The new Microsoft Store opens tomorrow!

Store Grand Opening - Microsoft Store (http://content.microsoftstore.com/en-us/detail/pennsquaremallfull?WT.mc_id=pointitsem_retailNSO_d etail_ContentGoogle&tid=cdRDgJ7Uq_dc&cid=757if99307&pcrid=28931134588&pkw=penn%20square%20mall%20oklahoma%20city&pmt=&WT.srch=1&WT.term=penn%20square%20mall%20oklahoma%20city&WT.campaign=Content+-+Microsoft+Store&WT.content=dRDgJ7Uq&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc)

For those keeping track of such things (bchris02), the full retail store in OKC is opening before the one in Tulsa.

Was Tulsa even getting a full sized one? I thought they were just getting a kiosk version.

Both Tulsa & OKC got a kiosk before last holiday season.

Not sure if Tulsa is getting a full retail store or not.

Well, I just found out that there are no plans(at least currently) for Tulsa to have its own full sized store. Right now, they have a specialty store, which upon further investigation, is just the word Microsoft uses for kiosks.

So as it looks right now, OKC will have had these stores before Tulsa:

1.Microsoft Store
2.Von Maur
3.H&M
4.Nordstrom Rack
5.Main Event
6.The Art of Shaving

And quite possibly

Costco
Trader Joes
Cabbalas
In-n-Out
Crate and Barrel
Container Store

And I'm sure there are much more that I missed. OKC is really gaining momentum on the retail map and it is very exciting!

I'm probably gonna go to the Microsoft store sunday since it will be impossible to get into the mall tomorrow. On a side note does anyone think Penn Square will ever get a Nordstrom or another quality department store soon?

I'm probably gonna go to the Microsoft store sunday since it will be impossible to get into the mall tomorrow. On a side note does anyone think Penn Square will ever get a Nordstrom or another quality department store soon?

Quail Springs is getting Von Maur. Penn Square is probably too small for another major department store to be added. It could be done but it would require more garage parking to be built which is probably not likely.

Quail Springs is getting Von Maur. Penn Square is probably too small for another major department store to be added. It could be done but it would require more garage parking to be built which is probably not likely.

The bigger issue is lack of space for another big box tenant. I would require one of the going out of business or building on.

I'm probably gonna go to the Microsoft store sunday since it will be impossible to get into the mall tomorrow. On a side note does anyone think Penn Square will ever get a Nordstrom or another quality department store soon?

It will probably be crazy on Sunday too. Isn't Tim McGraw supposed to perform then?

I'm probably gonna go to the Microsoft store sunday since it will be impossible to get into the mall tomorrow. On a side note does anyone think Penn Square will ever get a Nordstrom or another quality department store soon?

My guess is that if a full line Nordstrom or Saks Fifth Avenue or (insert any other upscale retailer) comes to OKC, it'll open up at Penn Square. If OKC is to get multiple upscale retailers then I'd assume Quail Springs will come into play if they keep the momentum of Von Maur & possibly H&M alive & well.

I'm not suggesting OKC is only a couple of years away from lighting up the retail scene, but I'm just speaking of hypothetical scenarios & kind of playing the "what if, well this" game.

While Simon has been putting a lot of money into Penn Square for minor renovations, I would not be surprised if over the next five years, they undertake a massive expansion in an effort to capture many of the higher end stores that are looking to Oklahoma City. For a long time, it has been the chicken and the egg problem. Why make the mall tailored to high end stores if no high end stores are going to come to the city because of demographic studies? Now you are seeing a lot of different ones coming in. While there are plenty of exceptions, if you look many cities our size and slightly bigger, a Nordstrom or Saks is often in a mall... and that mall is often within the "outer loop" of the city - close enough to downtown, but not quite all the way out in the burbs. That in addition to Simon investing a lot of money to get upscale stores in their malls around the country (bottom line - high end malls are not the ones that are closing or failing right now) really leads me to believe we will see at least one new garage built and some sort of expansion - even perhaps an outside lifestyle component that a lot of malls have included in the next few years. Or perhaps I'm just wishing too much.

