I've never had trouble finding parking at Penn Square, except for the day after Thanksgiving.

I was at Penn today around noon. I parked a very short walk from Macy's on a Saturday. Parking there is not an issue.

They actually started work on the old Sears space in preparation for the arrival of Von Maur. There is a large stockpile of roofing materials in the parking lot and a big pile of debris from interior demolition. This building is going to need a lot of work to make it look decent. Sears was actually using a portable AC unit on a trailer for over a year before closing.

they actually started work on the old sears space in preparation for the arrival of von maur. There is a large stockpile of roofing materials in the parking lot and a big pile of debris from interior demolition. This building is going to need a lot of work to make it look decent. sears was actually using a portable ac unit on a trailer for over a year before closing.wow

wow

Yeah, It was park over there at the loading docks. I guess their main unit went out and they didn't want to spend money on a new one when they were going to leave any way.

Yeah, It was park over there at the loading docks. I guess their main unit went out and they didn't want to spend money on a new one when they were going to leave any way.Makes sense I guess, aren't those things like half a mill? Also, wouldn't Quail Springs be responsible for that????

Makes sense I guess, aren't those things like half a mill? Also, wouldn't Quail Springs be responsible for that????

Sears owned the Sears store property, so they would have had to pay for it themselves. They were the only store that actually owned their own building in QSM, if I recall.

I remember Sears doing some renovations and/or work on their escalators in either late 2010 or 2011. Curious why they did that if they knew they would close... or, did they not expect to close back then?

Sears owned the Sears store property, so they would have had to pay for it themselves. They were the only store that actually owned their own building in QSM, if I recall.

I remember Sears doing some renovations and/or work on their escalators in either late 2010 or 2011. Curious why they did that if they knew they would close... or, did they not expect to close back then?

I think thats a different situation because a broken escalator is bad for business.

That and isn't it a federal req. or is that just for elevators?

I also miss YANKEE CANDLE.

That store always had a line when I went. I'm surprised that it closed.

I also miss YANKEE CANDLE.

That store always had a line when I went. I'm surprised that it closed.

It closed? Why? I liked that store...

It closed? Why? I liked that store...


Yes, it closed January 2012 or so. The employee there had told me that they were keeping the one at Penn Square open. With the Penn Square and the Outlet Mall stores, apparently there wasn't enough business for all 3 of them.

I liked the Quail Springs Yankee Candle, and it seemed busy to me. I was surprised it closed. Penn Square and the Outlet are far enough away that it doesn't seem like direct competition to me.

The store wasn't that large, either. Surely their rent couldn't have been insanely expensive?

One thing QSM needs in a year or two is another renovation,. If they want to keep up with PS and Woodland Hills. I could see one happening when Von Maur comes in the mall.

On a side note why did they close A and F but yet Hollister is still open:confused:

One thing I have wondered about Hollister is the steps at the front of the store. I've never gone in, but my wife said that there are also steps down once you get inside. There is no alternative (i.e., a ramp). It is completely inaccessible by wheelchair. How do they get away with that?

Yes, it closed January 2012 or so. The employee there had told me that they were keeping the one at Penn Square open. With the Penn Square and the Outlet Mall stores, apparently there wasn't enough business for all 3 of them.

I liked the Quail Springs Yankee Candle, and it seemed busy to me. I was surprised it closed. Penn Square and the Outlet are far enough away that it doesn't seem like direct competition to me.

The store wasn't that large, either. Surely their rent couldn't have been insanely expensive?

That sucks but I guess it is good they will not close Yankee Candle at Penn Square

They should have just renovated the Yankee Candle in PS and not moved it, the new location looks like everything is crammed in

Yes, it closed January 2012 or so. The employee there had told me that they were keeping the one at Penn Square open. With the Penn Square and the Outlet Mall stores, apparently there wasn't enough business for all 3 of them.

I liked the Quail Springs Yankee Candle, and it seemed busy to me. I was surprised it closed. Penn Square and the Outlet are far enough away that it doesn't seem like direct competition to me.

The store wasn't that large, either. Surely their rent couldn't have been insanely expensive?

I was the manager there. It had declining sales and traffic (mall wide). They planned to close it as far back as 2011 when the plans for the outlet store where made.

