View Full Version : Penn Square Mall
okatty 03-06-2015, 11:11 AM Great pics! Thanks for posting. Brings back some memories. We didn't live in OKC but would come up on weekends on occassion and John A Brown was my mom's go to place for the Easter clothing! She got me to go by promising an 8-track at the cool music store that was there.
Penn Square would be wise to recreate that old sign.
It was awesome and what they have there now on the NE corner of Penn & NW Expressway is so lame.
Soonerman 03-06-2015, 11:23 AM I really like seeing the old pictures of Montgomery Ward, I use to go to that Wards with my mom as a kid and I've always wondered what it looked like in the open air mall. Of course now Dillard's is in the Wards building.
Bullbear 03-06-2015, 11:29 AM Penn Square would be wise to recreate that old sign.
It was awesome and what they have there now on the NE corner of Penn & NW Expressway is so lame.
I was thinking the same.. the past two signs they have had on that corner have been horrible.. to have this recreated and placed there would be great!
I really like seeing the old pictures of Montgomery Ward, I use to go to that Wards with my mom as a kid and I've always wondered what it looked like in the open air mall. Of course now Dillard's is in the Wards building.
My older sister worked there part-time when I was a kid so I remember it pretty well.
They also had a big auto service center roughly where Whiskey Cake is now.
But as a kid, by far the strongest memory was the huge Santa that rose out of the center court before they enclosed the center. It towered over the shops and you could see it from a good distance. And then there was a small Santa house where you had your photo taken.
I have a bunch of those in our family photo album. That was my equivalent of Ralphie's Santa perch and slide in A Christmas Story.
Check this out folks, Lot's of old pics of the mall on this page. OKC Mod » Penn Square: Oklahoma?s First Modern Shopping Mall (http://okcmod.com/?p=6702)
Those pics were fun. Thank you. I agree about the sign. Everything old is new again.
Urbanized 03-07-2015, 08:56 AM The clock from the old PSM sign continued to be displayed locally for a long time after the sign was replaced. However, it was removed during the most recent refurbishment of this water tower. Not sure where it is now, or if there are plans to put it back. And yes, I know...the clock face is not the same, but it IS the same clock, trust me. It was big news when Jim Brewer placed it there, years ago.
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/bricktown-water-tower-sign-okc-bill-cobb.jpg
shawnw 03-09-2015, 01:35 PM That's a really cool detail, thanks for sharing.
I saw a building permit a couple of months ago to convert suites 1024 and 1025 to shell space, which is usually a precursor for a new tenant.
I believe this may be next to Eddie Bauer, which is also being remodeled.
Anyone know exactly where this new space is being created? Maybe reducing Eddie Bauer?
I figured it out:
OKCTalk - Madewell store coming to OKC (http://www.okctalk.com/content/141-madewell-store-coming-okc.html)
Teo9969 04-09-2015, 04:12 PM Pete you're something else. Excellent work.
We simply can't thank you enough for all you do for us on this site and for those who this site reaches. You provide an incredible tool and community for us to engage our city.
Thanks!
It helps that so much great things are happening in OKC but I certainly have a passion for figuring things out.
zookeeper 04-09-2015, 04:43 PM Pete you're something else. Excellent work.
We simply can't thank you enough for all you do for us on this site and for those who this site reaches. You provide an incredible tool and community for us to engage our city.
Actually, he's not real. He is a shadow company with a staff of 1000 researching 24/7 (or so it seems at times!).
Haha, the more I do this, the more avenues I discover. It's all about triangulation... And having an incredible network due to all the people that come to the site.
If I can just catch a thread of something, there is always a way to get the rest of the info.
Ironically, the approach of just contacting people directly (like the mall in this case) is almost always the least fruitful. Many, many times the landlord/owner/retailer/business will just flat out lie or refer me to a PR firm who denies everything; and then I have to tell them, "Well, I'm actually holding a building permit in my hand" and then they backtrack but still say nothing.
And then I often wonder why I even bothered to call them because I already had the info anyway.
Urbanized 04-09-2015, 08:11 PM You bothered to call them because you know it's the right thing to do from a journalistic standpoint and because if you can get them to go on the record it's far more credible than rumor, no matter how good the unnamed sources are.
You bothered to call them because you know it's the right thing to do from a journalistic standpoint and because if you can get them to go on the record it's far more credible than rumor, no matter how good the unnamed sources are.
I actually disagree with most of this but we are getting way off subject here.
Teo9969 04-10-2015, 01:32 AM I actually disagree with most of this but we are getting way off subject here.
