Just got wind that this week a west coast retailer will be in OKC & Tulsa scouting potential sites.

Seems to be pretty hush-hush regarding exactly who this is, so I was hoping to get some help.

I'm hearing they are scouting for 90,000 square foot locations and are HQ'd on the west coast.

That's too small for Costco (typically about 140,000 sf on average) and way too big for a Trader Joe's.


One possibility is that it IS Costco, just looking to do smaller stores. But I doubt that.


So, what other retailers fit this description??

Nordstrom is based in Seattle...

Nordstroms are typically much larger than 90,000 sf.


One possibility may be REI. They have shifted towards superstores, some as large as 95,000 sf.

And they are HQ's in Kent, WA.

Safeway maybe?

Nordstroms are typically much larger than 90,000 sf.


One possibility may be REI. They have shifted towards superstores, some as large as 95,000 sf.

And they are HQ's in Kent, WA.

REI has been running ads on local radio lately. I found it odd (in a good way).

Now that youngest son has moved back to Norman from Dallas, an REI here would make him very, very happy.

Safeway maybe?

Safeway's used to be in Oklahoma before Homeland filled their void. Do you think they'd be looking into coming back after being gone for 20+ years?

OKCisOK4me: Unusual but not unheard of...IHOP & Panchos left and then came back...seems someone told me that K-Mart used to be hear decades ago, left, came back and left again.

Safeway's used to be in Oklahoma before Homeland filled their void. Do you think they'd be looking into coming back after being gone for 20+ years?

Safeway was actually sold to the company that is now homeland. I doubt that they are coming back to oklahoma.

Safeway was actually sold to the company that is now homeland. I doubt that they are coming back to oklahoma.

Yes, I was like 7 when that happened. Thank you for the clarification. I loved Safeway when I was a kid ;-)

I hope it is Safeway. At least in OKC, grocery stores are lacking moreso than any other retailer. Any quality grocer expanding into the market would be very welcome. The fact this company is also wanting to move in to Tulsa however makes me think that isn't the case. My guess is REI.

Frys?

Frys?

I am assuming you mean Fry's Electronics. I would highly doubt that being that they tend to be in the same markets IKEA would be in...only the largest and are regional destinations.

Nordstroms are typically much larger than 90,000 sf.


One possibility may be REI. They have shifted towards superstores, some as large as 95,000 sf.

And they are HQ's in Kent, WA.


gander mountain, cabela's but i don't know where they are HQ'd.

what else is that big? maybe some furniture store?

Frys?


maybe Fry's, store size would be in the neighborhood, they have stores in DFW and they might want to compete against Conn's in Conn's home territory.

here's another idea,

http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/stores?zip=&zipcode_distance=50&state=OK they are in duncan and lawton already, but i think those would be way too small. although i've never seen one of their stores.

World Market? (Cost Plus)...they were bought by Bed, Bath & Beyond last year and this is a great market for them. They may see fit to open a World Market here. At 260+ stores, they are growing. Home Furniture, Home Decor, Gifts | World Market (http://www.worldmarket.com/)

Headquarters in the Bay Area.

bluedogok also said they opened one in Denver without wine sales. And, for what it's worth, they're in Wichita and several locations in DFW. The only thing that doesn't fit is the size of the store. 90,000 square feet is a lot, and seems we should be able to narrow it down based on that.

I would love for it to be Fry's Electronics but I can't see them opening in a market this small and if they did they surely wouldn't do both OKC and Tulsa. I think Austin is their smallest market.

My guess is Costco and they are simply planning smaller stores. I don't think if it was a niche retailer the terminology "big retailer" would be used. That makes me think its something that will be a big deal for everybody.

There are several World Markets in Denver and Dallas. OKC would fill the gap, but 90,000 sf is too large for them. I think REI is a good bet.

Yes, too big for Cost Plus (if my info is correct about the 90,000 sf).

I'm hoping it's REI. They have a rabid and loyal following here on the West Coast.