I don't know if this means anything. I was just at the Galleria and they have a Payless two levels up and two stores to the right of a Louis Vuitton store. Payless is actually quite nice, I've noticed and for me, this backs it up. So, I don't know what all the fuss is to get Payless out of Quail :p

I don't know if this means anything. I was just at the Galleria and they have a Payless two levels up and two stores to the right of a Louis Vuitton store. Payless is actually quite nice, I've noticed and for me, this backs it up. So, I don't know what all the fuss is to get Payless out of Quail :p

The fuss is to get it out of Penn. The one in Penn is a very old, 1980s style store which simply isn't nice.

Ahh, well I was mistaken then, I've never been to the one in Penn.

I was the manager there. It had declining sales and traffic (mall wide). They planned to close it as far back as 2011 when the plans for the outlet store where made.

Thanks, good to know. Interesting that there was declining traffic. It was one of my favorite stores.

I wonder if the newly remodeled AMC theater at PS may kill some of QSM's business

I wonder if the newly remodeled AMC theater at PS may kill some of QSM's business

I doubt it. The new Penn Square theater is more likely to effect Cinemark Tinseltown's business than Quail Springs in my opinion. The QSM theater also has the IMAX.

One thing I have wondered about Hollister is the steps at the front of the store. I've never gone in, but my wife said that there are also steps down once you get inside. There is no alternative (i.e., a ramp). It is completely inaccessible by wheelchair. How do they get away with that?

One of the "windows" on the right side of the store is actually a door that makes it handicap accessible. They were shooting for a beach front "shack" with the store design, hence the steps inside but they have met all ADA requirements. I feel bad for the person in a wheel chair once they get in since there's very little room as it is but they can get inside at least.

Main subject of this video isn't QSM but tells a story about the area.
http://vimeo.com/66542785

Isn't the Shoppes at Quail Springs a project that was cancelled following the 2008 crash? If not, why doesn't it have a thread? From the rendering in the video it looks great for a suburban shopping center. Not quite Spring Creek but much higher quality than most stuff that gets built here.

Isn't the Shoppes at Quail Springs a project that was cancelled following the 2008 crash? If not, why doesn't it have a thread? From the rendering in the video it looks great for a suburban shopping center. Not quite Spring Creek but much higher quality than most stuff that gets built here.

This is not the same development, although you are correct that project was axed after the 2008 crash. The original Shoppes at Quail Springs was to be located directly north of the mall but has since been sold off to multifamily developers. This looks like it will be at the corner of Memorial and May.

This is not the same development, although you are correct that project was axed after the 2008 crash. The original Shoppes at Quail Springs was to be located directly north of the mall but has since been sold off to multifamily developers. This looks like it will be at the corner of Memorial and May.

That's cool. This looks like it would be the perfect location for something like a Restoration Hardware or Container Store.

So does anybody think Von Maur's arrival will usher in a new era for Quail Springs. Will it start to attract more upscale retailers after that?

I fully expect Dillard's and Macy's to remodel in order to compete. Their Quail Springs locations are some of the most depressing I've seen in the entire chains.

So does anybody think Von Maur's arrival will usher in a new era for Quail Springs. Will it start to attract more upscale retailers after that?

I fully expect Dillard's and Macy's to remodel in order to compete. Their Quail Springs locations are some of the most depressing I've seen in the entire chains.Amen to that

So does anybody think Von Maur's arrival will usher in a new era for Quail Springs. Will it start to attract more upscale retailers after that?

I fully expect Dillard's and Macy's to remodel in order to compete. Their Quail Springs locations are some of the most depressing I've seen in the entire chains.

I think the problem is the way the mall is managed. Management wants it to be a family-friendly place with family-oriented stores. That means midle-scale stores. That's all good and fine, but it leaves it competing with Wal-Mart, and that doesn't bode well for an environment where the middle class is shrinking and flocking to Wal-Mart and Target. Management is set to run the mall on the level of JC Penney, but they need to aim more upscale if they plan to compete.

