Was at PSM both days over the weekend. I could be wrong but it felt less busy Sunday, but that might just be normal traffic pattern.

https://www.koco.com/article/okc-police-release-photos-of-person-wanted-in-connection-with-shots-fired-at-penn-square-mall/30614156

Pictures of the suspect and three other people wanted for questioning.

https://www.koco.com/article/okc-police-release-photos-of-person-wanted-in-connection-with-shots-fired-at-penn-square-mall/30614156

Pictures of the suspect and three other people wanted for questioning.

And I don’t bust back because I shoot first . . .

I found the answer to my own question at the link below. Penn Square has not released a plan yet.

https://www.news9.com/story/41582158/police-investigate-after-shots-fired-at-penn-square-mall

They clarified that they use uniformed and plainclothes security, but failed to acknowledge any problems or announce any changes. They restrict media access to the property - nothing to see here, move along. That’s not confidence-inspiring.

Just average, every-day looking teens. The kid was wearing sandals for crying out loud. What a world.

In today’s Oklahoman, reporter Adam Kemp writes that PSM security “reported seeing two men arguing outside the movie theater.” Security said “they were about to step in when the attacker pulled a gun from his waistband and fired three to four shots before running away.”

It’s almost as if security personnel were visible and in immediate proximity, but the suspect still decided to shoot the intended victim.

It’s almost as if security personnel were visible and in immediate proximity, but the suspect still decided to shoot the victim.

He did not shoot the victim--there actually was no victim aside from a girl who was hit by a shell casing. Security was plain clothed so suggesting that the shooter knew security was present and fired the gun anyway is incorrect.

Went to Apple last night and noticed a police officer posted up near the front. Is there always an officer in Apple or is this related to the event last weekend?

I have learned through the years that industries with large amounts of public attendance are usually adjusting the appearance of their security force. A couple incidents in a month might lead a store or mall to ask their plain clothes store detective to wear a uniform. The line between lawless wasteland and police state is very fine and always shifting in the eyes of the public.

Went to Apple last night and noticed a police officer posted up near the front. Is there always an officer in Apple or is this related to the event last weekend?

There's always a cop in the Apple store.

There's always a cop in the Apple store.

There’s always Money in the Banana Stand.

Does anybody know why the PSM vehicle exit just northwest of The Container Store and the vehicle exit east of JC Penneys are blocked off with concrete barricades? Was this due to the fear of vandals and looters from the recent protesters? Someone please enlighten me. TIA

Does anybody know why the PSM vehicle exit just northwest of The Container Store and the vehicle exit east of JC Penneys are blocked off with concrete barricades? Was this due to the fear of vandals and looters from the recent protesters? Someone please enlighten me. TIA

I called and asked about this as I was very peeved about these closures. The management office said they were temporary, and put up due to the civil unrest. The lady I spoke with also said they would be removed in a few days. So, yes, it was due to fears of vandals and looters from the recent protests.

I called and asked about this as I was very peeved about these closures. The management office said they were temporary, and put up due to the civil unrest. The lady I spoke with also said they would be removed in a few days. So, yes, it was due to fears of vandals and looters from the recent protests.
That’s funny. It’s a seldom used obscure exit way away from the mall. It leads to basically a cemetery. Any unrest was miles away. There are two larger entryways a few hundred feet away that haven’t been blocked and others all around the perimeter. They didn’t have a bunch of guards or barriers. This road block would do NOTHING to stop anybody from getting on the premises. Their security director would be pretty silly if that was caused by protestors miles away. Maybe he was afraid of rioting Nichols Hills people who live nearby... I hear that Rich Lives Matter is a pretty violent group. Lol.

It’s a dangerous exit that leads onto a buy street in an odd way. Maybe, just maybe THAT’s why it’s blocked off.

Looks like the Ann Taylor store at Penn Square is closing after the parent company declared bankruptcy.

I was at the mall this afternoon --- I was surprised, despite the fact that several stores were closed (either permanently or temporarily) how busy it was. I wanted to park in the covered parking or garage area, and it was difficult finding a space. I know school is out and many young people are out shopping before school and or college starts again, but with Covid I was just surprised to see quite a few people there.

^

Especially with the theater stil being closed.

Is the Apple store closing permanently? thought it had opened temporarily but heard it was closing all the way down? can anyone confirm?