World Market? (Cost Plus)...they were bought by Bed, Bath & Beyond last year and this is a great market for them. They may see fit to open a World Market here. At 260+ stores, they are growing. Home Furniture, Home Decor, Gifts | World Market (http://www.worldmarket.com/)

Headquarters in the Bay Area.

bluedogok also said they opened one in Denver without wine sales. And, for what it's worth, they're in Wichita and several locations in DFW. The only thing that doesn't fit is the size of the store. 90,000 square feet is a lot, and seems we should be able to narrow it down based on that.

I second a World Market, I think Norman would be a terrific place for one as I stated in another thread. I think their stores however are 18,000-21,000 square feet.

REI woud be awesome

Nordstroms are typically much larger than 90,000 sf.


One possibility may be REI. They have shifted towards superstores, some as large as 95,000 sf.

And they are HQ's in Kent, WA.
REI has stores of all sizes here in the Denver area, the huge one downtown and much smaller ones away from downtown. The newer store in Round Rock by Ikea would definitely be in the size range they are looking at, I think it was around 80,000 sf. The Downtown Austin store is pretty small in comparison.

I can't imagine Safeway wanting to come in. They have tried to be more upscale these past several years. Itigjt be nordstrom. Aren't they also putting a nordstrom rack somewhere soon? Might make sense but a bizarre move. REI maybe but they seem more geared to mountain stuff. This place is saturated with best buys so I doubt Frys will come in. Maybe Costco but 90k sq ft seems small. I have no clue. Where do you hear about this information?

I can't imagine Safeway wanting to come in. They have tried to be more upscale these past several years. Itigjt be nordstrom. Aren't they also putting a nordstrom rack somewhere soon? Might make sense but a bizarre move. REI maybe but they seem more geared to mountain stuff. This place is saturated with best buys so I doubt Frys will come in. Maybe Costco but 90k sq ft seems small. I have no clue. Where do you hear about this information?

This entire post basically sums it up. Lol

All I know is, if Tulsa gets a full size Nordstrom and we don't, I will be pissed!

Yes, I was like 7 when that happened. Thank you for the clarification. I loved Safeway when I was a kid ;-)

Same here. 33rd and Blvd in Edmond where Mardels is. I still think about going there for comics and MAD magazine. When they went away, we started shopping at Foodworld, which later became Ray's Superthrift. Edmond is pretty much owned by Walmart at this point.

I hope it is a Fry's. A manager told me at one of the Dallas area stores YEARS ago that they were going to be opening up one in OKC "soon".

Same here. 33rd and Blvd in Edmond where Mardels is. I still think about going there for comics and MAD magazine. When they went away, we started shopping at Foodworld, which later became Ray's Superthrift. Edmond is pretty much owned by Walmart at this point.

The entire OKC metro is pretty much owned by Wal-Mart. That's why the grocery selection here continues to be the worst anywhere in the US except the most isolated, rural communities.

I hope it is a Fry's. A manager told me at one of the Dallas area stores YEARS ago that they were going to be opening up one in OKC "soon".

That was probably before Newegg and Amazon cut to the marrow of the electronics superstore business model.

An REI employee in Austin told me last summer that they were planning to open a store in OKC. He didn't have details and of course I haven't seen or heard anything about it since so who knows.

An REI employee in Austin told me last summer that they were planning to open a store in OKC. He didn't have details and of course I haven't seen or heard anything about it since so who knows.

I don't know why, but it seems like every store that isn't in OKC has employees that hear they'll be opening in OKC soon.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. 'They all say that.' I even wondered if he was just saying it to sell me the membership. :)

When I was at the Denver store in June I asked about a store in okc. The answer I got was that they base their decisions on how many members are in a certain area. So if you really want a store here you need to back it up by purchasing a membership.

The entire OKC metro is pretty much owned by Wal-Mart. That's why the grocery selection here continues to be the worst anywhere in the US except the most isolated, rural communities.

Except for the giant Crest at SW 104th and May, the Homeland at SW 104th and Penn, the SuperTarget grocery on Memorial Road, the Homeland on N. May....


....point is that, yes, Wal Mart has a big presence, but its too extreme to say only alternatives are "most isolated rural communities." Couldn't tell you the last time I bought groceries at a WalMart.

