This property needs someone with a ton of bitcoin cash (CWCF, maybe?). The kind of dry powder required to take down the land, grease all of the right wheels on the south side, bring in high-level New Urbanists, like DPZ, and then execute the vision in a disciplined way. Anything short of that will see the property continue along its current trajectory.

Please excuse my ignorance, who is DPZ?

Please excuse my ignorance, who is DPZ?

Seminal New Urbanist planning firm founded by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. Co-founders of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). The design team behind Seaside, Florida in the 1980s. Here in Oklahoma they provided the planning and design work for Carlton Landing.

By law, dispensaries cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school.

It seems they are more permissible when it comes to grow facilities.

Pete, you may have more specific/current information on this, but I was told just the other day that the school administration was totally blindsided about the grow facility plans and was basically livid to have been told about it via someone who heard of it through social media. They are supposedly not going to let it go without some degree of fight, whatever that might entail.

Pete, you may have more specific/current information on this, but I was told just the other day that the school administration was totally blindsided about the grow facility plans and was basically livid to have been told about it via someone who heard of it through social media. They are supposedly not going to let it go without some degree of fight, whatever that might entail.

Yes, the day after I published the story I spoke directly to the superintendent of Sante Fe South schools.

I gave him all the info I had, including the building plan I had found that did not mention the grow facility, but I recognized it by the floorplan.

I'm not sure they can stop the grow facility from happening, but he was talking to the new owner of the mall. FYI, the schools own two of the old department stores but the Utah buyer of the mall also bought the other two old dept. stores. So, the schools and the rest of Crossroads are under completely separate ownership.

does that include the land or is there one landowner?

Yes, the day after I published the story I spoke directly to the superintendent of Sante Fe South schools.

I gave him all the info I had, including the building plan I had found that did not mention the grow facility, but I recognized it by the floorplan.

I'm not sure they can stop the grow facility from happening, but he was talking to the new owner of the mall. FYI, the schools own two of the old department stores but the Utah buyer of the mall also bought the other two old dept. stores. So, the schools and the rest of Crossroads are under completely separate ownership.

I suspect you are exactly right that they can't stop the grow facility. It appears there's a lot of scrambling at the legislative level to get better controls on this industry in place, so maybe he plans to try and delay things until new laws are in place? Purely speculation on my part, of course. That separate ownership issue has plagued the Crossroads property almost since it opened, and prevented Sears from moving from Reding on 44th into the Wards space when Wards went bankrupt.

^

The separate ownership issue also makes it highly unlikely the entire property will ever be reworked in any significant way.

The grow facility is simply what it is, a grow facility. It's not a retail outlet for card carrying medical marijuana users.

Realize there's some kind of perceived conflict with this type of establishment within 300' of a school; however a grow facility doesn't sell directly to the public.

Restaurant & Family (R&F) Mart has filed building permits for the entirety of the old JC Penney department store at the west end of the mall.

The top floor will be the retail store with a food court; the entrance will be toward the north, facing the future friendship gate. The bottom level will be all wholesale storage and sales with docks at the south end.


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I can't wait for this.... I love World Fresh International Market but it's so disorganized.... If this store is better organized it will quickly become my new favorite.

good news!

A elementary & high school, a cannabis farm, and a Asian Cotsco all in the same building, geez....lol

Tear down the "available" middle space make it into a park/plaza. Add a parking garage that connects the grower structure to the grocery store (this is where the main parking would be grocery store). Add a parking garage connecting the schools. Surrounding the current buildings and parking garages would be restaurants, retail, and office space. Create an outdoor mall, similar to the oak. It doesn't even have to be on that grand of a scale as long as it's pedestrian friendly. On the west side on the property apartments 5-8 story could be added too. I mean who wouldn't wanted to live walking distance to this grocery store?! There's too much concrete right now though. Add greenspace, trees, bikelanes throughout and make it walkable. The land could easily become successful if they hire the right people that will design it. Call it Crossroads Community and advertise it as the next place to live, work, and dine at. Hope the developers sees this.
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A elementary & high school, a cannabis farm, and a Asian Cotsco all in the same building, geez....lol

ridiculous if you ask me, but does show you how progressively far Oklahoma has come. ...

Or just doze the whole thing and some of the crap around it for an industrial reserve.

Soccer stadium :P

OKC could deed it over to Valley Brook and turn it into the world's largest strip joint. :D

SB 1511 was signed into law yesterday:


SB 1511 prohibits any medical marijuana commercial grower from being within 1,000 feet of
any public or private school, as measure from the nearest property line of the school to the
nearest property line of the licensed grow operation. Grow operations are also prohibited from
adjoining to or being located at the same physical address of any public or private school. Grow
operations that met these requirements at the time of its initial licensure will be permitted to
continue operation at its licensed premises. Additionally, if a school is established within 1,000
feet of a grow operation after the operation has been licensed, these requirements will not be a
deterrent to renewal of the license or warrant revocation of the license

Because the proposed grow facility at Crossroads had not received its license (only a building permit) they will now not be able to go forward at this site, due to the proximity of Santa Fe schools.

