View Full Version : Classen Curve
metro 09-01-2010, 09:24 AM I went it was pretty good and the shop is very nice and high-end. The clothes were insanely cute, but the price also reflect it. This is a good addition to OKC. I hear even people from Dallas are coming up to shop there, since they carry some European high-end brands that you can't even find in Dallas.
Goodengroup 09-01-2010, 01:39 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-7sc6v-ofI
This video about Classen Curve development and progress is a few months old, but Rand Elliott gives some good insight about his designs. It also includes interviews from Balliets and Republic owners.
ljbab728 09-01-2010, 11:42 PM I went it was pretty good and the shop is very nice and high-end. The clothes were insanely cute, but the price also reflect it. This is a good addition to OKC. I hear even people from Dallas are coming up to shop there, since they carry some European high-end brands that you can't even find in Dallas.
Don't tell Spartan. He thinks we all go to Dallas to shop instead of the other way around. LOL
Dustin 09-01-2010, 11:50 PM I went it was pretty good and the shop is very nice and high-end. The clothes were insanely cute, but the price also reflect it. This is a good addition to OKC. I hear even people from Dallas are coming up to shop there, since they carry some European high-end brands that you can't even find in Dallas.
Uptown Kids or Balliet's?
metro 09-02-2010, 10:27 AM Uptown kids
Goodengroup 09-03-2010, 02:11 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DLSj4Pwwho
Here is a video from the Balliets Grand Opening celebration on Wednesday night- includes interviews from Matt Shay, president of the National Retail Federation as well as Rand Elliott and Bob Benham- great shots of the new store.
Goodengroup 09-03-2010, 02:13 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DLSj4Pwwho
Here is a video from the Balliets Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting last Wednesday. It Includes interviews with Bob Benham, Balliets owner, Rand Elliott, and Matt Shay, president of the National Retail Federation.
Spartan 09-04-2010, 12:26 AM Yeah I hope nobody actually believes that the reason 50 Penn is languishing is because of out of state owners. Penn Square across the street has out of state owners and is in absolute tip-top condition and rules the roost for retail in the metro--doesn't mean that it's time isn't coming either. Indoor shopping malls are all going the way of the Dodo. Demand and interest in indoor shopping malls has dwindled so much that we've gone from numerous malls in the metro to just Penn Square and Sooner Fashion Mall, and Quail Springs is also still hanging on. Gone are Heritage Park Mall, Northpark Mall, Shepherd Mall, Crossroads Mall, and 50 Penn Place. Did I leave any out? I'd hate to do that.
ljbab728 09-04-2010, 12:38 AM Yeah I hope nobody actually believes that the reason 50 Penn is languishing is because of out of state owners. Penn Square across the street has out of state owners and is in absolute tip-top condition and rules the roost for retail in the metro--doesn't mean that it's time isn't coming either. Indoor shopping malls are all going the way of the Dodo. Demand and interest in indoor shopping malls has dwindled so much that we've gone from numerous malls in the metro to just Penn Square and Sooner Fashion Mall, and Quail Springs is also still hanging on. Gone are Heritage Park Mall, Northpark Mall, Shepherd Mall, Crossroads Mall, and 50 Penn Place. Did I leave any out? I'd hate to do that.
Is Northpark having problems? I never went there often even when it was new. I always considered it to be more of a regional shopping area (maybe 5 miles radius) than someplace that drew from all over the metro.
Spartan 09-04-2010, 12:41 AM Northpark's radius is more age-specific than geographic-specific. Northpark is no longer a "mall" .. it's stores have been replaced with quiet boutiques for the elderly to buy their furs and get a manicure under the same roof.
ljbab728 09-04-2010, 12:48 AM Northpark's radius is more age-specific than geographic-specific. Northpark is no longer a "mall" .. it's stores have been replaced with quiet boutiques for the elderly to buy their furs and get a manicure under the same roof.
That doesn't mean it's gone then. It's just serving a different demographic retail consumer group. They never had any particular retail store that appealed to me although I seem to remember going to a children's store looking for clothes for my daughter when she was young. I think I mainly went there in the past to eat or go to a movie.
The Gooden Group does great work; however, they aren't the PR for AGEDG.
Richard at Remax 09-16-2010, 11:52 AM I am going to a pre opening/tasting tonight at Upper Crust so I'll come back later tonight with my thoughts
metro 09-16-2010, 04:07 PM Also noticed last night that "On A Whim" is now open. I rode the bike by late last night, apparently they have some sort of neat LED or color changing lighting system inside.
