I do find it ironic they call it Oak Grove and it only added a few trees to the landscape. That being said, the May location has what I thought was ample parking and the last time I went I couldn't find one spot. I had to stalk those leaving in order to grab a spot. I am sure it isn't this way at all times and every day, but this was probably considered when planning the parking area.

I do find it ironic they call it Oak Grove and it only added a few trees to the landscape. That being said, the May location has what I thought was ample parking and the last time I went I couldn't find one spot. I had to stalk those leaving in order to grab a spot. I am sure it isn't this way at all times and every day, but this was probably considered when planning the parking area.

The May location is horrible in terms of parking and access. Messy. I have no idea if the proposal is too much or soo small but agree it would be great to have more trees, landscaping, etc. They are moving along - walls are popping up each day.

Embarrassingly bad drive-by photo but you can see the entire structure is up and is being sheathed in insulation:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/oakgrove122115.jpg

^It's not a real easy place to get a good photo of - I drive by there a lot and have thought with the progress some pics would be in order!. When they get that corner signed finished I'll try to get a few. It's moving along pretty well.

best spot to snap a pic is EB on 122nd waiting first in line at the light. structure looks a lot bigger than what i was envisioning

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sprouts021216.jpg

NW OKC shopping center goes for a different look

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record February 15, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Stucco-finished, rectangular shopping centers are frequently developed around the city. But Zerby Partners wanted do something different with its center at NW 122nd Street and N. MacArthur Boulevard.

The company worked with Bockus-Payne Associates Architects to create a neighborhood-inspired 70,000-square-foot center. The development, known as Oak Grove, will be anchored by a 30,000-square-foot Sprouts Farmers Market, with retail and restaurant to fill the remaining space.

Zerby Partners Principal Caleb Hill said the developers do not want to be too hasty in choosing tenants. Four restaurants can fit in the center, with traditional retail filling in the other spaces.

“We’re working with several groups right now,” Hill said. “We’re trying to be patient and pick the right retailers or restaurants that are long-term operators and will be a benefit for the shopping center.”

Hill and some of his other partners live in the area, and they felt a need for a grocer. The development is about 1.5 miles south of the Gaillardia neighborhood, with other residential development nearby. Hill said Sprouts has a trade area of up to 10 miles.

While the site had good traffic counts, it has a creek running through the northwest corner. Hill said other developers had considered covering the creek, but Zerby saw it as a landscaping opportunity. The company brought in SMC Consulting Engineers to create a plan. The two businesses previously worked together on Westgate Marketplace and other developments.

Project engineer Alec Bass said Zerby had to get permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to modify the stream. Once that was granted, SMC designed a Gabion basket retaining wall system to keep the land in place and allow for the stream to flow cleanly. A Gabion basket is a wire mesh box that is laid over the earth, and then stones are placed on top to prevent erosion.

The creek will help accent the center’s exterior stone and stucco finish. Gaillardia’s pitched roofs and arched doorways inspired the center’s curvature, said David Payne, architect with Bockus-Payne. Steve Bothell, the project architect, worked with Sprouts on its design, as well as Zerby on the rest of the center. This is the metro’s first Sprouts built from the ground up. The company has its own architect who will design the interior, Payne said.

“(Zerby) really drove the design,” Payne said. “They felt like the corner needed a little upgrade.”

This is Zerby’s second time to collaborate with Bockus-Payne. They worked together on the Spring Creek Plaza shopping center in Edmond. The Bockus-Payne design is being built by L5 Construction.

Hill said it’s taken all three partners – Bockus, L5 and SMC – to bring the shopping center to life. He said grocery-anchored shopping centers are rare in the market, and he hopes Oak Grove will be an example for future developers.

“There’s a lot that went into this shopping center,” he said. “We’re trying to be very detail-oriented. It’s not just a typical neighborhood shopping center.”

Sprouts will open this summer, with other retailers and restaurants opening later this year.

Sprouts opens May 25th:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sprouts050316.jpg

I live so close to this development I could walk to Sprouts for groceries. I can't tell you how excited I am for it to open. I know the traffic will ramp up a bit, but it's worth it. I'm also very excited to see the other tenants. And, maybe I'm just an "urbanist philistine" but having to endure that parking lot for the Sprouts at 63rd and May, this parking lot at the Oak Grove looks like an oasis to me. Love it.

Although the slight slope will be fun to watch from Walgreens during ice...

This Sprouts is going to absolutely kill it.

This Sprouts is going to absolutely kill it.

Yep, we're probably going to quit going to Natural Grocers and go to this Sprouts instead (as long as we live up here in Northwest Bumf...) since Sprouts carries everything we get at NG (and more).

Although the slight slope will be fun to watch from Walgreens during ice...To watch it, you gotta get there first. Both NW 122 and MacArthur have some pretty good inclines in both directions from that corner!

I'm looking forward to it opening, even though it will be as far from my house as are Crest and WallyMarket. If it has better selection, that'll be worth the drive.

This Sprouts is going to absolutely kill it.

Absolutely. I looked it up on Google Maps, and this location and the one on May are EXACTLY the same distance from my house, but I will go to this location every time because the parking lot is so much bigger.

To watch it, you gotta get there first. Both NW 122 and MacArthur have some pretty good inclines in both directions from that corner!

I'm looking forward to it opening, even though it will be as far from my house as are Crest and WallyMarket. If it has better selection, that'll be worth the drive.

I live right there so I can walk from where I am ;-)

I live right there so I can walk from where I am ;-)

but... but... how on earth can you walk there with all of those super wide 4 lane roads and huge parking lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but... but... how on earth can you walk there with all of those super wide 4 lane roads and huge parking lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, there are no udentified crosswalks at the "big" intersection... hopefully the city will identify that issue before too long!

Really a nice Sprouts and certainly seems bigger than the one at 63rd & May:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sprouts060416a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sprouts060416b.jpg

Any update on other stores coming in this center besides the sprouts? I know originally there was talk of a corner bakery and CVS.

Didn't know if this was still true or if plans changed. Especially with the new CVS planned for two miles north of this center. I did think I saw some work going on in some of the smaller space lately.

Especially with the new CVS planned for two miles north of this center.

Where is everyone hearing about this? That's behind my neighborhood and someone posted on our Facebook group saying "as I'm sure you know by now, there is a CVS planned for this corner."

Where is everyone hearing about this? That's behind my neighborhood and someone posted on our Facebook group saying "as I'm sure you know by now, there is a CVS planned for this corner."

Pete posted it earlier this month

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=42414

I actually drove by this when I was in town a couple weeks ago. Hadn't been over to the Putnam City area in quite a while.

I agree they removed too many trees and added back too few, but the building is great. One of the nicest strip malls I've seen anywhere.

I drove by today and noticed that on the west side of Sprouts that there is an Eden Salon & Spa going in. Nice to see a new tenant.