That was probably before Newegg and Amazon cut to the marrow of the electronics superstore business model.
Fry's in Austin doesn't seem to suffer from that issue, Newegg was my second option after Fry's and most of the tech people that I knew felt the same. I wish we had them up here in Denver, we have Micro Center which is good but it isn't Fry's.

Fry's in Austin doesn't seem to suffer from that issue, Newegg was my second option after Fry's and most of the tech people that I knew felt the same. I wish we had them up here in Denver, we have Micro Center which is good but it isn't Fry's.

I think a MicroCenter would be good for OKC as well. I am not sure if this city has a large enough tech market to support a store like Fry's, however. Austin is the tech capital of Texas and also happens to be the smallest market with a Fry's. They used to also have one in San Antonio but I think it closed. It would be nice if OKC had something besides Best Buy, but this definitely isn't the only market with this problem. CompUSA, Circuit City, PC Club, Ultimate Electronics all fell one by one leaving many cities with nothing left but Best Buy. What keeps stores like Fry's and MicroCenter in business is they are selective with their locations. If they start getting too carefree with their expansion, I wonder if they would end up just like CompUSA and the rest.

The entire OKC metro is pretty much owned by Wal-Mart. That's why the grocery selection here continues to be the worst anywhere in the US except the most isolated, rural communities.

Aparently it isn't just the grocery stores Walmart is keeping out. I am actually a little depressed reading the list of stores you guys don't have. I never realized how much a of retail desert OKC is. I banned my wife from buying anything at Walmart.

Obviously, according this article, retail in OKC is really heating up.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3865510?embargo=1


Ruth's Chris Steak House is still cooking, and Costco, Cabela's and Main Event are still looking.

But the most intriguing part of Price Edwards & Co.'s midyear retail property market summary report is what it doesn't mention.
“There are several more that are not prepared at this time to announce their intentions,” Price Edwards teased.

Jim Parrack, senior vice president and retail specialist, wouldn't budge when pressed.
Oklahoma City retail development is hot, in other words. Sizzling even, speaking of Ruth's Chris — although no deal has yet closed on a location for the national upscale steakhouse. When it comes off, it'll be a cut above the rest.
Retail vacancy declined to 9 percent at midyear from 10.2 percent at the end of 2012, with nearly 200,000 square feet of space absorbed and increased occupancy in six of seven submarkets tracked, Price Edwards reported.

Newer shopping centers are nearly full, with those built since 2000 more than 95 percent occupied, “and our overhang of big-box space is in essence gone,” the firm said.

Aparently it isn't just the grocery stores Walmart is keeping out. I am actually a little depressed reading the list of stores you guys don't have. I never realized how much a of retail desert OKC is. I banned my wife from buying anything at Walmart.

Agreed. This is a huge weak point about OKC, one there really isn't any way to dance around. It's a quality of life issue. Nobody expects OKC to have a Nordstrom, IKEA, or Louis Vuitton, but it should have the basic retail people in towns a quarter its size take for granted. It's mind-numbing the type of things I've had to adjust to not having in a city of 1.3 million people.

The good news is a ton of retailers are currently probing into the OKC market. My hope is that within the next few years things will change significantly in this area. When I lived in Little Rock in 2008, that place was a huge retail desert. It was sad compared to OKC and didn't really have much that Fort Smith didn't have. In the five years since its improved sevenfold and now I would say Little Rock probably even has OKC beat. That really shows that this kind of thing can turn around pretty quickly if the right hand is dealt.

Unfortunately, until something is done about the liquor laws, retail in the city will never see its true potential.

I think a MicroCenter would be good for OKC as well. I am not sure if this city has a large enough tech market to support a store like Fry's, however. Austin is the tech capital of Texas and also happens to be the smallest market with a Fry's. They used to also have one in San Antonio but I think it closed. It would be nice if OKC had something besides Best Buy, but this definitely isn't the only market with this problem. CompUSA, Circuit City, PC Club, Ultimate Electronics all fell one by one leaving many cities with nothing left but Best Buy. What keeps stores like Fry's and MicroCenter in business is they are selective with their locations. If they start getting too carefree with their expansion, I wonder if they would end up just like CompUSA and the rest.
I think a Micro Center would be prime for OKC, not too big (although it would be nice if the Denver store was bigger) in comparison to Fry's. The cost of entry for a Micro Center would be a lower hurdle, especially going into an dark store. Up in Thornton there is the former main store, warehouse and HQ of Ultimate Electronics, a huge dark lot there. Sportsman's Warehouse is in front of it.

