hard time saying goodbye. Finally, Lovitz says, "Okay, you see, it's like this: "The TRAIN moves NOT THE STATION!"

I thought your Lovitz quote was from the same movie, so I took this other quote and, thinking of this thread...........never mind.

---------------------------------

I makes sense if you were talking about the same movie I was.

I thought your John Lovitz quote was from the movie, "A League Of Their Own." In that movie, Lovitz is having a hard time getting Gina Davis on the train at the train station - as she and her dad are having a hard time saying goodbye. Finally, Lovitz says, "Okay, you see, it's like this: "The TRAIN moves NOT THE STATION!"

I thought your Lovitz quote was from the same movie, so I took this other quote and, thinking of this thread...........never mind.

---------------------------------

No. One of the characters John played on "Saturday Night Live" said it.

No. One of the characters John played on "Saturday Night Live" said it.

Of course. You're right. The Lovitz scene at the train station in "A League of Their Own" is a classic though.

Oooookay.......back to topic. Sorry.

--------------------------

A good example of turning a "dead mall" into a lifestyle center is Villa Italia mall in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. The typical suburban indoor mall with anchor stores and smaller stores/food court in between surrounded by a sea of parking, just like Crossroads:

http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/02/pf/yourhome/deadmalls/villa_italia_mall.jpg

With some private investment though that eyesore was turned into an outdoor "town center" that has been successful because they integrated residential and office space into the overall design and consolidated parking areas making the former mall site a walkable place:

http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/02/pf/yourhome/deadmalls/belmar_new.jpg

The same could be done to Crossroads and its success would be guaranteed if the overall plan included a commuter rail stop. Norman/south Moore will have University North Park and Sooner Mall, people in south OKC/north Moore/Midwest City/Shawnee would support an improved Crossroads.

Mall at a Crossroads
By Chris Brawley Morgan
The Oklahoman

Crossroads Mall opened in 1974 in south Oklahoma City with a splash that nearly matched its mammoth size.

Stretching across 1.1 million square feet, Crossroads immediately became one of the 10 largest malls in the United States, a fact celebrated during the mall’s weeklong inauguration ceremonies.

Crossroads is the namesake of its bustling neighbor — the intersection of Interstates 35 and 240. Today the mall is at another kind of crossroads as well, as its managers regularly battle store vacancies, looming road construction and evolving shopping-center trends that seem to leave enclosed malls out of the loop.

In fact, two nearby retail developments under construction, Shops at Moore and Town Plaza Center in Midwest City, will feature J.C. Penney Co. Inc. department stores. In between them sits Crossroads with a J.C. Penney anchor store.

Shops at Moore is about a 10-minute drive from Crossroads on Interstate 35. Developer Burk Collins is not in the least bit concerned about the proximity.

“We don’t consider them a threat at all. Ten years ago, yes,” Collins said.

In general, the Dallas developer dismisses enclosed malls. “They are just a dinosaur waiting to fall into a tar pit.”

Competition a concern
Christi Moore, Crossroads’ senior marketing manager, has this to say: “Always, other competition in our trade area is a concern. We are continuously dealing with that. Dealing with the Wal-Marts. Strip center competition does continue to nibble at our customer base.”

Nationwide, only one enclosed mall was built this year — the Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro, Ark. — and none are scheduled to be built in the next two years, according to International Council of Shopping Centers.

“They don’t build them like this anymore,” Moore said. “That is part of the challenge The store spaces are so large. A quick look around Crossroads reveals that it is not the same mall with the same stores. “This is not just a cookie-cutter type of center,” Crossroads general manager Jim Swenson said.

Crossroads is home to the usual national retailers. There’s American Eagle Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret, Waldenbooks and Bath & Body Works.

About 20 percent of the stores are locally or regionally owned. So there’s also Shelley Wong’s Things, Singers Choice Karaoke and Laughing Fish, which sells formal dresses for females of all ages. Eargasm specializes in urban music and VUKA offers collectable knives, nunchucks and paint guns proportioned to look like automatic weapons.

Children have to sign a form that they won’t play with their VUKA purchases while they are still in the mall, Moore said.

Jake Dollarhide is a retail analyst, chief executive officer of the Tulsa-based Longbow Asset Management Co. and — on occasion — Crossroads shopper. “Crossroads has not kept up with the times and doesn’t have an attractive model to keep, attract and retain their national tenants.

“Great malls cannot rest on their laurels.”

What is most crippling to the morale of both mall customers and retailers, however, are vacancies, Dollarhide said.

“You never want to see that space darkened,” Dollarhide said.

