$700,000 (!) building permit application on 1/10/13 to renovate the old Furr's space into a new use; looks like it may be a Petco.

This project is very well leased:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5852d1389462526-french-market-mall-fmsiteplan.jpg


There is something going in next to Catherine's. I have no clue what it is, but I'd love to know.

Good grief the parking there is such a needless nightmare.

Wow. I drive by this every day and had no idea a two-level enclosed mall was what the original proposal was.

Saw Leon Russell play there years ago, at the old (but not original) Boar's Head. Also used to be home to Doc Blues' place, like, 30 years ago.

Went to Bianca's Jazz Club a time or two.

I forgot Trust House Jewelers being there before they moved out on street front property.

Wow. I drive by this every day and had no idea a two-level enclosed mall was what the original proposal was.

Bchris, It wasn't just a proposal. It actually was a thriving two-level shopping mall at one time. There was a a movie theater (four screens, I think?), clothing stores, an old-fashioned tobacco shop, a newsstand, gift shops, a book store, clubs, a jazz lounge....it was very nice and was the talk of the town for quite a while. Things came and went and finally, it lost most all of its tenants ---- a casualty of the oil bust.

Alberta's Tea Room was also in that mall. My grandparents had an anniversary party there and it was also where our high school baccalaureate dinner was held.

Praying they will restripe their parking lot. I can't think of another shopping center lot I hate more than that one. And exiting the lot to go west on 63rd from either exit is a nightmare.

I feel like they could squeeze in something on the 63rd frontage and still have plenty of parking. While I'd advocate for something else, with how they've been growing, and the competition nearby (KFC, CFA), this might actually make a good spot for a future Cane's (in the parking lot, facing 63rd, not the old Furr's spot).

If you click on the black & white photo attached to the article above, you can see the original tenants in 1972 and a photo of the mall interior, where Burlington Coat Factory now sits.

That wrought iron staircase was really memorable.

Pete, You mentioned at the top "looks like it may be a Petco.", so I was not sure if the info you dug up was unclear or not, but I can confirm you are spot on.

Does anybody remember what the bookstore was? Was it Bollinger's before they opened at Northpark? I remember whatever it was, they left and a sign said "Coming Soon: Doubleday Books." There were no Doubleday Book Shops in Oklahoma City and I was thrilled having been in them on the coasts. It never happened.

Oh, man...remember books? They were so cool...

http://www.tileshop.com/index.aspx

The Tile Shop Opens First Retail Store In Oklahoma City
BY Business Wire | 01/08/14 - 01:45 PM EST

The Tile Shop (NASDAQ:TTS), a specialty retailer of high quality, premium manufactured and natural stone tiles, has launched its first retail store in Oklahoma City.

The new 19,100 square foot Oklahoma City location is The Tile Shop’s second store in Oklahoma. The company recently opened a new store in Tulsa. The new store offers the most comprehensive selection of 4,500 beautiful and natural stone and tile products in the Oklahoma City market.

The Tile Shop’s new store in Oklahoma City is located at 2844 N.W. 63 rd Street in the French Market Shopping Center. The new store is located on the north side of the city, near the affluent Nichols Hills and Village neighborhoods, just off the Lake Hefner Parkway and near the busy six-lane Northwest Expressway. The new location is situated in a high traffic retail location near other in-demand retailers including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Petsmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Michael’s.

When Oklahoma City homeowners enter their new Tile Shop retail location, they will receive the Beautiful Made Easy™ experience. This shopping experience helps homeowners find the most beautiful tile and stone in the world, and makes it as easy as possible for homeowners to purchase exactly what they need to transform their homes.

The Tile Shop in Oklahoma City will feature fully decorated, room-size displays -- kitchens, baths, and other spaces within a home – completed with actual appliances as well as lighting and plumbing fixtures, that allow a homeowner to envision what their Tile Shop tile and stone will look like, installed, in their home.

The Tile Shop’s incredible offering of tile and stone is complemented with friendly and knowledgeable sales associates who are specially trained to help Oklahoma City homeowners realize their home decorating dreams. Jeremy Hellings, who joined The Tile Shop in 2010, will manage The Tile Shop’s new Oklahoma City location.

http://www.tileshop.com/index.aspx

The Tile Shop Opens First Retail Store In Oklahoma City
BY Business Wire | 01/08/14 - 01:45 PM EST

The Tile Shop (NASDAQ:TTS), a specialty retailer of high quality, premium manufactured and natural stone tiles, has launched its first retail store in Oklahoma City.