Mballard85 09-19-2010, 11:49 PM Cafe 501 Classen Curve opens for lunch this Thurday the 23rd. Yall should all come out.
metro 09-20-2010, 09:19 AM So other than the ballet studio place that has yet to open, are there any other tenants in the works? None that I can think of.
Goodengroup 09-20-2010, 09:42 AM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECSZEwLij4I
Did anyone attend this year's Wine Women & Shoes at Balliets and Cafe 501? It was the first sneak peek into 501 and Balliets' first fashion show- pretty fabulous night! The event raised money for Impact Oklahoma. See video for a recap of the night.
Goodengroup 09-20-2010, 10:07 AM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECSZEwLij4I
Balliets' celebrated Wine Women & Shoes with their debut fashion show along with a sneak peek at the new neighbor Cafe 501. See the video for a recap of the event!
Rover 09-20-2010, 01:20 PM Northpark's radius is more age-specific than geographic-specific. Northpark is no longer a "mall" .. it's stores have been replaced with quiet boutiques for the elderly to buy their furs and get a manicure under the same roof.
So malls are just for the young and hip? Seems like us old geezers with money to spend might have some say.
jbrown84 09-20-2010, 07:55 PM Yeah I wouldn't consider Northpark "gone" in the same sense that Heritage Park and Shepard are. Nor would I consider Quail Springs just "hanging on". It's still as strong as Sooner Mall.
Architect2010 09-20-2010, 08:10 PM Quail Springs is stronger than Sooner Mall I'd say, it's just as nice as Penn Square actually, give and take a few stores. It most likely doesn't perform as well as Penn though.
dankrutka 09-22-2010, 08:51 PM I ate at Upper Crust yesterday. The layout reminds me of Republic. There just isn't anything they did with the space that stands out or makes it unique. The service was excellent, but it wasn't very busy for just opening. The pizza was okay. Kind of dry, but I think that is what they are going for. I personally prefer Hideaway or Wedge, but it wasn't bad. I hope it succeeds, but I could see it struggling...
jbkrems 09-23-2010, 12:25 AM What did you and your friends order when you were there ?
BoulderSooner 09-23-2010, 02:30 PM had dinner at Upper Crust on Tuesday night. We sat at the bar and split the market fresh salad and a pizza. The salad changes depending on what produce they can get fresh and was very good. We had the "some like it hot" pizza, it comes with sweet and hot peppers and was fresh and very good. The staff was very friendly and the service was very good. Upper Crust has a very good wine list and is touting itself as much as a wine bar as a pizza place. I expect it to do very very well and be another great addition to the area.
betts 10-10-2010, 08:34 AM I don't know if this was mentioned before, as it didn't come up in a search and I'm too lazy to search the entire thread, but I just got an ad for Premier Card, and they listed BD Home as one of the Classen Curve participants.
CaseyCornett 10-12-2010, 04:29 PM I've still never been to Upper Crust but hope to really soon.
Steve 10-15-2010, 06:03 PM Have you gotten there yet?
Had a beer at RePUBlic last night... Very, very cool place and great vibe.
However, the back half (south of 105 Degrees) of the complex is still completely vacant. They had announced an interior design store for the very back building but there are zero signs of any activity.
J. Pitman 10-18-2010, 01:35 PM Upper crust was decent. It was cool to walk in and smell the smoke from the wood burning oven. Pizza was a little above average.
Hideway wins, but Upper Crust is a better dining experience.
metro 10-18-2010, 02:19 PM http://www.edmondsun.com/business/x693279994/Cafe-501-expands-to-Oklahoma-City
bluedogok 10-18-2010, 09:33 PM Thanks for the link, I was more interested by the Small Group remodel of a Downtown Edmond building (http://www.edmondsun.com/business/x847468892/Local-architectural-firm-preserves-downtown-history) though.
Goodengroup 10-19-2010, 04:26 PM Click here to read story (http://blog.newsok.com/fashionmatters/2010/10/18/balliets-a-harpers-bazaar-style-leader/)
Harper's Bazaar just named Balliets a "Style Leader" in their September issue. They are the only store in Oklahoma City to receive this honor. See story above.
dankrutka 12-15-2010, 04:40 PM They seem to have 9 solid tenants that work well together currently, but I haven't seen any news on what other businesses are on the horizon? So, I have 2 questions: 1. Are there any businesses planning to open there anytime soon? 2. What other businesses do you think would fit in well?