I agree that the Dillards and Macy's stores at QS are depressing. But, the reason they haven't renovated their stores is because sales are so much less there than at Penn that it doesn't warrant a remodel. Overall, the mall has about half or less of the stores as Penn. The same store at pen will have double to triple the sales as the same store at Quail. That being said, I think Von Maur will only help QS, but unless management changes their philosophy, don't expect it to compete with PS.

The fuss is to get it out of Penn. The one in Penn is a very old, 1980s style store which simply isn't nice.

That store's atmopshere may appear 1980ish, but the store really hasn't been there that long. Maybe 5 years.

This is not the same development, although you are correct that project was axed after the 2008 crash. The original Shoppes at Quail Springs was to be located directly north of the mall but has since been sold off to multifamily developers. This looks like it will be at the corner of Memorial and May.

This is actually not correct. The Shoppes at Quail Springs was planned for land between Penn and Western, North of Memorial. West of the Church on the Rock. What you're referring to north of QSM, was to be Tuscana, a multi-mix of upscale retail, residential, etc. Since the crash of 2008, they've gone strictly residential. I think their hopes of attracting upscale stores like Nordstrom and Saks was a little wishful thinking on their part as well. Memorial Road is over-rated.

I think the problem is the way the mall is managed. Management wants it to be a family-friendly place with family-oriented stores. That means midle-scale stores. That's all good and fine, but it leaves it competing with Wal-Mart, and that doesn't bode well for an environment where the middle class is shrinking and flocking to Wal-Mart and Target. Management is set to run the mall on the level of JC Penney, but they need to aim more upscale if they plan to compete.

I agree that the Dillards and Macy's stores at QS are depressing. But, the reason they haven't renovated their stores is because sales are so much less there than at Penn that it doesn't warrant a remodel. Overall, the mall has about half or less of the stores as Penn. The same store at pen will have double to triple the sales as the same store at Quail. That being said, I think Von Maur will only help QS, but unless management changes their philosophy, don't expect it to compete with PS.

100% agree with this. In 2013, malls have to go upscale. The middle class market is cornered by the big box chains and aren't going to malls like they used to. Mid-range malls all across the country are failing. The arrival of Von Maur is a perfect time for the management of QSM to shift their focus more up-market.

One thing QSM needs in a year or two is another renovation,. If they want to keep up with PS and Woodland Hills. I could see one happening when Von Maur comes in the mall.

On a side note why did they close A and F but yet Hollister is still open:confused:

Hollister will close once their lease runs out. Abercrombie has completely moved out of the mall as it was one of their declining markets. They're downsizing due to corporate problems. They'll keep the PS store open as it has double the profits of the QS stores.

Hollister will close once their lease runs out. Abercrombie has completely moved out of the mall as it was one of their declining markets. They're downsizing due to corporate problems. They'll keep the PS store open as it has double the profits of the QS stores.

Yeah it's a sign of the times. Abercrombie isn't what it was in the early 2000s. It used to be a status symbol for teens and early twentysomethings.

Yeah it's a sign of the times. Abercrombie isn't what it was in the 1980s. It used to be a status symbol for teens and early twentysomethings.

fify

fify

A&F has had different eras when they have appealed to different demographics. I am not sure about what they were in the 1980s, but when I was in high school in the late 1990s and early 2000s if you were 'cool' you wore Abercrombie. It was a very conformist era, much different than the hipster era of today where everybody is trying to be different.

A&F has had different eras when they have appealed to different demographics. I am not sure about what they were in the 1980s, but when I was in high school in the late 1990s and early 2000s if you were 'cool' you wore Abercrombie. It was a very conformist era, much different than the hipster era of today where everybody is trying to be different.

They were more of a woodsy, outdoorsy type place then.

The remodel of the old Sears space for Von Maur is progressing well. The old automotive service center has been demolished.

A&F has had different eras when they have appealed to different demographics. I am not sure about what they were in the 1980s, but when I was in high school in the late 1990s and early 2000s if you were 'cool' you wore Abercrombie. It was a very conformist era, much different than the hipster era of today where everybody is trying to be different.

I remember those days. Abercrombie was so popular and "cool" back then. I never would have guessed the Quail store would've closed.

It looks like "Image" currently in the Abercrombie & Fitch spot is moving to a prime spot in the Von Maur wing. That makes me wonder what will be in store for its current spot, which is probably one of the best spots in the entire mall.