While Simon has been putting a lot of money into Penn Square for minor renovations, I would not be surprised if over the next five years, they undertake a massive expansion in an effort to capture many of the higher end stores that are looking to Oklahoma City. For a long time, it has been the chicken and the egg problem. Why make the mall tailored to high end stores if no high end stores are going to come to the city because of demographic studies? Now you are seeing a lot of different ones coming in. While there are plenty of exceptions, if you look many cities our size and slightly bigger, a Nordstrom or Saks is often in a mall... and that mall is often within the "outer loop" of the city - close enough to downtown, but not quite all the way out in the burbs. That in addition to Simon investing a lot of money to get upscale stores in their malls around the country (bottom line - high end malls are not the ones that are closing or failing right now) really leads me to believe we will see at least one new garage built and some sort of expansion - even perhaps an outside lifestyle component that a lot of malls have included in the next few years. Or perhaps I'm just wishing too much.

I hope you are right. Penn Square could easily be retrofitted into something larger and more upscale than it is today. Replace most surface parking with garage parking and build another wing and anchor spot.

People don't want to hear it and will probably flame me for saying it, but OKC has very poor retail for a city its size. People can argue that Tulsa doesn't always get everything first, which is true, but nobody can argue that Tulsa doesn't have more upscale retail than OKC. If something is upscale, it has historically went to Tulsa first or in a lot of cases Tulsa only. I am not trying to belittle OKC or make anybody mad, I am just stating reality. I would say most cities the size of OKC would be like Tulsa and OKC's current offerings combined. Tulsa is stronger on the high end and OKC is stronger on the mid/low end.

When you start talking cities that are slightly bigger its an entirely different ballgame. Penn Square Mall may be great by OKC standards but if you drop it in Charlotte, it would be competing with Carolina Place for THIRD or FOURTH best mall in the metro. Charlotte is massive now and its growing so fast it can no longer be compared to OKC, but in the mid 2000s when they remodeled Southpark attracting the type of retailers most Oklahomans drive to Dallas for and built Northlake, it wasn't much larger than OKC is today.

I hope you are right. Penn Square could easily be retrofitted into something larger and more upscale than it is today. Replace most surface parking with garage parking and build another wing and anchor spot.

People don't want to hear it and will probably flame me for saying it, but OKC has very poor retail for a city its size. People can argue that Tulsa doesn't always get everything first, which is true, but nobody can argue that Tulsa doesn't have more upscale retail than OKC. If something is upscale, it has historically went to Tulsa first or in a lot of cases Tulsa only. I am not trying to belittle OKC or make anybody mad, I am just stating reality. I would say most cities the size of OKC would be like Tulsa and OKC's current offerings combined. Tulsa is stronger on the high end and OKC is stronger on the mid/low end.

When you start talking cities that are slightly bigger its an entirely different ballgame. Penn Square Mall may be great by OKC standards but if you drop it in Charlotte, it would be competing with Carolina Place for THIRD or FOURTH best mall in the metro. Charlotte is massive now and its growing so fast it can no longer be compared to OKC, but in the mid 2000s when they remodeled Southpark attracting the type of retailers most Oklahomans drive to Dallas for and built Northlake, it wasn't much larger than OKC is today.As far as Tulsa having "more upscale" shopping than us, I'm going to disagree for the most part. That may be true in a few senses, but not quite. I am somewhat familiar with Tulsa and once we get the Von Maur in place, Tulsa will have seriously lost its edge on us(if they even had one). Another thing to note, if Kroger is going to make a push in the OKC market in the next few years(which is what I hear from one of my cousins who is a regional store director for Krogers), than our grocer scene will be better than Tulsa's.