Turanacus 12-16-2010, 09:53 AM I heard . . . No more restaurants, they'll only let 5 in.
Apple is the next tenant.
jbkrems 12-16-2010, 10:00 AM If Cafe 501, Upper Crust, Republic, and 105 Degrees are the only restaurants there, that makes 4, not 5. So can one more join, or am I forgetting something ???
sethsrott 12-16-2010, 10:03 AM I heard . . . No more restaurants, they'll only let 5 in.
Apple is the next tenant.
Does that mean that Apple is leaving Penn Square Mall?
Soonerman 12-16-2010, 01:12 PM I don't know why Apple would leave Penn Square. That store is always packed when I go in there.
BBatesokc 12-16-2010, 01:25 PM I heard . . . No more restaurants, they'll only let 5 in.
Apple is the next tenant.
The Apple move would be interesting if true. The Penn location is always packed and that's about the only way my wife can get me to go to the mall with her. But, I'd certainly like the convenience of the Curve location. Until I see an Apple logo though, I've got my doubts, but I can always hope.
onthestrip 12-16-2010, 01:32 PM Apple? Is this something that you have heard? Sounds unlikely to me. I would imagine that their lease in Penn Square would have been for at least 10 years, meaning that they have several more years left.
Apple is the next tenant.
No way, I dont see that happening at all. Maybe in the developers wildest dreams, but why would Apple leave a high profile spot in the state's premier shopping mall to move to an upstart shopping center in an exclusive enclave. From a retail standpoint it ust doesn't seem to make any sense. Now if it is a second location.......well, that might make sense. Especially if they are looking for an expanded enterprise share (still seems like a stretch though.
Patrick 12-16-2010, 04:05 PM No way Apple is leaving Penn Square. I've heard about a local group though opening a store which in Classen Curve which would be kinda like an "authorized retailer" for Apple products, but it won't be an official Apple store.
BBatesokc 12-16-2010, 04:17 PM Maybe the unofficial Apple store on NW EXP is looking at relocating?
Not sure that Apple in CC would work. You'd have to wait outside before you could get past their bouncers.
dankrutka 12-16-2010, 04:29 PM I'd never heard that there was a 5 restaurant limit, but that makes sense. BD Home (modern furniture) is having their grand opening next week. An Apple Store would fit in well there, but, like others said, there are a lot of variables working against that happening. CC has done a good job of catering to an upscale clientele n a variety of ways, but I'm wondering if they can fill all of CC with these types of stores. I'm curious how they'll fill it up and how long that'll take?
BBatesokc 12-16-2010, 05:18 PM Not sure that Apple in CC would work. You'd have to wait outside before you could get past their bouncers.
I go there all the time. Never had the employees at the front do anything but smile and welcome me. Which is a lot better than the geriatric bouncers at WalMart that want to check your receipt.
Stores like Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Oakley, and Swatch would fit in nice
metro 12-16-2010, 07:17 PM Apple store anywhere would work, not sure whynyou all don't think it'd work
dankrutka 12-17-2010, 12:10 AM Stores like Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Oakley, and Swatch would fit in nice
I know Urban Outfitters require a lot of space, but it would be a dream if they could get 2 or 3 slots and move in... So far Classen Curve has primarily gone with local businesses. Are they turning away national chains? Maybe waiting until they've exhausted local companies?
Spartan 12-17-2010, 12:19 AM Stores like Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Oakley, and Swatch would fit in nice
I'm shocked this post was only post #14 in the thread..
Patrick 12-21-2010, 10:27 AM I think the focus is more on upscale local retailers.
onthestrip 12-21-2010, 11:02 AM This talk that CC was mainly going after local businesses sounds bogus to me. That certainly could have been the goal but no way are they going to turn away national tenants that are interested in locating there.
dankrutka 12-22-2010, 12:31 AM This talk that CC was mainly going after local businesses sounds bogus to me. That certainly could have been the goal but no way are they going to turn away national tenants that are interested in locating there.
It wouldn't seem to make much sense. So, CC has been unable to attract a single national company that they would want?
BBatesokc 12-22-2010, 04:49 AM It wouldn't seem to make much sense. So, CC has been unable to attract a single national company that they would want?