It looks like "Image" currently in the Abercrombie & Fitch spot is moving to a prime spot in the Von Maur wing. That makes me wonder what will be in store for its current spot, which is probably one of the best spots in the entire mall.

Maybe banana republic or something upscale. they could divide a and f for 2-3 stores. A little side note about image, they're now occupying the former Lane Bryant at Penn Square which is pretty disappointing.

It was a very conformist era, much different than the hipster era of today where everybody is trying to be different.

All hipsters try to be different, but in the end they all end up looking the same.

All hipsters try to be different, but in the end they all end up looking the same.

There is nothing quite so conformist as modeling oneself after those seeking to be different.

Ahh. Hipsters...the new hippies, er beatniks, er zoot suiters. Everything old is new again. And they think they are doing something unique, individual and cool like no one before. Every kid likes to think they are the first to be different and don't realize how much they are the same. They have no perspective. LOL

When it starts being cool to be part of the cool crowd, it's no longer cool.

Maybe banana republic or something upscale. they could divide a and f for 2-3 stores. A little side note about image, they're now occupying the former Lane Bryant at Penn Square which is pretty disappointing.

I agree. I looked image up and it actually is a national chain, but they are almost never in upscale, prime malls. Most of them are in dying malls or small town malls. If the waiting list for Penn Square really is as long as I've heard it is, surely they could have brought in a little higher quality tenant?

Back on Quail Springs, they have done a pretty good job at keeping the place fully leased, but they really need to up it a notch in terms of the quality of the tenants. Quail Springs used to be awesome when I lived in OKC has a child. Now, I can't think of much of a reason to go there except to the movie theater.

I agree. I looked image up and it actually is a national chain, but they are almost never in upscale, prime malls. Most of them are in dying malls or small town malls. If the waiting list for Penn Square really is as long as I've heard it is, surely they could have brought in a little higher quality tenant?

Back on Quail Springs, they have done a pretty good job at keeping the place fully leased, but they really need to up it a notch in terms of the quality of the tenants. Quail Springs used to be awesome when I lived in OKC has a child. Now, I can't think of much of a reason to go there except to the movie theater.

They may just be continuing the pattern of signing short term leases for that space while they find something better. No money has been spent remodeling this space since it was Lane Bryant. I think they literally moved in a few weeks after the Thunder store closed up shop.

$22.5 million building permit today for Von Maur.

Should be starting construction very soon.

That's a lot for a renovation?

And the $22.5 mil permit specifically says "shell only".

I'm sure this is for the structure itself and not all the fixtures.


Sounds like they will be putting a ton of money into the place.

The decimal point is likely in the wrong place.

The decimal point is likely in the wrong place.

Could very well be.

They (City staff) did the same thing when entering the permit info for the Firehouse townhouse project in Deep Deuce.

they gotta pay the piano players something

Yeah, you can build a whole new store from ground up for $22million. Has to be a typo.

$22.5 million building permit today for Von Maur.

Should be starting construction very soon.

They have been doing construction for about a month. They demolished the automotive section of the building and are building a new wall to close off the building where the automotive section used to be.

Here are some recent Von Maur construction photos courtesy of catch22:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/vonmaur1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/vonmaur2.jpg

As a former Sears Quail Springs employee, they fixed the air conditioner 3 times and 5 minutes after they fixed it...it broke again. They didn't want to spend the money to replace the whole a/c system because the store was closing.

I wish Von Maur would come during December of 2013. A lot can happen from now to spring 2014, from what I've heard JCP is closing a lot of stores this year

I used to work there and you have no idea how bad of shape the Sears building was in so I can understand why they aren't planning to open until the Fall of 2014. A lot of it couldn't been seen by the public because it was back in the stock room. The floor between the levels needs to be reinforced and the escalators and elevator need to be completely torn out and replaced.

They have been busy with Von Maur. The entire inside of the store is being gutted out as well as all the exterior walls. Makes me wonder why removing the automotive side was its own little project and why they were so careful at demolishing it and placing the temporary walls. lol

I would bet it was actually the mall owners who had the new roof and automotive area removed and Von Maur is doing the more extensive work taking place now.

There is a Halloween store where Abercrombie used to be. Lame.