The only thing I can think of that I am jealous of Tulsa having in terms of retail, is their grocery stores. They do have much more nicer grocers than we do, but with the "upscale" grocers we already have like Uptown, Whole Foods, Native Roots, and maybe you could include include Sprouts on that, we have already made a competitive push, but Tulsa still beats on that, imo. If Tulsa based Reasors enters the market and builds more stores than just Edmond, Uptown expands into other places(Midtown Grocery would really make sense), and Whole Foods build 2-3 more locations(which has been rumored), Tulsa will have lost its edge on us and we will be on the same level as pretty much every other city our size.

If Costco and Krogers enter the market, which is a real possibility, than I'd say we will be "above average" and on a slightly worse scale than Austin or Dallas. If we secure an HEB, Central Market, Harris Teeter, and Tom Thumb. . . . OKC will truly have transformed into badass city with power of over 9000!!!!!!!!!!

While Simon has been putting a lot of money into Penn Square for minor renovations, I would not be surprised if over the next five years, they undertake a massive expansion in an effort to capture many of the higher end stores that are looking to Oklahoma City. For a long time, it has been the chicken and the egg problem. Why make the mall tailored to high end stores if no high end stores are going to come to the city because of demographic studies? Now you are seeing a lot of different ones coming in. While there are plenty of exceptions, if you look many cities our size and slightly bigger, a Nordstrom or Saks is often in a mall... and that mall is often within the "outer loop" of the city - close enough to downtown, but not quite all the way out in the burbs. That in addition to Simon investing a lot of money to get upscale stores in their malls around the country (bottom line - high end malls are not the ones that are closing or failing right now) really leads me to believe we will see at least one new garage built and some sort of expansion - even perhaps an outside lifestyle component that a lot of malls have included in the next few years. Or perhaps I'm just wishing too much.

I'm pretty sure if you dig a few pages back, it's already been verified they have expansion plans. Also I believe you mean inner loop and not outer loop.

I've heard that Penn Square has a long waiting list of tenants wanting to get in and its size is its biggest limitation. One thing I wonder though is if that were true, why are stores like Image opening up in the mall?

I'm guessing they're trying to find a big enough permanent tenant to fill the old Lane Bryant and they're leasing it to Image for the time being or Image must've offered a lot for the space.

Really awesome store. Was just there. . . is there any truth to the rumor that Bill Gates was there. Heard a couple people saying that, but I think it is BS. If recall, he owns a lakefront house on Grand Lake though and I can't remember how, but I thought he had some kind of ties to Oklahoma.

His wife is from Dallas, a Ursaline graduate. That and his time at MITS in Albuquerque are about the closest ties near Oklahoma that I know of.

I'm guessing they're trying to find a big enough permanent tenant to fill the old Lane Bryant and they're leasing it to Image for the time being or Image must've offered a lot for the space.

H&M would be perfect to fill that space but it sounds like they have their eyes on Quail.

H&M would be perfect to fill that space but it sounds like they have their eyes on Quail.

I think that really is for the best as well. It's in OKC's best interest for both malls to stay healthy. I would like to see more upscale tenants in Penn though and hope low-end tenants like Image and Windsor are kept to a minimum.

I would like to see Dillards add a floor or two on top of the SW/C location, move the merchandise in the Dillards next to the food court down and then that whole space could easily be an H&M or some other large anchor.

I would like to see Dillards add a floor or two on top of the SW/C location, move the merchandise in the Dillards next to the food court down and then that whole space could easily be an H&M or some other large anchor.

That's actually a good idea. Instead of having a separate men's and women's Dillard's, expand one and combine them and make the other a Nordstrom or Saks.

That's actually a good idea. Instead of having a separate men's and women's Dillard's, expand one and combine them and make the other a Nordstrom or Saks.

They did that at Woodland Hills in Tulsa and it looks pretty seamless.

That's actually a good idea. Instead of having a separate men's and women's Dillard's, expand one and combine them and make the other a Nordstrom or Saks.

That's the spirit!! It's the most logical solution without having to build onto the mall.

That's the spirit!! It's the most logical solution without having to build onto the mall.

