It's not that it shouldn't be fast food but which fast food. And we will go to malls just to eat at the food court with no intention to shop any stores. Because there are food brands there not anywhere else in town.

It's not that it shouldn't be fast food but which fast food. And we will go to malls just to eat at the food court with no intention to shop any stores. Because there are food brands there not anywhere else in town.
I believe the business purpose of food courts is to extend the amount of time shoppers will stay at the mall, not as a food experience destination. Mall owners don't want shoppers to leave the mall to go eat elsewhere and to then not return. Food courts are a convenience….. cheap and fast place for employees at the mall to catch a lunch.

The more unique food offerings all generally have outside entrances or at the pad sites in the lots. People who go because of the food don't want to fight the crowds. Pepperoni Grille, Texas de Brazil, Cheesecake Factory, Whiskey cake...

Well, whatever is "supposed" to be in a mall food court, I appreciate Penn Square's for having a decentish mix of less common/local options and more familiar options.

I always appreciate having a known chain in a mall, specifically for my kids. Much easier to feed young kids with familiar options in the hustle of a mall shopping trip.

There are no 'rules' on mall restaurants in the food court. Its just that the spaces are smaller so what works in a stand alone store doesn't work in a mall space. A mall Chick fil a doesn't make nearly as much money as one outside a mall. I suspect they stay in the malls because that was where they started from. A lot of times, the mall versions of fast food chains are express concepts with smaller menu options.

As long as Spunkies stays I’m good

There are no 'rules' on mall restaurants in the food court. Its just that the spaces are smaller so what works in a stand alone store doesn't work in a mall space. A mall Chick fil a doesn't make nearly as much money as one outside a mall. I suspect they stay in the malls because that was where they started from. A lot of times, the mall versions of fast food chains are express concepts with smaller menu options.

Chik fil A has higher a margin per transaction at mall locations vs. stand alone, as they both sell the same product at the same price, yet the cost per sale at a fixed-price, leased mall space is a fraction of a milion-dollar stand alone. They're little cash cows.

Also, if a local wants to lease a mall food court space, great. Nothing's stopping them. Several do.

As long as Spunkies stays I’m good

Maaaaan, for those that are not aware, Spunkies is FANTASTIC. It is so so so so so so so so good.

Spunkie's would be the only reason I go to that food court. Unless of course I want a K-Dog on a rare occasion.

As long as Sbarro, Charleys, and the new Mexican place stays I'm good.

Royal Ink out of Tulsa is expanding into a completely renovated space at PSM. Here’s their
Instagram;
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DArlFbbvc6h/?igsh=MWNtNDU3MmN3NWs5dA==

Tattoos in the mall is a hilarious concept to me, considering Oklahoma was the last state to legalize it.

It used to be criminal. Now you can get some ink done in your new J Crew Khakis, while eating a K-dog as your screen gets fixed at the kiosk.

It's basically gone from back alley to full saturation in less than 20 years.

I'm sure part of it is that some of these tattoo places always have a line outside.

At least at a mall, you can wait inside and/or be given a number, go shopping, then show up for some fresh ink.

They space is going to be really nice from the pics they posted. I appreciate the effort they’re putting into making a pleasant experience.

Just to be clear, I'm not being critical of the place specifically or even negative about the concept. It actually makes a lot of sense that malls should be looking for services to add to the retail mix.

It's just amusing that, Oklahoma being what it used to be (serious hand wringing about whether to allow legal tattooing), there's gonna be a tattoo parlor in Penn Square.

^

Yes, hard to believe where we were not that long ago.

The liquor-by-the-drink stuff was even more embarrassing and archaic. Heck, we only just allowed wine and beer in grocery stores.

What a waste of space. You can eat Burger King anywhere. The mall should have unique food. I'll say the same for Popeyes too. I won't include Chick Fil A because there was a time when they were only in malls with no stand alone locations.

