amen campus corner has serious potential id like to see a medium to large bookstore (independent or chain) move in

That would be AWESOME. An independent would be nice, like Full Circle in OKC, but Border's/Barnes & Noble would be good too. In my plan for University that I did at OU I had a large 2 story bookstore/coffee shop located at the SW corner of University & White as part of a mixed-use development on the parking lot there that included other retail space along Univ. and a parking garage. I am hoping that once In The Raw opens it will draw more interest to the diamond in the rough that is University Blvd. thru Campus Corner.

It sounds like a big anchor is needed to draw retail and restaurants there. I'm not sure a book store is quite it, though.

I'd love to see development/re-development in Campus Corner of retail in the ground floor and apartments above; 2- to 4-story buildings.

It would be a fantastic place for student to live and bring all types of other possibilities.

I doubt Campus Corner will ever get a bookstore in the future....not only does Norman have Barnes & Noble and Borders, but they also have Hastings. and the Hastings recently underwent major renovations...It would be cool if Hastings moved to campus corner, but it's already pretty close to campus, and the place is almost always busy with students from morning 'til night

I doubt Campus Corner will ever get a bookstore in the future....not only does Norman have Barnes & Noble and Borders, but they also have Hastings. and the Hastings recently underwent major renovations...It would be cool if Hastings moved to campus corner, but it's already pretty close to campus, and the place is almost always busy with students from morning 'til night

Exactly why another is needed, especially one many students can easily walk to or get to before/after classes.

they just opened a new bookstore on asp, but its more like a textbook store than a borders/b&n

Where on Asp is this new bookstore and its name?

I was in the Tulsa Whole Foods Thursday and spoke with one of the managers who told me there will be a Whole Foods in the OKC area within 1-2 years and are still deciding on the location. FWIW bet it is not in UNP but North OKC.

It's not really a new bookstore...I actually think it's been open (at the new location on Asp) since last year (Fall '07) because I recall buying my textbooks there. It's Sooner Bookstore. They moved from their location on Jenkins.

The Embassy Suites thread got closed so I'll post these pics of construction here. These are about 3 weeks or so old.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2927162602_005712bb23.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2927162364_e996ca0ef6.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2926323201_5eec0a1bf9.jpg?v=0

My stepfather is one of the job superintendents of this project so I got to visit the hotel a few times during construction. I was there just 2 weekends ago and it was almost finished on the exterior. They are supposed to have there soft opening next week, the 15th to be exact and got the certificate of occupancy last week. It looks pretty impressive inside and the grand ballroom will be one of the nicer and largest convention spaces in town so it should get a lot of use. My husband mother and I all went to OSU and where with 3 OU graduates when we made the last tour. The OU grads were just shaking their heads at the color schemes. I guess they did not think orange would be a very popular choice in Norman. The rest of us liked the color just fine.

People don't naturally like neon orange do they? I mean, don't you kind of have to force yourself to like that color?

for some reason those same colors keep getting puked up, er, um, applied liberally to many structures. i do not even pretend to comprehend the choice.

This is probably the 6th or so Hotel my stepfather has done and the interior color choices are always quite interesting to say the least. Funny, they always look better when the funiture is in and people are standing on the carpets but I have never looked at hotel interior decorating the same way since he started building them.

[QUOTE=CCOKC;174736]. They are supposed to have there soft opening next week, the 15th to be exact and got the certificate of occupancy last week.

Why not invite all your nearest and dearest here on the Norman board to the soft opening and we could all say :welcome55?

BTW, I read in the paper that the Norman one may be the last of the traditional atrium style and that the new concept is the entry way and not as tall as the center atriums. True?

Well the one in the medical district will be the new style you describe, or at least it won't have the atrium.

So, does anyone know what the new building going up by Target and Logans is? Saw it driving south on 35 earlier today but didn't notice a "coming soon" sign.

Anyone know what the new building by Target and Logan's RH is?

Circuit City announced today that the Norman location (as well as the Penn Square location) will be closing.

Penn Square?

I thought the same thing. I think they must mean Portland and NWE.

Tough time to be in the retail market

Wow, did that Circuit City even make it a whole year?

^^No. And that leaves a big hole to be filled in. Who can they get to put in there?

Lord & Taylor of course!

Or was it Barney's?

Penn Square?

Back years ago when Circuit City was a real contender. They named their stores after the area or after the nearest mall/shopping center. This was a marketing effort to help the customer pin point the area the stores where located.

Looks like a restaurant is going up by Target Is that going to be a Cheddars?

What is going in by Kohls?

Looks like a restaurant is going up by Target Is that going to be a Cheddars?

Yes, Cheddars.

That's something new to the market.