The new 19,100 square foot Oklahoma City location is The Tile Shop’s second store in Oklahoma. The company recently opened a new store in Tulsa. The new store offers the most comprehensive selection of 4,500 beautiful and natural stone and tile products in the Oklahoma City market.

The Tile Shop’s new store in Oklahoma City is located at 2844 N.W. 63 rd Street in the French Market Shopping Center. The new store is located on the north side of the city, near the affluent Nichols Hills and Village neighborhoods, just off the Lake Hefner Parkway and near the busy six-lane Northwest Expressway. The new location is situated in a high traffic retail location near other in-demand retailers including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Petsmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Michael’s.

When Oklahoma City homeowners enter their new Tile Shop retail location, they will receive the Beautiful Made Easy™ experience. This shopping experience helps homeowners find the most beautiful tile and stone in the world, and makes it as easy as possible for homeowners to purchase exactly what they need to transform their homes.

The Tile Shop in Oklahoma City will feature fully decorated, room-size displays -- kitchens, baths, and other spaces within a home – completed with actual appliances as well as lighting and plumbing fixtures, that allow a homeowner to envision what their Tile Shop tile and stone will look like, installed, in their home.

The Tile Shop’s incredible offering of tile and stone is complemented with friendly and knowledgeable sales associates who are specially trained to help Oklahoma City homeowners realize their home decorating dreams. Jeremy Hellings, who joined The Tile Shop in 2010, will manage The Tile Shop’s new Oklahoma City location.

..........The new location is situated in a high traffic retail location near other in-demand retailers including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Petsmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Michael’s........

I am guessing Natural Grocers is going to this shopping center?

I am guessing Natural Grocers is going to this shopping center?

??

If you follow the link in your own post to the Natural Grocer's thread it shows exactly where it will go.

Skechers is planning a large 8,800 SF store in French Market.

This looks like a regular Skechers store vs. the outlets currently located in the OKC area.


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/skechers092822a.jpg


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I went in the BB&B there about a month ago. I hadn't been in there since before Covid. The store is unrecognizable from what it once was. I doubt I'll be going back.

I went in the BB&B there about a month ago. I hadn't been in there since before Covid. The store is unrecognizable from what it once was. I doubt I'll be going back.

You may not be able to if it gets put on the 150 store closure list

Went through a couple months ago when they were still renovating and it was all very unorganized and a lot of empty shelves with limited products. I don't go there much but like having the option.

We really liked it pre covid. We shopped there a lot. It seemed a shell of what it once was product selection wise and I agree very unorganized. And they had the 20% off any item and $5 off $15 or more mailer coupons that even though they had an expiration date, they never expired. You could go there with a hand full of them and use multiple coupons at the same time.

very nice get!


Skechers is planning a large 8,800 SF store in French Market.

This looks like a regular Skechers store vs. the outlets currently located in the OKC area.


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/skechers092822a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/skechers092822b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/skechers092822c.jpg


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Will the tobacco exchange be moving or closing down?

Staples has closed and Hobby Lobby is taking the back half of its space along with all the old Bed, Bath, and Beyond:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frenchmarket070524a.jpg

didn't burlington occupy some of that second-floor space at one time... or were they always on the first floor only?

didn't burlington occupy some of that second-floor space at one time... or were they always on the first floor only?

I seem to remember going upstairs there

I seem to remember going upstairs there
Yes, escalators were in the middle, housewares and baby departments were upstairs if I remember correctly

ahh... thanks to both of you. could've sworn that was the case, but wanted to make sure!

A building permit application has been filed for the new Hobby Lobby in this development.

Seems like a great location for them; the Michael's in Mayfair is always very busy and is a very tired looking store.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frenchmarket080224a.jpg

I hope they restripe that horrible parking lot.

It truly is one of the worst striping plans from a function/use standpoint of any sizable parking lots in OKC. I'm having a difficult time thinking of one that is worse.

I would be interested in knowing the number of fender benders that happen there. Greedily trying to force too many parking places onto too small a lot.

I'm sure the developers would love to sell off some of that parking for out-parcels (like Cain's) but the OKC parking codes require all those spaces, nevermind that lot is never even 25% full.

Only at Christmas when it's almost impassible. Once Hobby Lobby goes in it may be worse.

Only at Christmas when it's almost impassible. Once Hobby Lobby goes in it may be worse.