Don't forget the mall employees need to eat too! As a former mall employee, it's important to have familiar value options for when the wallet is almost empty since we *rarely* had time to go off-property for lunch. Even as pedestrian as it is, BK will be a good addition to the food court here.

Royal Ink out of Tulsa is expanding into a completely renovated space at PSM. Here’s their
Instagram;
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DArlFbbvc6h/?igsh=MWNtNDU3MmN3NWs5dA==

That is so weird and it is going to be in a mall too

Was in Penn Square Mall over the weekend and I rarely go but it just felt ratty. In decline. Almost like an outlet mall feel. Disappointing.

Was in Penn Square Mall over the weekend and I rarely go but it just felt ratty. In decline. Almost like an outlet mall feel. Disappointing.

Wait, what? Like, tenant-wise (which you would be dead wrong) or atmosphere (which you might be right)?

No it’s not.

Wait, what? Like, tenant-wise (which you would be dead wrong) or atmosphere (which you might be right)?

Tenants and atmosphere. Tenants, eyebrow, tattoo coming, etc. Macy’s poorly kept up. Foodcourt meh. I think a lot of phone accessories shops and islands. Just feels uninviting. Maybe due to online sales cutting into brick and mortar stores. Or, just me.

Tenants and atmosphere. Tenants, eyebrow, tattoo coming, etc. Macy’s poorly kept up. Foodcourt meh. I think a lot of phone accessories shops and islands. Just feels uninviting. Maybe due to online sales cutting into brick and mortar stores. Or, just me.

It's definitely just you! Penn Square is doing very well, with many big-name brands either opening new stores or returning to the mall. I will give you the point on Macy's being in decline, but that is not a reflection on the mall as a whole.

Tenants and atmosphere. Tenants, eyebrow, tattoo coming, etc. Macy’s poorly kept up. Foodcourt meh. I think a lot of phone accessories shops and islands. Just feels uninviting. Maybe due to online sales cutting into brick and mortar stores. Or, just me.

Every single mall has those islands.

Penn Square continues to be a very successful mall while the majority around the country (and in OKC and OK) are languishing or have closed.

The food court has lots of good options and is virtually full.

It's busy all year round and generates a huge amount of sales tax for OKC.

Tenants and atmosphere. Tenants, eyebrow, tattoo coming, etc. Macy’s poorly kept up. Foodcourt meh. I think a lot of phone accessories shops and islands. Just feels uninviting. Maybe due to online sales cutting into brick and mortar stores. Or, just me.

I mean, Apple, Coach, Michael Kors, one of the most upscale Dillard's in America (first to ever carry Creed perfumes), Urban Outfitters, a bunch of upper mid-tier stores. It does very well.

My only complaint about Penn Square is it feels like 1/3 of the escalators aren’t working when I go. It’s not hard to find ones that are working, and as long as it’s not closed off I’ll just walk up like they’re stairs, so it’s not a dealbreaker, it just seems like there’s a handful out of order an unusual amount.

Another observation and I’m quite sure it’s just a temporary store, but the one that took the place of the Pottery Barn seems out of place in a nicer looking space, but I know that’s just the nature of a larger tenant leaving until something more permanent opens up. I’m curious what might go there in the future, though, if it does get a “bigger name” tenant.

Is Penn Square the only mall with two different Dillard's, with the locations being nearly opposite sides of the mall? That just seems weird to me (based on all the malls I have been too).

We were at PSM Saturday from noon til around 3:30 anf it was packed with people. Cars driving around waiting for someone to pull out of their spot so they could park. I don't think PSM is hurting at all. Food court was packed as well. And yes one escalator on either end of the mall wasn't working. It can be a little tough for me to walk up that many stairs so I had to go in Penney's and use theirs to get to the other level. Then used the elevator by the food court.