In early fall, more than 25 stores in Crossroads were vacant. About half of those appear to have been filled, some with holiday venues. In all, Crossroads is comprised of 140 stores. Moore said the mall is essentially full during the holiday season.

All four anchor positions are filled. Besides J.C. Penney, Crossroads anchor stores are Dillard’s and Macy’s. Montgomery Ward’s departure in 2001 left an anchor vacancy for several years, but that space is now filled with Steve and Barry’s University Sportswear.

Originating at the University of Pennsylvania, Steve and Barry’s is a rapidly expanding national chain offering casual clothes at low prices. Most items in the Crossroads store cost less than $10. Moore said Steve and Barry’s, the only one in Oklahoma City, has been a good fit for the mall.

Uncertain road ahead
Crossroad’s connection to two major interstates has been one of its greatest assets, Moore said. Now it may be a problem.

In 2009, the Oklahoma Transportation Department plans to begin an $88 million project rebuilding the interchange between the two interstates, partly because of the earlier widening of Interstate 35, said David Meuser, a department spokesman.

One of the first steps was supposed to be the closure of Pole Road, which leads to Crossroads. “With its proximity to the railroad tracks and I-35, we were concerned that we couldn’t safely keep that exit,” Meuser said.

Closing Pole Road, however, would mean Crossroads customers would have to travel about a half mile out of their way to get to the mall, Moore said.

Moore said, “We decided to take them on. We waged a campaign against that plan.”

State Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, helped with that campaign. Leftwich’s district is next to Crossroads.

“We thought the closing of Pole Road was not in the south side’s best interests,” Leftwich said. “Everybody in my district shops there.”

In addition, she said, “there’s a lot of money being pumped into the local economy.”

In 2004, Crossroads’ total sales reached $117 million. During the same year, the mall paid $10 million in state sales tax, Leftwich said.

Today, Pole Road remains open. “Having studied the issue after public input, we found we were able to make that happen,” Meuser said.

However, the bulk of the project still is scheduled, a fact which causes mall managers some dread, Moore said.

“We just feel very cautious about the whole thing. We know it won’t affect access to the mall for the entire eight years,” Moore said.

Leftwich still has her concerns. “I’d like to see that mall thrive. It seems like they are still struggling out there.”

No updates planned
The Macerich Co., a national real estate investment trust, has owned Crossroads Mall since 1994.

Macerich generates $417 per square foot across 76 shopping centers, including 10 upscale operations in Arizona and California, according to its 2005 annual report.

Moore said she doesn’t know of a plan to update Crossroads, which The Oklahoman originally called “the most magnificent enclosed and air-conditioned shopping mall in the Southwest.”

Rebecca Stenholm, Macerich spokeswoman, said, “We continue to look at every center on an ongoing basis.”

Her company also does not provide specific information about leases, including the J.C. Penney in Crossroads, Stenholm said.

Macerich did spend about $1 million on Crossroads in 2003 — after manager Swenson and Moore launched a lobbying campaign.

“We are not bold or aggressive people, but, at one point, we went with our PowerPoint and crashed a budget meeting in Dallas,” Moore said.

The ramps in the central atrium — which made a dramatic visual statement — had become an albatross, Swenson said.

Moore said the ramps were so steep they were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which went into effect after Crossroads was built. The only elevators were in the department stores.

So the ramps were removed and a carousal, playground equipment and glass elevator were installed.

In the end, Crossroads is about more than shopping, Moore said.

With its spacious central atrium, the mall becomes temperature-controlled stage for local dance schools, a gallery for local artists and a performance hall for local choirs, Moore said. “We want to be the gathering place in the community.”

I owned a hair salon in Crossroads in the early 90's. It was doing very well until the management there decided to raise our rent. We were paying a reasonable 1800.00 a month then we got a letter that we were goingto be charged 3500.00 a month almost double. I decided then and there I would sale the salon and reopen it in my home town. I made a good choice. Have you been to crossroads lately? The salon that I owned has not changed since we sold it. They have not done a thing to remodel it. I have been considering going back and seeing if it was for sale again and rebuying it. I have not looked into it much but really thinking about it.

i know a couple of retailers who left Crossroads due to rent increases. One of the retailers only continue to have a shop there for strategic reasons; not because that store directly produces revenue.

Sure doesn't seem like they're in a place to be raising the rent.

In the midst of all this discussion about how Crossroads has turned into a gangsta training camp and anyone who goes in there risks life and limb, and how its death is inevitable, I'd like to try and reframe the discussion with a bit less emotion.