I mean, I think he's right about the parties in question going on record being more credible than "rumor".
The bigger discussion is whether or not that credibility is valuable, to which my personal answer would be a resounding @#%* no. I simply don't care about the developer's readiness to reveal their projects at the breaking of a story. I just want to know that something is on the move so that I can be aware of what's going on in my city. I also tend to think that their ability to keep things hush-hush for so long leads to an incredible amount of hubris and takes out the social component of development which is, imo, unhealthy for all parties involved.
metro 04-10-2015, 01:55 PM I mean, I think he's right about the parties in question going on record being more credible than "rumor".
The bigger discussion is whether or not that credibility is valuable, to which my personal answer would be a resounding @#%* no. I simply don't care about the developer's readiness to reveal their projects at the breaking of a story. I just want to know that something is on the move so that I can be aware of what's going on in my city. I also tend to think that their ability to keep things hush-hush for so long leads to an incredible amount of hubris and takes out the social component of development which is, imo, unhealthy for all parties involved. Well freakin said!
yukong 04-10-2015, 02:32 PM But as a kid, by far the strongest memory was the huge Santa that rose out of the center court before they enclosed the center. It towered over the shops and you could see it from a good distance. And then there was a small Santa house where you had your photo taken.
I have a bunch of those in our family photo album. That was my equivalent of Ralphie's Santa perch and slide in A Christmas Story.
Pete: Please post some of those pictures. One of my fondest and yes, strongest memories as a child of the 60s was that huge Santa display in the center court. You could see it from all around the area. I always wanted to go there and go up under the Santa. I haven't seen pics of that in ages and ages. I would love to see them again
warreng88 01-10-2016, 08:13 PM I walked the mall today and noticed several openings in very key places, like first floor, center of the mall. Any idea what is going in the new spots?
I walked the mall today and noticed several openings in very key places, like first floor, center of the mall. Any idea what is going in the new spots?
I've seen a bunch of building permits come through for existing tenants.
I bet they are just shifting some stores around.
Urbanized 01-10-2016, 08:55 PM This would be the time of year to do it.
Tundra 01-10-2016, 09:55 PM The few visits I made out here this Christmas, just didn't feel like it was as busy as in past years.....
bchris02 01-10-2016, 10:08 PM The few visits I made out here this Christmas, just didn't feel like it was as busy as in past years.....
Must have been when you were there. At the times I was there it seemed like a usual Christmas rush.
Snowman 01-11-2016, 02:42 AM The few visits I made out here this Christmas, just didn't feel like it was as busy as in past years.....
While I do not doubt more people are doing part or all of their Christmas shopping online now verses prior years. Some of that feeling less busy is probably just it fell at the end of the week, where the last few years it kept falling early/mid week, the last weekend before is basically the heaviest shopping days for Christmas but 2015 had the max days possible during the week to spread out the last minute shoppers.
Plus if you are shopping at smaller stores in a mall, they tend to handle the Christmas rush better verses a big box or anchor store due to better staff/customer ratio. Penn Square does have a tenancy to jam traffic on the way out during a rush but even that may not feel as much an issue if you either covered the last of your list with that visit or do not feel like you are running out of time while leaving.
It also would not be surprising as they have been gradually transitioning to a higher end product mix it may over time reduce the rush they get, especially at the anchors which will have the worst lines in the mall, though there are plenty of malls around that would prefer that issue to their problems.
I don't think anyone has mentioned this but the Apple store has temporarily relocated to the 2nd level of the mall while they expand and completely renovate the previous location on the 1st level.
They took over the old Coach space next door and today they dropped a $2.5 million (!) building permit.
That's $2.5 MM just for the improvements, not including furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Asked one of the employees about this last week and they said it will be a pretty ambitious design.
HangryHippo 05-04-2016, 02:19 PM I don't think anyone has mentioned this but the Apple store has temporarily relocated to the 2nd level of the mall while they expand and completely renovate the previous local on the 1st level.
They took over the old Coach space next door and today they dropped a $2.5 million (!) building permit.
That's $2.5 MM just for the improvements, not including furniture fixtures and equipment.
Asked one of the employees about this last week and they said it will be a pretty ambitious design.
Is the Coach store elsewhere in the mall or did it close?
Coach moved into a new store in the mall.
And BTW, Texas de Brazil is well under construction now.
HangryHippo 05-04-2016, 02:22 PM Cool. That Apple store has needed expansion for a long, long time now.
Roger S 05-04-2016, 02:32 PM And BTW, Texas de Brazil is well under construction now.