General Growth Properties (GGP) is nearing default/approaching BK. Think they still own Sooner Fashion Mall. Be interesting to see if they sell off some properties.

MMmmm I love Cheddars! I can't wait for it to open.

So today Office Depot reported that they will be closing 112 under performing stores. I have yet to see a list of stores that it is affecting, if anyone can find it I would be more than grateful! I just hope it doesn't apply to the Norman store, the loss of both Circuit City and Office Depot would definitely hurt UNP development...

According to the Tulsa World, no Oklahoma stores will be closing.

any new info or stores opening?

MMmmm I love Cheddars! I can't wait for it to open.

what do you recommend?

pei wei is my fave

I heard a rumor about 2 years ago that a Costco could go in at the University Town Center, Do you think that a Costco would come.

Seriously, our developers need to think bigger... I'm tired of the same-old same-old, how about:

Urban Outfitters, DSW Shoes, Fossil Store, Anchor Blue, J. Crew, Uncle Julio's, Chuy's, California Pizza Kitchen, Bucca di Beppo, Dave and Busters, Sega GameWerks, 7 For All Mankind store, AX / Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, a Calvin Klein affiliated store, a tapas restaurant, Fry's Electronics, Disney Store, Origins, Guess, Ecco, Jamba Juice, Gucci, Louis Vuitton Store, Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks, See's Candies, Steve Madden Store, Williams-Sonoma, Boston Market.

You really think that the developers don't try to get the merchants you listed?

Honestly I don't know that our developers are aware of all of those names I just mentioned. The ones that they are aware of they are probably trying to get.

And no new ones will spend money on an untested market right now, regardless of Oklahoma doing okay economically (even though signs are it is catching up to us).

i have not been to the un area in awhile, has anything new came in, i thought was where getting some large department stores, i know kohls is out there but what else?

The only recent additions that I know of are a Shoe Carnival, a store called Rue 21 which looks kind of like a Pac Sun to me, and something called Dots which isn't open yet but looks like it is going to be a woman's clothing store.

Nordstrom's is not interested in OKC and Saks is not either and the demographics not favorable for UNP either. Williams Sonoma would be a possibility probably only because the CEO is an OU grad.

wasn't there a Rue 21 out at Sooner Mall a while back ... I'm thinking oh, 6 years(ish)?

Academy sports & outdoors is coming to Norman. I don't know if it's coming to UNP. I figured they may go there. They are looking for managers for the new store.

I heard a rumor about 2 years ago that a Costco could go in at the University Town Center, Do you think that a Costco would come.

Love Costco! Sure hope they do come to UTC.

According to this flyer from the NAI Sullivan Group, Academy Sports is going to be located in Section 2A of the UNP.

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/3/2/F/32F365D8-97EF-463D-97EE-B25D9C25A469.pdf

kevinpate, yes, there was a rue21 store at sooner mall at that time. a friend of mine worked there.

Academy sports & outdoors is coming to Norman. I don't know if it's coming to UNP. I figured they may go there. They are looking for managers for the new store.

I like Academy sports and outdoors, I think it would be great if Norman gets one, so people don't have to drive up to the one at I-240 and Western.

I feel the same way as Academy will be a pretty nice add to Norman.

I have yet to see Academy build their own store in Oklahoma. They only move into existing shopping centers or old big box locations. The former Circuit City is out because it is only 21,000 Sq ft.

I think they build thier own stores in Tulsa if I'm not mistaken. I know the Walker store was a Builders Square What was on 63rd street before Academy took over the space? I'm wondering if Dicks Sporting Goods is still coming to UNP now that Academy is going in there? Could they coexist in the same center although I'm sure Dicks Sporting Goods will open in the lifestyle center.

I think they build thier own stores in Tulsa if I'm not mistaken. I know the Walker store was a Builders Square What was on 63rd street before Academy took over the space? I'm wondering if Dicks Sporting Goods is still coming to UNP now that Academy is going in there? Could they coexist in the same center although I'm sure Dicks Sporting Goods will open in the lifestyle center.

They did build their own store in Tulsa. The store on NW 63rd was a new ground up store and our company was involved in the building. We've also done Academy's in Shreveport, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin and Houston. All of those were ground up stores 28 to 35,000', some in shopping centers, some not.

Athletic Village is also in UNP. I'd be surprised if two more sporting goods stores also located there.

JMO but I'd rather have Dick's than Academy. Athletic Village probably appeals to a different demographic than either of those?

I kinda thought Dicks was suppose to go to UNP. Alao is JCPenney still planning on relocating from the mall to UNP?

Dick's is 10,000 times better than Academy.

I hear Dick's will make an appearance in Oklahoma in 2010 or 11.

Where is the Academy in Norman going to be? I saw a job site had them looking for a manager for norman location.....

I think it's going in UNP.