It also means that other schools will be protected in a similar way on a go-forward basis.

Good.

It's about time.

There's PLENTY of other spaces for grow ops in and around OKC that's not near schools/children.

SB 1511 was signed into law yesterday:



Because the proposed grow facility at Crossroads had not received its license (only a building permit) they will now not be able to go forward at this site, due to the proximity of Santa Fe schools.

It also means that other schools will be protected in a similar way on a go-forward basis.

Do the schools mentioned include kindergartens?

Do the schools mentioned include kindergartens?

I'm sure it would include kindergartens, since they are schools.

Interestingly, permits were just filed for a new Chinese buffet restaurant, but it will be inside the mall without an exterior entrance; the one outside door shown is for deliveries. This would be totally separate from the store/warehouse/food court planned for the old JC Penney building to the west.

I believe that most recently this space was some sort of buffet, but it's being remodeled. At over 11,000 square feet, it's a huge space for a restaurant.

Customers would have to enter through the old north entrance to the mall, which means they'll have to take all the boards down and have a functioning entrance and exit. I suppose they could block off the rest of the mall, but maybe this is the start of trying to bring tenants and people into the mall itslef.

Just to the west of that mall entrance (opposite this new buffet), Braum's had a location they opened in 90's.

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very intersting on the Mall Only entrance.

The restaurant itself makes me think of Fuze on NW Expressway. ...

this spot was originally picadilly cafeteria, right? if so, this was an asian buffet in the early 2000's, so it shouldn't need too much reconfiguration.

i wonder if there is any purpose to the 'egress corridor' on the right side of the image besides it being an artifact of the mall's layout.

this spot was originally picadilly cafeteria, right? if so, this was an asian buffet in the early 2000's, so it shouldn't need too much reconfiguration.

i wonder if there is any purpose to the 'egress corridor' on the right side of the image besides it being an artifact of the mall's layout.

I don't know anything about a Picadilly, but I do recall this spot being the Asian buffet.

I found this video walkthrough on the final couple of days of the mall. The first few minutes shows where the location where the buffet is going. Also, I didn't realize the old Braums door handles were still there even though it was gone for several years before the mall actually closed.

Bold move for the Asian Buffett to move in so early. Guess their hoping the grocery store will drive enough business?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWW0wWh0vlE

I make it a point to go by Crossroads periodically and I did so yesterday.

I can't see any signs of movement on anything. Just tons of weeds and boarded-up entrances.

The building permits have all been issued. Not sure the reason for lack of progress.

I make it a point to go by Crossroads periodically and I did so yesterday.

I can't see any signs of movement on anything. Just tons of weeds and boarded-up entrances.

The building permits have all been issued. Not sure the reason for lack of progress.

Can you still get in the mall though? I wish they would bulldoze the mall honestly, it is an eyesore to look at and it would be nice to have a new building that would be useable like office spaces and stuff like that

No, the entrances to the mall have been closed for a while.

this spot was originally picadilly cafeteria, right? if so, this was an asian buffet in the early 2000's, so it shouldn't need too much reconfiguration.

i wonder if there is any purpose to the 'egress corridor' on the right side of the image besides it being an artifact of the mall's layout.

Yes, there was a Picadilly cafeteria, I remembered I used to go to Picadilly cafeteria at Crossroads every Sunday after church

No, the entrances to the mall have been closed for a while.

I was hoping to go inside so it will bring back memories

there is an antique show the first weekend of each month and you can enter a small portion of the mall then. admission is something like $2.

here is a pic i took from june 4th:
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there is an antique show the first weekend of each month and you can enter a small portion of the mall then. admission is something like $2.

here is a pic i took from june 4th:
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It still looks the same but I will go next week and check it out

Rajan Cujan is going to be moving in Crossroads Mall where the old Chifilia was and Crossroads will be adding where people can drop off younger kids while parents shop and kids can play and do stuff, it sounds cool

Rajan Cujan is going to be moving in Crossroads Mall where the old Chifilia was and Crossroads will be adding where people can drop off younger kids while parents shop and kids can play and do stuff, it sounds cool

Where are you seeing/hearing this?

It was shared on Facebook yesterday, a group called Crossroads Convention Center. It listed multiple businesses that had signed leases for different mall spots along with videos of tours etc.

Where are you seeing/hearing this?

On Facebook called Crossroads Convention Center

Crossroads Mall is set to reopen in the next couple of months.

Each of the 90,000SF floors at the old Dillard's will be converted into huge banquet and event spaces.

Several restaurants and local businesses of all types have signed already signed leases.

The out-of-state owner has partnered with a local group that is driving the leasing activity and organizing the cleanup needed after several years of complete closure.