Agreed. Back in the '90s when I lived in OKC before, there was a single Dillard's at Penn Square and the current Men's Dillard's was Ward's I believe. I doubt Dillard's though would be willing to give up that stop for a competitor though. While this would be the most logical solution, building onto the mall would be far easier because Simon would be in control over that. Dillard's owns most of their stores rather than renting, so getting that space wouldn't be as easy as it seems.

Here is an example of how an expansion could work. I think this would be amazing if ever done and would propel Penn Square Mall and OKC retail to the next level.

5060

I am curious if the existing parking garage on the east side could be added to and then extended north into that other parking lot that is so rarely used. If they could widen the road that wraps around the north side of the mall to at least three lanes to make it easy for people to turn in and then have a massive parking structure wrap all the way around the north side of the mall, that would keep the south side of the mall open for expansion in that area between the west Dillards and the east Dillards. But they just did shell out some money to redo both of the entrances facin the south parking lots, so chances of that happening are slim to none. In theory, they could add on to the mall by putting something in south of JCPenny and east of the eastern Dillards. All they would have to do to make that work is make the entrance a little nicer instead of a maintenance hallway. Not sure what would be done with the loading docks on the east side of that Dillards though.

Agreed. Back in the '90s when I lived in OKC before, there was a single Dillard's at Penn Square and the current Men's Dillard's was Ward's I believe. I doubt Dillard's though would be willing to give up that stop for a competitor though. While this would be the most logical solution, building onto the mall would be far easier because Simon would be in control over that. Dillard's owns most of their stores rather than renting, so getting that space wouldn't be as easy as it seems.

Didn't there used to be like a small two floor dillards next to the western ( women's) dillards? I know that the Area where Hollister, express and forever 21 used to be dillards and there was an escalator that led to the south entrance

$250,000 building permit for a new Tilly's at Penn Square.

I know this isn't a super-prestigious retailer but this will be OKC's second location and they have yet to open in Tulsa (don't mean that in a snarky way, just adding them to the list when others try to claim everything goes to Tulsa first).

But..but I thought Tulsa was the pinnacle of retailing in the Midwest and Versace and Louis Vutton were in bidding wars to get into Utica Square :)

West coast/skater/surfer wear is surprisingly popular in OKC, especially given the fact we are supposed to all be in cowboy boots and wranglers.

FYI there was a post somewhere this weekend (can't find it at the moment) saying the renovation was done.

$250,000 building permit for a new Tilly's at Penn Square.

I know this isn't a super-prestigious retailer but this will be OKC's second location and they have yet to open in Tulsa (don't mean that in a snarky way, just adding them to the list when others try to claim everything goes to Tulsa first).

you can add this when we get a Costco's, Trader Joe's or these other big boys before Tulsa :)

Trader Joe's is coming to OKC first and so did Microsoft. Nordstrom Rack also.

The stuff that's a really big deal and high profile i.e. Costco, Saks, Fresh Market, Urban Outfitters, etc going to Tulsa first helps create the perception that they do get everything first. Of course they don't, but a lot more people want and care about Costco or Saks than Tilly's. Good to see Penn Square getting this.

As to who is first with another retail store, I couldn't care less, and marvel in wonder at those who do care.

As to who is first with another retail store, I couldn't care less, and marvel in wonder at those who do care.

+1. If we end up with one, who the hell cares who got it first?

anyone know if The Art of Shaving is open yet at Penn?

anyone know if The Art of Shaving is open yet at Penn?

Their website has Oklahoma City listed as a location without the little "coming soon to:" above Oklahoma City, Penn Square Mall. That makes me assume it's open, but I don't have visual proof beyond their store listing.

anyone know if The Art of Shaving is open yet at Penn?

They've been open for a couple months.

It is open

anyone know if The Art of Shaving is open yet at Penn?They've been open for awhile now. I went a month ago and bought some shaving utensils there. Very nice products, just make sure to feed your wallet before you go.