In this economy and that location - I don't know if its the reason, but I could see it being.
betts 12-22-2010, 07:53 AM The only thing I remember was being told, a long time ago and I don't know where in relationship to the economic meltdown it was, was that Aubrey really, really wanted Classen Curve to be all about local businesses and that they weren't looking for national chains. This was from someone working on the project directly. At this point in time, I doubt they'd turn one down, but I don't know if the space is being aggressively marketed to such.
OKCTalker 12-22-2010, 10:39 AM Could be that Aubrey is saving national credit retailers for later (NH Plaza), and besides, he's an unproven retail landlord. Here are what I believe to be his next moves: 1) Get CC leaseup velocity to where occupancy will hit 90% within 12 months (my guess is Q4 2011 when Whole Foods opens). 2) Update the PUD application and make another run at NH Planning Commission, this time with greater disclosure of his plans. 3) Move S NH Plaza tenants to the N side of Avondale while they 4) Negotiate lease commitments with national credit retailers for NH Plaza South. 5) Break ground.
Soonerinfiniti 01-11-2011, 09:15 AM For all those wondering why national retailers aren't flocking to OKC:
Saks Fifth Avenue to close another store
How much is too much? That's the question Luxury Daily asked when considering the announcement that Saks Fifth Avenue is closing its seventh retail location since July, the Saks Fifth Avenue store at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver, Colorado. The luxury retail chain already closed its Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Mission Viejo and San Diego, CA; Southampton, NY; Portland, OR; Charleston, SC; and Plano, TX in 2010. The Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5TH store in The Legends at Sparks Marina in Reno/Sparks, Nevada also closed at the first of the year.
Some luxury watchers cheered the move saying that it was a smart response to a changing luxury market. The news came out last week as Saks announced that revenue in stores open at least a year rose 11.8 percent in December. Another piece of good news: sales for the five weeks ended January 1 rose 10 percent to $432.2 million from $393.7 million a year earlier. The best-selling items of the month included women's and men's clothes, shoes, purses and makeup.
Approximately 100 associates are employed in the Denver Saks Fifth Avenue store which will close on March 19. All affected associates either will be offered transfer opportunities or will receive appropriate employment separation packages. The Denver store opened in 1990 and is approximately 87,000 square feet. The departure of the store leaves a hole in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center which may not be able to find an anchor store to fill the spot for some time. The space fronts East First Avenue, making it a prime spot for luxury shopping for the right tenant.
It ain't a good time right now for large national retailers. While I am sure there is some anti-OKC bias due to median household income, etc., we should focus on smaller brands (Container Store, etc.) rather than department stores. Why isn't Crate and Barrel here???
That would be awesome if CC stayed local. We desperately need an area for local retailers to come together in one place. Besides, it's much more interesting to shop there and that's more of what tourists look for. Not to mention the nationals do only a fraction for the economy what the locals do. If anything they're a net drain on it.
They built CC with shallow, small bays that are suited to boutique retailers. Plus, the chains would not be excited about an interior location like that.
I'm quite sure CHK is going to have lots of space around WF and eventually NH Plaza, and I'm sure both locations will be very attractive to high-end retailers -- even those not yet in the market.
BTW, I noticed CHK is close to obtaining all the properties from (and including) Deep Fork Grill up Western to the intersection on Grand. There are only a few office condos they lack. That will be another great retail site, so there is going to be lots of space to fill once they start redeveloping that entire Western corridor.
http://tnttri.com/OKCTalk/5600westernb.jpg
Patrick 01-11-2011, 01:25 PM Classen Curve is probably going to turn out to be more like Northpark Mall...mostly high end luxury retailers, that most of us on here won't be able to shop at. Not sure why all the buzz about some of these stores. Like take Uptown Kids for instance....all that store is is an overpriced luxury boutique where the extremely wealthy come to get pampered. Whoopty doo.
semisimple 01-11-2011, 01:54 PM Classen Curve is probably going to turn out to be more like Northpark Mall...mostly high end luxury retailers, that most of us on here won't be able to shop at. Not sure why all the buzz about some of these stores. Like take Uptown Kids for instance....all that store is is an overpriced luxury boutique where the extremely wealthy come to get pampered. Whoopty doo.
I don't see what the excitement about CC is at all. It is nothing but a largely vacant (as of late December, that is, it looked mostly vacant) sleek-looking strip center. I could understand the excitement over an "urban lifestyle center" with residences and lots of shopping, but not CC.
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