Is the Apple store closing permanently? thought it had opened temporarily but heard it was closing all the way down? can anyone confirm?

No, not closing permanently.

They just spent millions upgrading that store.

No, not closing permanently.

They just spent millions upgrading that store.

That store does so much business no way it would close for good! If i remember correctly - when they started rolling out the upgrades it was one of the first to get remodeled.

I read that Apple made the decision to temporarily re-close the stores that may have reopened after mass shutdowns. They'll eventually reopen.

thanks everyone.... didn't think so, had to debunk theories.

Apparently Gap is closing down at Penn Square. Justice, Ann Taylor, GNC and Lerner/New YorkCo have all closed.

Apparently Gap is closing down at Penn Square. Justice, Ann Taylor, GNC and Lerner/New YorkCo have all closed.

I am not surprised about Gap, it is not good as they used to be

Apparently Gap is closing down at Penn Square. Justice, Ann Taylor, GNC and Lerner/New YorkCo have all closed.

Williams-Sonoma as well. . .

Apparently Gap is closing down at Penn Square. Justice, Ann Taylor, GNC and Lerner/New YorkCo have all closed.

Is gap moving to a external spot as this would mean there isn’t a gap in okc.

I could see them moving to more of a strip center

^

Gap is closing a ton of stores.

They are really putting their money into Old Navy.

I'm going to miss William Sonoma.

I'm going to miss William Sonoma.

Not me. Based on the customer service I received my last two visits to that store, they didn’t want to be in business. Sur Le Tab in Classen Curve has gotten my money ever since.

Apparently Gap is closing down at Penn Square. Justice, Ann Taylor, GNC and Lerner/New YorkCo have all closed.

... boy won't that leave quite a ... Gap...

Sur is a much smaller store with less selection or atleast it did right after opening when went in. WS had a much better selection of All Clad and other products it seemed.

... boy won't that leave quite a ... Gap...
**chefs kiss**

Is this the beginning of the end? I can't remember the place ever having that many empty spots at once. If they start opening local mom-and-pop t-shirt and hat stores in those spaces, you know the place is on its way to closing.....

Retail mall workers might be better off working for Amazon distribution centers as malls seem to be in a downward trend.

Until the recent and temporary problems, Penn Square was almost completely full and very busy.

Ridiculous to suggest it is going to fail or even experience significant vacancy beyond the current pandemic.

Until the recent and temporary problems, Penn Square was almost completely full and very busy.

Ridiculous to suggest it is going to fail or even experience significant vacancy beyond the current pandemic.

i believe they also had a wait list ...

My only concern regarding Penn Square Mall is that, from a completely non-mall-industry random citizen viewpoint, once a mall gets starts to become seen as a dying mall it always seems hard to come back from that.

i believe they also had a wait list ...

Hopefully once things get back to normal this will mean some high end new to market stores will move in.

Is this the beginning of the end? I can't remember the place ever having that many empty spots at once. If they start opening local mom-and-pop t-shirt and hat stores in those spaces, you know the place is on its way to closing.....

Are you totally ignoring the effects of the pandemic? Context is important in analysis.

My only concern regarding Penn Square Mall is that, from a completely non-mall-industry random citizen viewpoint, once a mall gets starts to become seen as a dying mall it always seems hard to come back from that.

I see PSM not having any issues with bouncing back. Their location is the best of all the OKC malls. Crossroads never updated their interior like PSM did, so I can see why that mall spiraled. Quail is completely changing their tenant mix to better situate themselves as a destination with a multitude of things to do, besides just shopping.

they need a makover like I mentioned malls here are/have done-ing.

Long term viability requires acknowledgment that the sector has changed; long gone are the MALL days. People now want immediate, quick access so Penn should move key stores to front the exterior (charging higher rents of course) while keeping staples, local, and general foodie shops in the traditional mall section. While Penn is at it they could build a multi-storey parking garage(s) in the current lots with even more stores fronting the streets. This could "tie" into Oak and a revived 50 Penn across the street to create a true retail powerhouse district with Penn's position remaining as the retail leader for the state.

Relevency is key, currently nobody in OK is doing it but Penn should start it before Oak is realized.

Well OAK has to be realized first, and its full realization is at least 5 years away at this point.