My son and I went to Crossroads on Saturday for a bunch of Christmas shopping - and you know what? A few thousand other people did, too. If you've been served this image of Crossroads as a desolate, semi-abandoned concrete wasteland, with snipers hiding behind every unrented stored, please let me disabuse you of that notion. It simply isn't true.

The center court was bustling with kids (none of whom was packing heat) riding the huge carousel that was put up a couple of years ago, while other families (also none of whom was packing heat) were watching their kids on the indoor playground on the east end of the court. We waited, waited, waited a checkout lines at more than a few stores, and the "beep-beep-beep-kaching" of cash registers was heard echoing through the halls. I didn't hear one gunshot!

I was able to visit three major department stores, two national jewelry stores, a bookstore (the ONLY one on the south side of OKC, but that's a different rant), a Radio Shack, and have my pick of a half-dozen places to eat lunch. And neither I nor my ten-year-old son were accosted, molested, shot, mugged, or threatened even once. The closest thing to an incident arose when some kid insisted he had given me a twenty when he had given me a five; turns out he was right - and he was my own kid :)

The point here is not to romanticize Crossroads, ignore its obvious problems, or cast it as some sort of realized vision - it desperately needs an interior update including a centralized food court and some other amenities, and it can do very little about its surrounding neighborhood - but it is not the opposite extreme that has been implied at times in this thread. Reality, as is often the case, is somewhere in the middle.


-SoonerDave

I was there on Saturday as well. The thought went through my mind that this is nothing like has been portrayed on this thread. It looked as busy as ever at or near Christmas time. As mass of humanity doing a bunch of shopping and spending.

I'm not a huge fan of malls in general, but when I need to go to a mall, Crossroads would be my absolute last choice. While it's true that one is unlikely to be shot or mugged while shopping at Crossroads, the fact remains that if you want to shop at an Oklahoma City mall, you can do far better. Penn Square is so much nicer in appearance and they have every thing you'd want at Crossroads (save for Steve and Barry's, whatever that is) plus so much more! Pottery Barn? Check! Upscale specialty clothing stores? Check! A nice food court? Check! Plus, lots of other nice stores. I can't imagine why anyone would rather go to Crossroads when there is such a nicer mall relatively near-by.

Reality, as is often the case, is somewhere in the middle.


-SoonerDave

You are right about that. Certain people tend to exaggerate the state that Crossroads is in. But the fact remains that the owners (who've had over 10 years to do something) are 20 years behind Penn and Quail. For now they are doing fairly well (at least during the holidays) as you can attest, but as more shopping pops up on the southside in Moore, along I-240, and especially University North Park, it's going to get harder and harder to keep the crowds until they do something drastic to update the place. I can't see Penney's sticking around much longer with two new stores opening in the southeast quadrant.

The thing is, is that Quail Springs is the next Crossroads. With Penn Square being the benchmark in OKC and talk of an upscale mall maybe going in up in Edmond, Quail could very easily become the next Crossroads and I believe is already showing signs of that. Quail already has more local yokel shops instead of national chains and they losing the upscale battle with Penn so much that it's not even a battle anymore.

My problem with Crossroads isn't the fact that it is unappealing visually or the fact that it is slightly more dangerous than the other malls. My problem stems from the lack of shopping that appeals to the traditional mall customers. When Sooner Mall in Norman is half the size of Crossroads, yet has more stores that I am willing to shop at, there seems to be a problem.

Sooner Mall has stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Eddie Bauer, NY & Co, American Eagle, Gap, Aeropostale, etc and it is not even near the level of a mall like Penn Square is and is tiny compared to the Big 3 malls in OKC. Crossroads does not have the traditional mall stores that most traditional mall shoppers go to shop at. I assume this is largely because of many of the problems described so far on this forum.

Mall ratings:

Crossroads: A dump, outdated, low-rent stores
Quail Springs: Run of the mill mall stores, nothing special at all
Penn Square: Upscale mall, only mall in the metro I do my shopping at.

All depends on demographics. Every store you mentioned from Sooner Mall is precisely because they are in a college town. I personally never shop at any of those stores mentioned. I actually go to Crossroads more often than any other mall because 1. It's fairly close to my home 2. Has the stores I shop at 3. I can park fairly close and not deal with the crowds at the other malls.

I dred the thought of going to Penn Square regardless of the time of year. The only store I even halfway like is Pottery Barn and Penn has the smallest PB I have ever been in.

I wonder if Penn Square would ever consider building a parking garage?

Penn Square has a parking garage, (Macy's) and does anyone know the total SF of Penn Sq. and Quail Springs.