I think a Micro Center would be prime for OKC, not too big (although it would be nice if the Denver store was bigger) in comparison to Fry's. The cost of entry for a Micro Center would be a lower hurdle, especially going into an dark store. Up in Thornton there is the former main store, warehouse and HQ of Ultimate Electronics, a huge dark lot there. Sportsman's Warehouse is in front of it.

They have a store in Kansas so I guess it wouldn't be unthinkable. Are those stores expanding though? These days I rarely hear of new electronics superstores opening period. Even Best Buy has stopped their mass expansion and have even had to close some stores. I would love for OKC to get a MicroCenter or Fry's, but I am not sure how it would happen.

Not sure if they are expanding or not but at some point I would think they need to expand at some point and into markets without a Fry's for competition would make sense for them.

The only Best Buy that closed in the Denver area was the one that I went to by the rental house, I have one across the highway from me now after we moved to the new house. Over expansion was probably their issue and debt load was the anchor. I know the Fry's in Austin and the MC here are always more crowded than any Best Buy that I have seen and MC has a much smaller store.

I think a MicroCenter would be good for OKC as well. I am not sure if this city has a large enough tech market to support a store like Fry's, however. Austin is the tech capital of Texas and also happens to be the smallest market with a Fry's. They used to also have one in San Antonio but I think it closed. It would be nice if OKC had something besides Best Buy, but this definitely isn't the only market with this problem. CompUSA, Circuit City, PC Club, Ultimate Electronics all fell one by one leaving many cities with nothing left but Best Buy. What keeps stores like Fry's and MicroCenter in business is they are selective with their locations. If they start getting too carefree with their expansion, I wonder if they would end up just like CompUSA and the rest.

I'm not familiar with MicroCenter, but perhaps they would fare better if they weren't publicly traded.

Not sure if they are expanding or not but at some point I would think they need to expand at some point and into markets without a Fry's for competition would make sense for them.

The only Best Buy that closed in the Denver area was the one that I went to by the rental house, I have one across the highway from me now after we moved to the new house. Over expansion was probably their issue and debt load was the anchor. I know the Fry's in Austin and the MC here are always more crowded than any Best Buy that I have seen and MC has a much smaller store.

I think Best Buy's issue was a combination of over expansion, wider acceptance/improvements in online shopping in recent years and digital distribution of music/games/video. Given how much space they still have with things that seem to be a declining market, unless they plan on acting the previous CEOs rumored plan to do smaller stores, I could almost see trying to reposition them self more like a target than a pure electronics store in the future.

Oklahoma City retail is hot (http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3865510?embargo=1)
BY RICHARD MIZE richardmize@opubco.com
PUBLISHED: JULY 24, 2013

Ruth's Chris Steak House is still cooking, and Costco, Cabela's and Main Event are still looking.

But the most intriguing part of Price Edwards & Co.'s midyear retail property market summary report is what it doesn't mention.

“There are several more that are not prepared at this time to announce their intentions,” Price Edwards teased.

Jim Parrack, senior vice president and retail specialist, wouldn't budge when pressed.

Big box-type retailers looking for space “have sworn everybody to secrecy,” he said. They are “names that people would recognize. People will be glad if they come.”

Would-be newcomers are always looking, he said, but the numbers and intensity of site selectors reflects activity higher than it's been in 10 years.

Oklahoma City retail development is hot, in other words. Sizzling even, speaking of Ruth's Chris — although no deal has yet closed on a location for the national upscale steakhouse. When it comes off, it'll be a cut above the rest.

Of all these stores, give me REI and a nice grocery store like HEB/Central Market or Trader Joes's.