Can't wait for this.... I can put myself in a protein induced coma eating those Brazilian Sausages and Flank Steak and it's much easier to drive myself home from a protein induced coma from PSM than it is driving from Addison Texas.
brianinok 05-04-2016, 02:43 PM And BTW, Texas de Brazil is well under construction now.I really, really miss Cantina Laredo. It was a horrible location for them though. I don't think that's the kind of place people will fight to get to, and you had to fight to get to it (bad parking if you aren't going to the mall, and no mall entrance). Texas de Brazil I bet does well since it's the kind of destination restaurant people will fight to get to. I might boycott them for a while out of protest for Cantina closing. I sure wish Cantina Laredo would open another location somewhere in OKC.
I never went to Cantina Laredo and never heard anyone even mentioned it until we found out they were going out.
That spot needs a destination like Texas de Brazil and I'm sure they will pack them in... And help bring more mall traffic as well.
bchris02 05-04-2016, 03:06 PM I don't think anyone has mentioned this but the Apple store has temporarily relocated to the 2nd level of the mall while they expand and completely renovate the previous location on the 1st level.
They took over the old Coach space next door and today they dropped a $2.5 million (!) building permit.
That's $2.5 MM just for the improvements, not including furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Asked one of the employees about this last week and they said it will be a pretty ambitious design.
Good news. The old Apple store was probably one of the smaller ones I have ever seen and it's usually so packed its hard to maneuver in it. Glad to see they are renovating and expanding.
2Lanez 05-04-2016, 11:01 PM The new Coach storefront looks really good. Like, high-end mall good.
Thomas Vu 05-05-2016, 02:11 AM Can't wait for this.... I can put myself in a protein induced coma eating those Brazilian Sausages and Flank Steak and it's much easier to drive myself home from a protein induced coma from PSM than it is driving from Addison Texas.
You could go to Shawnee, but I'd advise against that.
I could go for some Picanha about now, but when in dallas if I'm going to a brazilian steakhouse my favorite thing at Texas de Brazil was the bottled water. Not that I'm in a position to be picky in OK
Jeepnokc 05-05-2016, 07:50 AM I never went to Cantina Laredo and never heard anyone even mentioned it until we found out they were going out.
That spot needs a destination like Texas de Brazil and I'm sure they will pack them in... And help bring more mall traffic as well.
We had gone several times. They had great margaritas. Food was excellent. Was a tad expensive for mexican food. My teens didn't care for the menu so never really was in rotation. I am surprised they didn't do better here and I wonder if location had anything to do with that.
Hollister is doing a massive $473K remodel.
Not sure if they are expanding or not, but that is for 6,500 SF.
SomeGuy 11-09-2016, 05:12 PM Hollister is doing a massive $473K remodel.
Not sure if they are expanding or not, but that is for 6,500 SF.
A lot of their stores ditched the surf shack model recently, for a look similar to this http://www.bluewater.co.uk/en/stores/~/media/Retail/UK/BW/Images/Stores/Store%20Fronts/Hollister1.jpg
At least you can finally see in their stores
2Lanez 12-09-2016, 02:24 PM Hadn't heard about this before this morning: http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5530192
Wonder who the retailer is. Nordstrom?
OkiePoke 12-09-2016, 02:26 PM Hadn't heard about this before this morning: http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5530192
Wonder who the retailer is. Nordstrom?
I would assume this is the Container Store on the NW corner of the property.
jbkrems 12-09-2016, 02:28 PM It is regarding the Container Store as it is an out parcel on mall property owned by Simon. There is another thread about this same issue.
SomeGuy 12-29-2016, 04:13 PM Limited is apparently closing down at Penn Square Mall, ouch I wonder what that means for their other brands like Bath and Body Works and Express.
Limited is apparently closing down at Penn Square Mall, ouch I wonder what that means for their other brands like Bath and Body Works and Express.
Penn Square is raging right now and are choosing not to re-up with several tenants in order to get better ones.
Not sure that is the case here but I suspect it is. I'll check into it.
Chadanth 12-29-2016, 04:50 PM Limited is apparently closing down at Penn Square Mall, ouch I wonder what that means for their other brands like Bath and Body Works and Express.
Limited is closing everywhere.
2Lanez 12-29-2016, 05:39 PM Correct.
warreng88 01-13-2017, 08:37 AM Retail project gets zoning approval at Penn Square
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record January 12, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY – An unnamed retailer is one step closer to being next to Penn Square Mall, following the approval of a zoning change at the site.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission approved changing the zoning from office-1 and office-2 to a simplified planned unit development. The SPUD has a retail use only. The City Council still has to approve the change.