No, as I said, it's never close to full. I live only 2 miles away.

No, as I said, it's never close to full. I live only 2 miles away.

Agree with Pete, we had cats and shopped at Petco regularly for years, never close to full no matter what time of year.

Agree with Pete, we had cats and shopped at Petco regularly for years, never close to full no matter what time of year.

Not sure it has been real busy since Woolco left. Anyone remember Woolco?

Was there a Venture there after Woolco?

Was there a Venture there after Woolco?

Yes, the short-lived competitor to Target.

This is from November of 1983:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/venture080724a.jpg

Was the second story taken off or just walled in and used for storage?

Was the second story taken off or just walled in and used for storage?

The second story of what was originally the mall then the 2nd level of Burlington is now empty and they are seeking a new tenant.

Not sure how you get up there without going through Burlington, but I imagine they would work something out.

My parents bought my very first boom box at that Venture. :)

Odd how memories work. I remember the theater. Especially one night that was during a time that I was wiring a house for Bill & Barbie Mathis. They were going to the same movie and treated us to the movie and dinner. I was into pipe collecting/smoking for a while and spent a lot of time in the tobacco shop that was right on the inside corner of the two wings. After my second divorce I went to The Boars Head pretty much every night. Couldn't beat a pretty good free happy hour buffet. Felt like Norm on Cheers when I'd walk in and the whole place yelled "Bill!". But I don't remember Venture at all.

Was there a Safeway across the street from FMM?

Was there a Safeway across the street from FMM?Maybe? Seems like there was a grocery store across May or 63rd.
I know there was a Safeway at 36th & May which became Carpet World and is now OnCue. I think the gym on 122nd & May that was a Homeland could have been a Safeway before that. If so I can't imagine another Safeway on 63rd.

Was there a Safeway across the street from FMM?

Where Sprouts is now. Half-Price Books used to be a barber shop, Neptune Subs, and a couple of other places.

Not sure it has been real busy since Woolco left. Anyone remember Woolco?

Was there a Venture there after Woolco?

Shopped at Woolco for many records, bought Song Remains the Same, lots of KISS (got busted for price-sticker swapping on a couple of those), etc. And yes, Venture was after Woolco, but didn't shop there much.

Wasn't the Sprouts a CompUSA at one time??

Wasn't the Sprouts a CompUSA at one time??
CompUSA was either where Sprouts or Auto Zone are now.

CompUSA was either where Sprouts or Auto Zone are now.

it was where sprouts is now.

I was in line at Raising Cain's today and looked over to the empty Bed Bath and Beyond and noticed that it and the former Staples next to it are currently being cleared out. I also noticed that the words 'Hobby Lobby' were spray painted on the front glass panes at BB&B. Anyone know if that's really what is going in at that space?

I was in line at Raising Cain's today and looked over to the empty Bed Bath and Beyond and noticed that it and the former Staples next to it are currently being cleared out. I also noticed that the words 'Hobby Lobby' were spray painted on the front glass panes at BB&B. Anyone know if that's really what is going in at that space?Yes. I believe that is reported earlier in this thread, or on another one.

Yes. I believe that is reported earlier in this thread, or on another one.

Yeah and unless something changed very recently, Hobby Lobby is filling both (BB&B and Staples) spaces.

I was in line at Raising Cain's today and looked over to the empty Bed Bath and Beyond and noticed that it and the former Staples next to it are currently being cleared out. I also noticed that the words 'Hobby Lobby' were spray painted on the front glass panes at BB&B. Anyone know if that's really what is going in at that space?

See post #25 in this thread for a map of what HL is taking.

Looks like Mathis Sleep Store is going in next to Hobby Lobby:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frenchmarket111424a.jpg

Looks like Mathis Sleep Store is going in next to Hobby Lobby:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frenchmarket111424a.jpg
I'm glad to see the mall doing well. But I will always have memories of the Boar's Head. After the ex-wife left I survived by eating the free buffet there every night.

I have many fond memories of the old mall, especially the theater.

But that was a long, long time ago.

I have many fond memories of the old mall, especially the theater.

But that was a long, long time ago.Oh the theater. In like '80 maybe I wired Bill and Barbie Mathes's house. We ran into them at FMM theater and they treated plus took us out for dinner at Pioneer Pies. Funny that my wife was totally speechless that night One of the things I ended up hating about her was the fact she wouldn't shut up. Ever. But not that night. I however am very quiet but I talked my head off because I had seen them every day for weeks.