I also saw this a few days ago about Penney's merger. I don't know how it will effect their branding.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2025/01/09/jcpenney-sparc-group-forever-21-merger-catalyst-brands/77578048007/

^^^^^^^^
Simon was an effective lifeline for Penny's, but this merger seems like it might have even more upside. For one thing it seems like they are prioritizing Penny's in the portfolio, considering they are moving the conglomerate's HQ to Penny's HQ. Simon staying on as a shareholder also bodes well. Would be great if Penny's could somehow survive. It's a stalwart, historic brand that has been through a lot in recent years.

Is Penn Square the only mall with two different Dillard's, with the locations being nearly opposite sides of the mall? That just seems weird to me (based on all the malls I have been too).

It is because there isn't an anchor spot nearly big enough for both, and the PSM Dillard's, for both men and women, are among the most upscale and profitable.

It is because there isn't an anchor spot nearly big enough for both, and the PSM Dillard's, for both men and women, are among the most upscale and profitable.

The "double header" store is what Dillard's corporate calls this type of setup. As other anchors stores have closed in the past 20-30 years, Dillard's has taken advantage of this open real estate, the double header setup is common for many Dillard's locations across the country that are split between a women's store with clothing and cosmetics and typically a kids, men's, and housewares department store. Dillard's at PSM took the space of Montgomery Ward when the chain went bankrupt around 2000, and Dillard's moved in sometime in summer 2002. It's obvious that Penn Square Mall is the metro's flagship location as the Dillard's at Quail Springs Mall for the most part still looks untouched in many areas from when it opened in the 1980's.

From my memory, the Dillard's at Woodland Hills Mall is a single location but offers three floors to hold everything the store offers and also the former Crossroads Mall Dillards was three floors too?

A few Dillard's locations have gone to Clearance Centers in dead malls like Tulsa Promenade and Towne West in Wichita, but the Dillard's chain seems to be much more profitable/successful in keeping locations open compared to other anchor stores like Macy's, JC Penny, and at one time Sears. It's rare to see massive closings of Dillard's that aren't already in malls that are closing or being repurposed.

I was at Dillard’s QSM in November and they totally rearrange the whole men’s department. I was so turned around. I swear they had designer merchandise at that location that I didn’t see at the Penn Square, Mall location, but I could be wrong. Bartlesville has a Dillards clearance center as well.

Was in Penn Square Mall over the weekend and I rarely go but it just felt ratty. In decline. Almost like an outlet mall feel. Disappointing.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.
I was there Sunday. There was nothing ratty looking about it. It was packed. People were shopping. Food court very active. Most all places occupied with good tenants.

I invite these posters trying to denigrate it to share pictures of the inside and outside of the mall and show us their idea of a ratty mall.

Certain people seem to HOPE for the decline. Thousands and thousands that go there regularly seem to like it there. Parking lot is regularly full or close to it. It must aggravate the naysayers who have been predicting its collapse on here for years.

I was also at PSM over this last weekend and my only complaint is the escalators. The mall is still packed as it nearly always is.

It all depends on what your comparing it to. Certainly better than all the other malls in the state.

I'm sure UNP does a lot better than PSM, but you know there is land beside it that is undeveloped so it must be stagnant and on the decline! And someone would make the same argument about Chisolm Creek.

There are some areas of PSM that feel run down and have shops that look like a filler shop that does not belong in a successful mall. There is still sometimes a smell and the escalators are down a lot. All that and it still brings in the shoppers. It is doing just fine and will be able to bring in new to market brands at anytime.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.

I don’t know, I doubt I’d feel as vindicated as you seem to if it took a year for someone else to express the same opinion as me, especially if there were 100 things others could point out to show why I was wrong. You can find a handful of goobers that wrongly agree on any matter; that doesn’t suddenly mean they have secret knowledge or are ahead of the times in their keen reflections.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.

This is the classic sunk cost fallacy.

State something strongly that goes against obvious facts, then keep doubling down for years on end after others keep providing information to the contrary and holding onto any scrap to vindicate yourself.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.

So you and one other random person think the mall is rundown and ratty. Got it. You are vindicated.