Oklahoma City Retail is still substantially nascent and has few areas that are legitimate retail destinations. The NHP/Classen Curve/Belle isle Station/PSM + OAK if it becomes a thing is still far and away the strongest/densest 1-mile radius retail sector in the metro area, particularly for anything upscale. And the reason for that is Nichols Hills along with the ability of Penn Square to draw people in from all over the metro.

I do tend to agree that Penn Square needs to start looking into making better use of its land and find ways to include some additional space for new types of experiences beyond what they current structure can provide, not because they absolutely have to in order to stay relevant in the short to mid-term, but because they don't want to have to play catch-up in the long-run as OKC continues to evolve. Always better to be the innovator than the obsolete.

^

They will likely have plenty of opportunity to remake the mall as there are currently 2 Dillards and 1 JCP.

You'd think at least one big spot is going to be opening soon.

What'd really be nice regarding the mall is if it actually hooked into the city sidewalk network in a sane way. I've walked to the mall once or twice from where I live, and it's a nice enough trip up right until the last 50 yards or so where it's a question of walking unprotected across Penn or walking unprotected across Northwest Expressway.

What'd really be nice regarding the mall is if it actually hooked into the city sidewalk network in a sane way. I've walked to the mall once or twice from where I live, and it's a nice enough trip up right until the last 50 yards or so where it's a question of walking unprotected across Penn or walking unprotected across Northwest Expressway.

Yes, I've made this point several times.

I live very close and walked once, which was enough to not try it again.

^

They will likely have plenty of opportunity to remake the mall as there are currently 2 Dillards and 1 JCP.

You'd think at least one big spot is going to be opening soon.

Tough one to predict...if Dillard's was to close another location in the immediate metro between Quail Springs and Penn Square, one would think QSM Dillards would be first over Penn Square Mall, but if Dillard's owns both of their anchors in PSM, could they sell at least one anchor back to Simon Malls for redevelopment and move down to one store?

I think the Women's Dillards (West) is larger, but both Men and Women Dillard's at Penn Square seemed to be doing fine pre-pandemic. At the same time, Quail Springs Dillard's, despite its original interior, usually had decent foot traffic and much more during the annual sales.

I can not speak for how well the Dillards "outlying" stores are at Sooner Mall or Shawnee Mall. Oakwood Mall Dillards in Enid closed before Covid, and Washington Park Mall in Bartlesville transitioned to Dillards Clearance. Lawton, Muskogee, Woodland Hills, and Tulsa Promenade, I believe are all still operating in addition to the ones in and around OKC. If Dillard's had to close a store in the OKC Metro, I would predict Shawnee or Norman before Quail or Penn.

JCPenny is also hard to call. Both stores at QSM and PSM are modern/recently renovated, and I think the Penn Square Store was built/added on in the mid-nineties. If JCP owns this space, I could see them selling it at PSM for more "bang for the buck" JCP has closed Altus, Enid, Ponca City, Bartlesville, Stillwater, McAlester, Midwest City, Muskogee, Tulsa Promenade and Shawnee. The only two non-mall locations still around are Ardmore and Owasso.

If Von Maur could go back in time, I imagine they would have pushed harder to get somehow into Penn Square Mall, since QSM has changed its tenant lineup since 2010 as they reposition their destination. I don't see Von Maur leaving Quail Springs given the custom built store and I think there are some other terms keeping them in that location for a while.

^

They will likely have plenty of opportunity to remake the mall as there are currently 2 Dillards and 1 JCP.

You'd think at least one big spot is going to be opening soon.

I think in the long run, there needs to be a hotel developed on the property fronting either Penn or Expressway and I'd think that residential would also have a lot of success here (Although probably across the way in the Belle Isle Shopping Center would be better for residential).

^^^ There is a brand new hotel under construction North of Belle Isle/Penn Square, just north of the Whole Foods store.

^^^ There is a brand new hotel under construction North of Belle Isle/Penn Square, just north of the Whole Foods store.

I was thinking something that had a direct connection to the mall, closer to 200 rooms, some meeting space for groups, a few entertainment amenities that could potentially even be integrated into other residential or even opened up to the public on a ticketed/pass basis. and then of course a direct connection to the mall, would be somewhere between 8 and 16 stories, depending on if you built a garage on it/incorporated residential in the same building etc.

