Well, you heard it hear first when mranderson provided the information a few months back. Anyways, it finally came out in the paper today. Hopefully this announcement will re-jumpstart Crossroads Mall. The mall has really been suffering on the old Wards end. The south side really needs a good strong mall. Too bad Macerich company wasn't planning a complete mall renovation. It sure needs one....bad!

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"Crossroads fills empty anchor spot
By Tricia Pemberton
The Oklahoman

After three years with an empty anchor spot, Crossroads Mall is getting a new tenant.
Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear is taking both levels of the 160,000-square-foot store left vacant by Montgomery Ward in 2001.

Construction already has started at the site, with an anticipated opening of Nov. 24, said Christi Parks, marketing manager for Crossroads Mall.

The store will be the first entry into Oklahoma for the privately held company based in Port Washington, N.Y.

“Having a vacant anchor spot has been a negative for the mall, so naturally we’re very excited, and to have them open the first store in Oklahoma at Crossroads Mall is especially nice,” Parks said.

Alan Karo, chief marketing officer with Steve & Barry’s, said the company offers casual sportswear for the entire family.

“The grand opening price point will be $8.98 or less with merchandise quality that will astound people,” Karo said.

“We think that we’ll bring a whole new meaning to apparel retailing to the fine folks in Oklahoma City, and feel that once they shop with us they’ll come back again and again because they won’t be able to believe the quality at such low prices.”

The retailer also is promising 150 jobs, and will hold a recruitment fair Monday in the mall, Karo said.

Parks said the entire picture is “a real positive for the south side of Oklahoma City.”

Steve & Barry’s has 48 stores in 20 states with plans to open 15 more this year in five additional states, including stores in Dallas and Wichita, Kan.

“We think that as part of our expansion plans into the Southwest, Oklahoma is a perfect place to be and Oklahoma City is the perfect place to start out in the state.

And Crossroads Mall, specifically, is terrific with the geo-demographics right in line with where we perform well,” Karo said.

The company is looking at other locations in Oklahoma, but is not ready to disclose where, Karo said. "