Every single mall in America has some crappy tenants. Even Northpark Center in Dallas, or the galleria in Houston. Not every store in a mall can be a winner. Some are short-term until a bigger tenant comes in.

But to say the decline has started, is asinine. Look at the tenant list. Just look st the whole tenant list. 75% of the tenants have their only OKC location there, and most are tenants that every mall in America would love to have.

I said something similar last year about how the place is stagnant and got told 100 reason why my opinion was wrong. Looks like I'm not the only one that thinks PSM isn't what it once was.

Honestly, i think it's just taking a little longer for the inevitable to happen here. The decline has started, people here just refuse to admit it.
Yeah, I got it pretty good too for suggesting that Penn Square needs a good remodel. An expansion would be nice too with the parking garage added. People on here will defend the weirdest sh!t.

So you and one other random person think the mall is rundown and ratty. Got it. You are vindicated.

Every single mall in America has some crappy tenants. Even Northpark Center in Dallas, or the galleria in Houston. Not every store in a mall can be a winner. Some are short-term until a bigger tenant comes in.

But to say the decline has started, is asinine. Look at the tenant list. Just look st the whole tenant list. 75% of the tenants have their only OKC location there, and most are tenants that every mall in America would love to have.
Where did he say? The mall was run down? They just said it was stagnant and I agree. They’re having a few changes which is made the mall nicer. But yes, it could stand to be remodeled in my opinion.

Maybe I’m just spoiled by all the extremely nice indoor malls in LA and how busy they are.

Yeah, I got it pretty good too for suggesting that Penn Square needs a good remodel. An expansion would be nice too with the parking garage added. People on here will defend the weirdest sh!t.

I actually agree with you on the remodeling and adding more parking garage parking. I also think they should close off parts of the parking to add more buildings like Whiskey Cake and Cheesecake Factory. If Penn and NW Expressway is really our Shopping hub, they should start making room for buildings that would front both major streets.

Where did he say? The mall was run down? They just said it was stagnant and I agree. They’re having a few changes which is made the mall nicer. But yes, it could stand to be remodeled in my opinion.

You also made some wild claim about it not having been renovated for a long time, then were proven very wrong.


It's just slinging negativity then looking for anyone who will agree.

I actually agree with you on the remodeling and adding more parking garage parking. I also think they should close off parts of the parking to add more buildings like Whiskey Cake and Cheesecake Factory. If Penn and NW Expressway is really our Shopping hub, they should start making room for buildings that would front both major streets.
Yeah, they really should be coming up with a plan to add more retail space. And that’s definitely going to involve removing some of the parking and consolidating it into parking garages. I also wish they would completely redevelop the Bell aisle shopping center into something like OAK.

You also made some wild claim about it not having been renovated for a long time, then were proven very wrong.


It's just slinging negativity then looking for anyone who will agree.
No, it’s just you and a group of people hang onto this idea and you won’t let it go. And most of the time I see these kinds of posts and I just ignore them because I know getting into an argument with you is a lost cause. Yes they remodeled parts of the mall. I understand that. But at the end of the day, I was there a year ago, and my opinion of the mall needing remodeled, which apparently I’m not the only one that thinks so, is just as valid as you saying it shouldn’t be or whatever it is you believe in regardless of how some parts of the mall have been remodeled.

Yeah, they really should be coming up with a plan to add more retail space. And that’s definitely going to involve removing some of the parking and consolidating it into parking garages. I also wish they would completely redevelop the Bell aisle shopping center into something like OAK.

Yeah that is not going to happen. Walmart is not the best place for an OAK like shopping center.

The point is the mall is successful and busy, especially given the current state of malls in this country.

Every single place could be better but in context, PSM is doing great.

There are just a small number of people who love to be negative and are completely unrealistic.

^

The point is the mall is successful and busy, especially given the current state of malls in this country.

