More new stuff?

[cedbled]

Retail interest in Oklahoma City is growing, Oklahoma City officials say

Read more: NewsOK

So far we potentially have:
"ladies fashion and home decor store, a gourmet sandwich and bakery chain, a national discount department store, fast casual dining operators, several mall and shopping center developers and a specialty grocery store.

The meetings were confidential, so Reid declined to name the retailers. But, she added, the chance of securing at least one new lease deal is high."

Can anyone knock any thing off the list, as far as guesses are concerned?
I'm really interested in the department store....

[Pete]

ladies fashion and home decor store

That's got to be Anthropology.

[Oil Capital]

That's got to be Anthropology.

My thought exactly.

[betts]

Anthropologie is already interested and the team has visited and looked at space. So, if it's an Anthropolgie lease they're talking about ("ladies fashion and home decor store"), it wasn't this convention that secured it. Anthro simply wants suitable space in a center that stays open until 9 and on Sundays, and the last I'd heard they hadn't found it. I am wondering (and will find out as soon as I can) if there's any possibility that Aubrey might offer to build them a freestanding building in the Classen Curve area to meet their specifications, especially if, like Tuck said, stores in Classen Curve will be staying open later and on Sunday. They'll already have the drive-up business from Whole Foods, shoppers at which are precisely their demographic, and Classen Curve demographics should be virtually identical. It's a very logical location for them if they can get the store shape and size they want.

[Swake2]

Anthropologie is already interested and the team has visited and looked at space. So, if it's an Anthropolgie lease they're talking about ("ladies fashion and home decor store"), it wasn't this convention that secured it. Anthro simply wants suitable space in a center that stays open until 9 and on Sundays, and the last I'd heard they hadn't found it.

Are you sure? They might want to check on Utica Square's hours then. Almost all the stores close at 6.

[betts]

I'm just repeating what I was told. Maybe they think they'll get enough daytime traffic in Tulsa to keep sales up. I don't know of any Anthro stores that are only open until 6, personally.

[okclee]

Is anyone concerned that presently the best retail recruiter for Okc seems to be Chesapeake?

Don't get me wrong, Chesapeake is doing great. Just bringing WF to Okc puts them at the top.

[metro]

Is anyone concerned that presently the best retail recruiter for Okc seems to be Chesapeake?

Don't get me wrong, Chesapeake is doing great. Just bringing WF to Okc puts them at the top.

Yes, that's what I've been trying to say for awhile now. The OKC Chamber needs to beef up their efforts, even if it means hiring from outside OKC.

[demoman2k10]

I'd ask this is OKC Chamber doing the bulk of the recruiting or have the towns around here formed a Metro group much like other cities have to bring the BIG names to the area.

[ljbab728]

Yes, that's what I've been trying to say for awhile now. The OKC Chamber needs to beef up their efforts, even if it means hiring from outside OKC.

Metro, so are you saying the Chamber had no part in this? How do you know what their efforts were? The chamber can't build or promote developments like Chesapeake can.

[Rover]

A lot of the promotional work is done by commercial realtors representing particular clients. They obviously are more interested in getting a project or a location filled and aren't so coordinated with each other. It is like my project to re-locate a company here. When I am out looking at building spaces the realtors are interested only in me signing a lease at one of their properties. They rarely take a look and help me find the best "fit". I have only had one actually offer to help me with state and local contacts and assistance getting information I need for my business. I am sure the same is going on with retail leasing. So, if there isn't an available site or project, there isn't the initiative. The reason for WF and other prospects at and around the curve is that Aubrey wants to fill his area and is willing to promote and educate to get it done. We just don't have a bunch of other visionary or risk taking developers here committed to long term wealth development. They want a sure bet and quick profit. Build a cheap center and fill it with safe chains. That is why every new center has the same old middle of the road retailers. Thankfully Aubrey has a longer term vision.

[Kokopelli]

I'm with Mike - would love to see a Costco here in OKC -regardless of how its classified.!!!!!

[onthestrip]

Is anyone concerned that presently the best retail recruiter for Okc seems to be Chesapeake?

Don't get me wrong, Chesapeake is doing great. Just bringing WF to Okc puts them at the top.

No, its just that right now they are the only ones developing a desirable area for these retailers. And why would you be concerned? Who cares who develops and attracts certain retailers, just as long as it gets done.

On a side note, Id really like to get my hand on some of the Classen Curve leases and the Whole Foods lease. No telling how much money Aubrey is giving them to come to that area.