Went to Penn Square this afternoon for the first time since the holidays and could not believe how bad the grounds look. It looks like dudes in their giant pickup trucks were parking and peeling out on the grass. Now the grass and landscaping is completely tore up with massive tire tracks and mud everywhere. FYI this is after a multimillion dollar renovation. Is the premier mall in the state or the state fair? I guarantee you other marquee malls in the region do not look so shabby.

I typically wouldn't care that much but considering this is supposed to be the nicest mall around and a gateway to the city's second most significant commercial district, it really just looks bad. I noticed that despite the back parking lot being half empty today there were still people parked on the grass. I am tempted to be "that guy" and send an email to Simon Property.

Went to Penn Square this afternoon for the first time since the holidays and could not believe how bad the grounds look. It looks like dudes in their giant pickup trucks were parking and peeling out on the grass. Now the grass and landscaping is completely tore up with massive tire tracks and mud everywhere. FYI this is after a multimillion dollar renovation. Is the premier mall in the state or the state fair? I guarantee you other marquee malls in the region do not look so shabby.

I typically wouldn't care that much but considering this is supposed to be the nicest mall around and a gateway to the city's second most significant commercial district, it really just looks bad. I noticed that despite the back parking lot being half empty today there were still people parked on the grass. I am tempted to be "that guy" and send an email to Simon Property.

A bigger parking garage would help solve that problem. During peak times parking becomes pretty scarce but they block off half of the front and back lots for valet parking during December as well, making finding parking spots really difficult. I've been guilty of parking on the grass a few times after driving around looking for a spot for 20 minutes during the holidays.

We always park on the grass during the holidays, there is nothing wrong with it. Hopefully the build a bigger garage soon.

Simon has been working a lot inside and outside of the mall. I wish they would keep the cars off the grass as well, but they've really been improving things. New signage (finally!) has gone up on the corner of Penn and Northwest Expressway and a new sign on the west side of the mall. If somebody is out and about, you might snap a picture. I drove by too fast with no stop or I would have taken a pic.

We always park on the grass during the holidays, there is nothing wrong with it. Hopefully the build a bigger garage soon.

They need to build two more garages and use the remaining parking to expand the mall, in my opinion.

They need to build two more garages and use the remaining parking to expand the mall, in my opinion.I agree. I know you posted something awhile back that was pretty neat.

They've been open for awhile now. I went a month ago and bought some shaving utensils there. Very nice products, just make sure to feed your wallet before you go.

I've been using them for years before they came to OKC, I've also been petitioning them for years to open in Penn Sq. Actually if you get the chance, go to Shave Shop in Classen Curve, they have better stuff; some more expensive and some less expensive than AOS. Even most of the less expensive stuff is better quality.

Went to Penn Square this afternoon for the first time since the holidays and could not believe how bad the grounds look. It looks like dudes in their giant pickup trucks were parking and peeling out on the grass. Now the grass and landscaping is completely tore up with massive tire tracks and mud everywhere. FYI this is after a multimillion dollar renovation. Is the premier mall in the state or the state fair? I guarantee you other marquee malls in the region do not look so shabby.

I typically wouldn't care that much but considering this is supposed to be the nicest mall around and a gateway to the city's second most significant commercial district, it really just looks bad. I noticed that despite the back parking lot being half empty today there were still people parked on the grass. I am tempted to be "that guy" and send an email to Simon Property. Agree, this remodel, including the recently added new signage, was executed poorly and not up to Simon standards. I've been tempted to email call Simon HQ as well, because it looks like a chop shop job of construction and design. The exterior remodel and signage looks like something Randy Hogan and crew would come up with (a la Lower Bricktown)

Agree, this remodel, including the recently added new signage, was executed poorly and not up to Simon standards. I've been tempted to email call Simon HQ as well, because it looks like a chop shop job of construction and design. The exterior remodel and signage looks like something Randy Hogan and crew would come up with (a la Lower Bricktown)

Well to be fair, Penn Square Mall is upscale by OKC standards but is actually a pretty average mall. I don't really see any problems with the new signage for the type of mall Penn Square is and is comparable to similar Tier 2 malls I've been to in other cities. Penn Square is not Northpark in Dallas or Southpark in Charlotte.