Every single place could be better but in context, PSM is doing great.
I never said it wasn’t doing great. It is doing good. It’s a great performing mall. I’m just saying it has a higher potential and that can start with it being remodeled and more space being added. And what gets me more than anything is the response a lot of people in this community give when you say something like that it’s absolutely bizarre.

Yeah that is not going to happen. Walmart is not the best place for an OAK like shopping center.
Urban format. Walmart stores do exist. Would that be an ideal tenant? I’d say no. But I will tell you I do miss Walmart and I never thought I would’ve said that in 1 million years. I either have to go down the south Central or go over the hill into the San Fernando Valley to get Walmart that’s easily an hour plus trip just to the store alone.

I never said it wasn’t doing great. It is doing good. It’s a great performing mall. I’m just saying it has a higher potential and that can start with it being remodeled and more space being added. And what gets me more than anything is the response a lot of people in this community give when you say something like that it’s absolutely bizarre.

It's because you are focusing on the negative and not being realistic.

It's one thing to say: "PSM is very busy and doing well but would like to see some things refreshed" vs. "it's ratty and on the decline" which just isn't true.

It's because you are focusing on the negative and not being realistic.

It's one thing to say: "PSM is very busy and doing well but would like to see some things refreshed" vs. "it's ratty and on the decline" which just isn't true.
I never said it’s ratty and on the decline. I’m just saying, compared to other high-end malls and other cities I’ve been to it doesn’t hold up. I don’t know how else to put it so I’m not gonna say anything more on the subject. But clearly there are other people that notice this mall has more potential.

I'm sure there was plenty of room in the parking garage when I was there this weekend but people still circled the lot looking for a place to park. For what ever reason I think most people around here just prefer to park in a lot when going to a place like PSM. Me included.

I never said it’s ready and on the decline. I’m just saying, compared to other high-end malls and other cities I’ve been to it doesn’t hold up. I don’t know how else to put it so I’m not gonna say anything more on the subject.

And I strongly disagree with the assertion that it doesn't compare well to malls in similar markets.

Whoever said PSM is a "high-end mall"?? It has never been that and never will be.

You really can't compare PSM to the malls in LA. Different parts of the country and different clientele. Can't even compare PSM to Northpark Center in Dallas or Houston Galleria. Those are a lot larger markets with much more money. Comparing PSM to say Woodland Hills in Tulsa or Town East Square in Wichita would be reasonable comparisons and they're all Simon malls with similar tenants.

I agree, to say PSM is in decline is ridiculous It's really our last major mall in OKC. Most retailers have consolidated there. QSM is an afterthought.

PSM does have some suck temporary filler stores, but so do all malls. It's a way for the mall to make money while they're waiting for another long term tenant. It also gives small start ups a chance to possibly develop into something big and longer term. And we're lucky to have the department stores we have there. I think the idea of getting something like a Saks or Nordstrom is out of the question. Department stores aren't even doing well right now, so expansion is out of the question.

I agree, to say PSM is in decline is ridiculous It's really our last major mall in OKC. Most retailers have consolidated there. QSM is an afterthought.


Wow. I never really stop to think about Quail Springs Mall. You're totally right. Why is it so bad? When was it ever good? Any thoughts on what led to it's decline?

^

Everyone thinks of Dallas and North Park but they also have a bunch of other malls that are in steep decline or have closed completely. They have a few strong malls and a ton of weak or abandoned centers, just like everywhere else.

L.A. is probably worse. Topanga Plaza and Century City (which has always been more of a lifestyle center; it's not enclosed) are doing well but I could name 20 malls that are in bad shape out there, including the once-tony Beverly Center.

I'm sure there was plenty of room in the parking garage when I was there this weekend but people still circled the lot looking for a place to park. For what ever reason I think most people around here just prefer to park in a lot when going to a place like PSM. Me included.

I will 100% agree with this! I also think most Oklahomans much prefer a "normal" parking lot to a parking garage. I have notice about every time I go to PSM, cars are lined up and down the aisles waiting for a parking spot and the garage is almost completely empty (other than a few cars on top of it).