The JC Penney building is still on track to becoming a large Asian food and restaurant supply store, along with a food court. Another large Chinese buffet is planned for inside the mall.

Sante Fe South schools own the buildings and operate facilities at the other two previous department stores: Wards and John A. Brown.

If all goes to plan, the mall should reopen its doors in August or September.

More info about leasing space and future tenants:
https://www.facebook.com/crossroadsconventioncenter

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Pete: Minor corrections: The Santa Fe space was Montgomery Wards. Sears was never in Crossroads. John A Brown was in the north end, which was at various times Sanger Harris, Foley's, and Macy's. When the mall closed, Hudiburg Automotive Group operated a parts distribution center out of the site. Now that's not to say Santa Fe might not have bought that location as well after Hudiburg closed the parts center, but there's no question Sears never had a Crossroads store. There was smoke around the idea that Sears wanted the Wards space after.Warda went bankrupt, but Wards ownership of that space was an intractable obstacle and the effort was eventually abandoned.

The Sears thing was just a typo which I corrected.

And SFS absolutely owns those two former dept. stores.

The Sears thing was just a typo which I corrected.

And SFS absolutely owns those two former dept. stores.

Good enough. Great to see the place being revitalized.

It was the first time I had been in the mall since I moved away in 1989 when all the department stores were still open and it hadn't completely transformed into its 'sad mall' phase.

It took me a while to get my bearings because everything was empty but once I did, I could fully visualize all the stores from when I worked there in college in the early '80s.

It was a very melancholy experience and I'm sure similar to someone returning to their small town and seeing Main Street all boarded up.

Still so humbling to see it in this shape. I remember growing up in the 90s, and Crossroads was always insanely busy. To see it end up like this, I didn't see it coming as a kid (looking back, I guess there were signs).

Wasn't Steve and Barry's in the Montgomery Ward space for a little bit?

Wasn't Steve and Barry's in the Montgomery Ward space for a little bit?

Unless I have false memories then yes, there was.

I am glad it is reopening but it is sad to see the mall in terrible shape

Wasn't Steve and Barry's in the Montgomery Ward space for a little bit?

The greatest store brand in the history of Crossroads Mall. You go into Steve and Barry's with $100 and you were literally a king.

As far as reopening the mall, they are now aiming for late October/early November.

very nice to see this. Wow - has a regional mall the size of Crossroads come back to life as a mall?

I nope now, that they resolve the security issues AND capitalize on what malls are now without canibalizing from Capital Hill and downtown. Make crossroads the unique draw with offerings not found in the metro/state/region.

With the store leases that are going in the mall it looks like a lot of it is going to be more of a Old Paris Flea market type stores. Im glad its being used as a mall again instead of being vacant. Hopefully it makes a go of it but it looks like the same style shops when they tried making it a cultural center mall. Hopefully with the asian area going into the old Jcpennys area it will help the mall part with customers.

Yeah, just being open and having some businesses inside is probably the best we can hope for at this point.

Sadly, I240 as a retail center is on a downward slide. Too bad Envision 240 never received the support it deserves and needs. It may well go the way of Crossroads.

Exclusive sneak peek of abandoned Crossroads Mall in South Oklahoma City set to soon reopen
https://kfor.com/news/exclusive-sneak-peek-of-abandoned-crossroads-mall-in-south-oklahoma-city-set-to-soon-reopen/

Construction has started on the Friendship Gate.

The operators of the mall told me they plan to reopen in mid-November.

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I see CRoads being very valuable in 10 years or so once the commuter line starts up if they were to put a stop at CRoads. Its literally in one of the best spots for transportation to get around the city. You got the BNSF line, I-240, I-35, and Shields Blvd all nearby.

Imagine some nice transit oriented development and what could be done with the mostly industrial area around.

I love the fact that Crossroads is reopening with a new life, but I still can't help but think the Asian mall and gate would have been better to have gone to Shepherd Mall; it's closer to the Asian District and the dense population base. Yes, crossroads will be a destination but I would love to see OKC get some synergy and critical mass that helps feed/sustain development rather than having hodge podge here and there that's likely doomed to fail.

Anyway, wishing Crossroads a HUGE success.

it's closer to the Asian District and the dense population base.

I'm assuming by dense population base that you are accounting for all races but... Take a look at the latest census data and you'll see that the Asian population is higher on the south side of town than it is anywhere else.

There is already another unofficial Asian District on the south side in the 89th and Penn area and there are other Asian groceries, restaurants, and churches scattered all around the south side of I-240.

Then when you get to the Moore/Mid-Del area there is a strong Korean presence there.

population density of the n-central city is the highest in the city for the size of the area.

Don't race bait. I do understand and appreciate that OKC is a diverse and integrated city. But if the 'mall' were in/near the Asian district it'd help make the area more of a destination - that was my point.

The friendship gate is what exactly?

The friendship gate is what exactly?

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