I think there is a great location for Trader Joe's/Central Market on Penn north of 150th. There is a large open field that could easily accomodate a nice store. You could even push the storefront to the sidewalk and have parking in the back. I think there are enough rooftops within their desired radius to make it viable. The right type of building would change the character of that stretch of Penn dramatically. It just needs a developer (and city building code) with a vision other than acres of parking on the streetside and a strip center at the back.

^^^ Unfortunately I feel it is wishful thinking to even think H-E-B will ever come to OKC. They aren't even in DFW with their regular stores. It would be nice though.

Trader Joe's is a niche store and doesn't compete with Wal-Mart so I think it's likely eventually.

Ruth's Chris to classen curve

Ruth's Chris to classen curve

Confirmed or your guess?

Confirmed or your guess?

not "confirmed" but more than a guess

not "confirmed" but more than a guess

That would be a great "get" for OKC. Never been and I've read that we have local steaks that are better, but the image boost will be worth it.

Is CHK still subsidizing Classen Curve or has that been cut back? If so, this is great for that area that they could lure it without all the incentives.

Of all these stores, give me REI and a nice grocery store like HEB/Central Market or Trader Joes's.

I think there is a great location for Trader Joe's/Central Market on Penn north of 150th. There is a large open field that could easily accomodate a nice store. You could even push the storefront to the sidewalk and have parking in the back. I think there are enough rooftops within their desired radius to make it viable. The right type of building would change the character of that stretch of Penn dramatically. It just needs a developer (and city building code) with a vision other than acres of parking on the streetside and a strip center at the back.

Not sure that location would be great since there is a Super Target a mile away. Again, like other people have stated, the Gaillardia area really needs a good grocery store. The closest one is the Homeland on 122nd and Rockwell. Not sure who owns the land, but one right west of the Proton Therapy Center would probably do well.

A valid point about the Target - I think it would have to be a "destination" or preferential choice for it to work on the Penn location. Not sure about the Proton location because of the number of rooftops.

The closest one is the Homeland on 122nd and Rockwell.And that Homeland is one of the lowest-quality ones in the city, although 122 and May seems to be a bit worse. The Rockwell store is only half the area of the one at NW Hiway and MacArthur, and carries a very limited selection of brands. Its meat market, however, is good. I would expect Gallardia residents to go to Crest in Edmond before using Homeland!

In St. Louis, Super Target and Trader Joe's are in the same strip center. They literally share a parking lot. And Whole Foods and a full-service Dierberg's are across the street. No reason you have to have separation, if its a good location.

this is exactly why I'm not moving from the Kilpatrick corridor between Meridian and Council. So much land and I think in the next few years you're going to see some major retail and amenities along Memorial up there

Not sure that location would be great since there is a Super Target a mile away. Again, like other people have stated, the Gaillardia area really needs a good grocery store. The closest one is the Homeland on 122nd and Rockwell. Not sure who owns the land, but one right west of the Proton Therapy Center would probably do well.

Most Gailarida folk I know go to Target on Penn.

And that Homeland is one of the lowest-quality ones in the city, although 122 and May seems to be a bit worse. The Rockwell store is only half the area of the one at NW Hiway and MacArthur, and carries a very limited selection of brands. Its meat market, however, is good. I would expect Gallardia residents to go to Crest in Edmond before using Homeland!

That Homeland isn't terrible by OKC standards, though in any other city it would be the worst of the worst. The NW 122nd and May Homeland is downright disgusting, almost as bad as the 18th and Classen location. Probably the best option for that part of town is the Target on N Penn or the Wal-Mart at Hefner and Rockwell.

I personally prefer the Crest at Hefner and Rockwell, but do shop occasionally at the WNM across Rockwell from it, and have to use the NW 122 & Rockwell Homeland to find my favorite brand of bread and the Lance cracker sandwiches I prefer. Of all the far-NW area Homelands I've been in, the one at NW Hiway and MacArthur seems to be the best although NW 63 and May is by far the outstanding one on the north side of town. I've not visited any of the southside locations.

That was probably before Newegg and Amazon cut to the marrow of the electronics superstore business model.

I'm not arguing with this statement, but I will offer that I just bought a Turtle Beach headset from Bestbuy almost $15 bucks cheaper than anyone online. I always start my shopping online, but it's still worth it to check with the superstores.