Simon Property Group is constructing a 23,000-square-foot building. The tenant has not been named.
Simon hired Oklahoma City attorney David Box to represent the company during the meeting. He said the zoning request change was consistent with the comprehensive plan for Penn Square Mall because it is bringing in a retail service.
“I asked the city if I went to them with an (office-1 or office-2) project what they would say, and city staff said they would have asked for something more,” he said.
He told the commission about several concessions the company was willing to offer in order to please the neighbors. Simon agreed to lower the light brightness one hour after closing. The company will build an 8-foot-tall screening wall on the east side of the trash receptacles. The SPUD will also limit the trash service to Monday to Saturdays, and excludes holidays.
Simon offered to build a 400-foot-long, 6-foot-tall fence separating the property from the neighborhood. Box said not all neighbors favored the fence, so Simon wanted to wait for the residents to make a decision.
“But once the store opens, the offer is revoked,” he said, adding that the project’s budget would be spent by that time. He pointed out that there’s already a tree line at the creek.
Box said Simon will also give the neighbors a contact name at Penn Square and with Simon Property Group should there be problems.
Several neighbors spoke at Thursday’s meeting, voicing their opposition to the zoning change. A petition was presented previously to the commission that had signatures from 27 percent of people who live within the zoning change’s legal boundaries.
Lester Murray said he’s heard people mention that times are tough and the city needs the sales tax money from the retailer.
“I think that’s the argument someone comes up with when they don’t have a good argument,” he said. “That sets a low bar.”
Commissioner Janis Powers said she’s listened to the neighbors’ concerns and this is a better solution than what could have happened with the existing office zoning. The two zoning types would allow for a six-story office tower.
Commissioner Bob Bright agreed with Powers, emphasizing the office building that could have been constructed.
_Cramer_ 01-18-2017, 04:58 PM This is the rumored Container Store, correct?
This is the rumored Container Store, correct?
Yes, and not a rumor.
That's absolutely who it is although the Penn Square people won't state it publicly.
Dubya61 03-13-2017, 01:25 PM http://www.dontwasteyourmoney.com/jcpenney-stores-closing-2017/2/
Says here that JCPenney is closing their PSM store this year.
Dustin 03-13-2017, 01:29 PM http://www.dontwasteyourmoney.com/jcpenney-stores-closing-2017/2/
Says here that JCPenney is closing their PSM store this year.
It's says potential closures.
OklahomaNick 03-13-2017, 01:33 PM http://www.dontwasteyourmoney.com/jcpenney-stores-closing-2017/2/
Says here that JCPenney is closing their PSM store this year.
Not official but looks very likely..
"Morningstar Credit Ratings has identified 39 stores most at risk of closing, based on the stores’ sales data."
bchris02 03-13-2017, 02:09 PM JC Penney isn't what it once was. Big box retailers have been chipping away at their customer base i.e. middle class families for a long time. I am personally glad Penn Square is taking this hit over QSM as I am confident that Penn will easily be able to find another anchor as successful as the mall is.
2Lanez 03-13-2017, 02:14 PM Nordstrom time!
jonny d 03-13-2017, 06:06 PM I think those same people said the Macy's was going to close there...I'll believe it when I see it.
David 03-14-2017, 09:16 AM http://www.dontwasteyourmoney.com/jcpenney-stores-closing-2017/2/
Says here that JCPenney is closing their PSM store this year.
Potential closures, as listed by an outside analysis firm and not any sort of actual announcement from the company itself. Same song and dance as the rumored Macy's closing.
jn1780 03-14-2017, 09:31 AM I guess the question is how bad is the Penn store's numbers and does that location's area fits with the company's vision for the future of the company. If they are not aiming to be more upscale it wouldn't make much sense to keep the Penn location open.
riflesforwatie 03-14-2017, 10:38 AM Doesn't mention Penn Square specifically but an interesting look at how the market views the mall business nowadays:
https://consumerist.com/2017/03/14/investors-betting-that-mall-owners-will-default-on-mortgages/
warreng88 03-19-2017, 07:50 AM CDI Contractors applied for $8.1 million building permit, per the Oklahoman:
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-building-permits-from-the-oklahoman-for-march-18-2017/article/5541635
Looking at their website, they do renos for Dillard's Stores. could both stores be getting a facelift?
It's for the Dillards on the west end of the mall.
Think Geek opened yesterday (4/28).
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