I understand that, but regardless, it's not up to average Simon Standards.

Those new signs are pretty lame.

We always park on the grass during the holidays, there is nothing wrong with it. Hopefully the build a bigger garage soon.

Says you maybe. There are curbs and grass there for a reason, and it's not for you to drive over and park. There's always parking available on the north end.

I understand that, but regardless, it's not up to average Simon Standards.

The only Simon malls I am familiar with are Southpark in Charlotte which is a very high-end mall, and McCain Mall in Little Rock which is a low end one. Penn Square is a mid-level mall. Do you have any examples of what could/should have been done that would be appropriate for that type of mall?

Ok, I went ahead and put my money where my mouth is about my shared concerns and filled out their contact form. For anyone else wanting to do the same, I'll save you time with the direct link to their contract form:

https://www.simon.com/contact

Can somebody be specific about the problems they have with Simon on the remodel? Don't just throw around generalities. What specifically is wrong? I think Penn Square looks great. I don't understand the problems.

Can somebody be specific about the problems they have with Simon on the remodel? Don't just throw around generalities. What specifically is wrong? I think Penn Square looks great. I don't understand the problems.

I agree. If Penn Square was a top tier mall they may have a point but it's not. I think it looks great for a mid-range indoor shopping mall. It looks far nicer than Woodland Hills in Tulsa, which I think really does look pretty bad.

Says you maybe. There are curbs and grass there for a reason, and it's not for you to drive over and park. There's always parking available on the north end.eh, you'll get over it. Don't really care what the curbs are there for and neither do the other hundreds of people that park there.

Says you maybe. There are curbs and grass there for a reason, and it's not for you to drive over and park. There's always parking available on the north end.

This.

While parking at Penn Square can be tight there are really only 3 or 4 weekends out of the year when overflow parking is needed. Saturday was certainly not one of them. It reeks of laziness of those who do it (and dare I say its a bit low class); with that in mind Penn Square could stop it if they really wanted to by putting up some aptly placed signs. And I really wouldn't care about any of this if it weren't destroying their grounds and making a large commercial district look more worn than it should.


Ok, I went ahead and put my money where my mouth is about my shared concerns and filled out their contact form. For anyone else wanting to do the same, I'll save you time with the direct link to their contract form:

https://www.simon.com/contact

Thank you. May just do this.

eh, you'll get over it. Don't really care what the curbs are there for and neither do the other hundreds of people that park there.

Well with that line of thinking, you shouldn't mind when your neighbor throws a party and several party-goers decide to park in your yard, since curbs don't mean anything and other people are doing it too. A quite jerk-ish line of thinking on your part if you ask me.

Well with that line of thinking, you shouldn't mind when your neighbor throws a party and several party-goers decide to park in your yard, since curbs don't mean anything and other people are doing it too. A quite jerk-ish line of thinking on your part if you ask me.

Agreed. It's rather sad to see that people have such little regard for the appearance of their (our) city; so much so that they'll justify the asinine doings by saying hundreds of other people are doing it, so that makes it okay to tear up one of the nicer pieces of real estate in the state of Oklahoma. As bchris02 has mentioned, it's not even one of the nicer Simon malls, it doesn't need any help by our outstanding citizens -- that drive trucks with wheels on it made for tearing up terrain -- to park on it. I'm sure Pluton drives a smaller car, so he's not contributing to the deterioration of the grounds, but it's still a little selfish to tell others they'll get over it because hundreds of people are doing it. I want people to drive by the nicer places in & around OKC & say "hey, I didn't know OKC had such nice looking places" instead of "it doesn't surprise me that OKC has such low standards for curb appeal, nothing but rednecks live here anyway".