Abercrombie is closing as well. I’d imagine it’ll be several months before those vacated spaces are backfilled.

I'm not surprised that they're closing, H and M and discount clothing stores like Ross and TJ Maxx have really hurt them, plus it's hard to shop in there with the overwhelming smell of cologne.

Official close date for Abercrombie is January 16th. Rumor has it they may open at the Outlets in a year - but that’s just rumor.

Hollister at Penn Square is closing as well. Dropping like flies! Abercrombie, Hollister, Banana Republic, NY&Co, Williams Sonoma...etc. Any timetable on when the Apple Store will reopen? I know they’re closed for precautionary reasons.

When/if the economy become vibrant again I wonder if malls can return to life. It seems like once bigger name retailers leave its next to impossible to get them to return. I think COVID and online shopping will take is toll on many malls. Hope I'm wrong.

When/if the economy become vibrant again I wonder if malls can return to life. It seems like once bigger name retailers leave its next to impossible to get them to return. I think COVID and online shopping will take is toll on many malls. Hope I'm wrong.Possible, but I think there may also be pent-up demand for in-store shopping. I know we haven't been in a store in 10 months as of tomorrow. But we are very much ready to go in stores and shop. We may overcorrect....

Official close date for Abercrombie is January 16th. Rumor has it they may open at the Outlets in a year - but that’s just rumor.

Hollister at Penn Square is closing as well. Dropping like flies! Abercrombie, Hollister, Banana Republic, NY&Co, Williams Sonoma...etc. Any timetable on when the Apple Store will reopen? I know they’re closed for precautionary reasons.

I thought Hollister was at Quail Springs Mall on the 2nd floor, not at Penn Square. Is Banana Republic closed for good also, or just temporarily due to pandemic?

I think when this covid is over and the economy is back going good, people will want to get out and shop in person and also go out and eat. People will just be tired of staying at home and buying without putting their hands on things. Cabin fever is or will be setting in.

I think that as well. I see the value of Amazon but personally I greatly prefer brick and mortar stores and it’s not even a close call for me unless I’m looking for something rare. The experience of shopping in person and getting out of the house just can’t be matched by constantly shopping online.

I think that as well. I see the value of Amazon but personally I greatly prefer brick and mortar stores and it’s not even a close call for me unless I’m looking for something rare. The experience of shopping in person and getting out of the house just can’t be matched by constantly shopping online.

Agree totally - I'm a record guy, and online shopping for vinyl (or CD) can't even begin to compare to shopping in person for that. And after Amazon f-ed up a couple of deliveries (and I don't want to contribute one more cent to Bezos' already obscene disgusting wealth), I haven't used them since (that was probably a year ago) and don't plan to unless there's absolutely no other choice.

I have heard Bezos will use almost all of his wealth on space exploration technologies. Musk has already said he plans to use half of his wealth to better the planet and the other half to get humans to Mars. I’d like to know more about Bezos’ plans. It’s insane the amount of wealth they both have built up recently. Musk just surpassed Bezos’ net worth and actually made more than Bill Gates network in a year or so.

The valuation of Tesla is insane and I partially understand it but I can’t understand a company like Rivian being valued as much as Ford. Net worth and valuations are weird measurements to me. I wonder how much cash Bezos truly has on hand. Amazon must be absolutely raking in the dough seeing as how they’re build these insanely huge distribution centers popping up like weeds around the world.

I have driven for Amazon under their Flex app and I can definitely attest to some interesting characters that deliver for them. You basically use your personal car and load up at a delivery site and follow where the app instructs you to go and make the drop off.

But yeah I just prefer the brick and mortar experience. That’s especially true when shopping for items like music records as you can interact and have fun shopping with other people you meet and strike up conversations with. Happened to me all the time at Amoeba before they were shut down. I’m not sure what the status is of their new store on Hollywood BLVD after this. Hopefully they plan on opening it.

...
But yeah I just prefer the brick and mortar experience. That’s especially true when shopping for items like music records as you can interact and have fun shopping with other people you meet and strike up conversations with. Happened to me all the time at Amoeba before they were shut down. I’m not sure what the status is of their new store on Hollywood BLVD after this. Hopefully they plan on opening it.

Amoeba, what a great store (I think we went to the one in Berkeley), along with Aquarius (RIP), went there after we flew to SF on 9/8/2001, interesting time to travel...