[BG918]

No, its just that right now they are the only ones developing a desirable area for these retailers. And why would you be concerned? Who cares who develops and attracts certain retailers, just as long as it gets done.

On a side note, Id really like to get my hand on some of the Classen Curve leases and the Whole Foods lease. No telling how much money Aubrey is giving them to come to that area.

Helmerich & Payne has the same hand in drawing and retaining high end retailers at Utica Square in Tulsa. Their HQ used to be right next to it until they moved downtown a few years ago. It has long been rumored they will build a highrise hotel on their land as that area doesn't have one and it's next to 2 hospitals. Speaking of hotel, I could see the Classen Curve area supporting a new hotel. Wish the Westin brand would return to Oklahoma.

[MikeOKC]

Retail interest in Oklahoma City is growing, Oklahoma City officials say

Read more: NewsOK

So far we potentially have:
"ladies fashion and home decor store, a gourmet sandwich and bakery chain, a national discount department store, fast casual dining operators, several mall and shopping center developers and a specialty grocery store.

The meetings were confidential, so Reid declined to name the retailers. But, she added, the chance of securing at least one new lease deal is high."

Can anyone knock any thing off the list, as far as guesses are concerned?
I'm really interested in the department store....

The bolded part above is what jumped out at me. Let's hope that's Costco.

[cedbled]

The bolded part above is what jumped out at me. Let's hope that's Costco.

let's hope so

[soonerguru]

The bolded part above is what jumped out at me. Let's hope that's Costco.

This one jumped out at me: specialty grocery store

Could that mean Trader Joe's?

[Oil Capital]

The bolded part above is what jumped out at me. Let's hope that's Costco.

I doubt it. That would be a very strange way to categorize Costco

[MikeOKC]

I doubt it. That would be a very strange way to categorize Costco

What would you call Costco?

CostcoHome.com - National discount department store chain

[Oil Capital]

What would you call Costco?

CostcoHome.com - National discount department store chain

A warehouse store. (And, in case you didn't notice, your link was NOT to Costco's website. Costco.com: Offering thousands of items you won?t find in your local Costco.is their website.)

[MikeOKC]

A warehouse store. (And, in case you didn't notice, your link was NOT to Costco's website. Costco.com: Offering thousands of items you won?t find in your local Costco.is their website.)

All I did was put in "national discount department store chain" in Google and that was the first thing that came up. Now.....to prevent another OKCTalk pissing contest, let me make this clear (and make Oil Capital happy):

Costco should not be called a national discount department store chain. It should be classified as a "warehouse store." Of course, if someone didn't already know about Sam's, Costco, BJ's, etc. "warehouse store" would mean absolutely nothing. Maybe they sell warehouses at the warehouse store? However, in order not to further agitate Oil Capital, call it whatever the hell he wants to. This board gets prickly and technical over the most stupid of things. My point was it sure would be nice if Costco came to Oklahoma City.

Whew!

[Spartan]

Retail interest in Oklahoma City is growing, Oklahoma City officials say

Read more: NewsOK

So far we potentially have:
"ladies fashion and home decor store, a gourmet sandwich and bakery chain, a national discount department store, fast casual dining operators, several mall and shopping center developers and a specialty grocery store.

The meetings were confidential, so Reid declined to name the retailers. But, she added, the chance of securing at least one new lease deal is high."

Can anyone knock any thing off the list, as far as guesses are concerned?
I'm really interested in the department store....

BOGUS ARTICLE ALERT....

This convention is held every single year in Vegas and OKC attends every single year and comes away with "retail development leads."

[Oil Capital]

BOGUS ARTICLE ALERT....

This convention is held every single year in Vegas and OKC attends every single year and comes away with "retail development leads."

Yeah, so what? What about that makes this a bogus article?

[Spartan]

Yeah, so what? What about that makes this a bogus article?

"Retail interest in Oklahoma City is growing, Oklahoma City officials say" -- article goes on to vaguely categorize any stores that have talked to OKC officials because the negotiations are "top secret" and they can't name names. Uh huh...

The "Oklahoma City officials say," line should generally be the tip-off that we're about to read through a load of bull****. Anyone who knows what the behind the scenes of economic development is like knows that attending the ICSC does not validate "growing interest" in the city you're hawking. I'm surprised they're not claiming that OKC is in the center of the convention, based on the pictures they could technically get away with that since it appears the booth is up against no physical walls. They'll brag about any claim they can get away with..they should save their PR gimmicks for the retailers instead of us.

[Rover]

Why always so negative Spartan?