Penn Square is currently looking for tenants to fill two remaining spaces at the mall. Filling these two spaces will give the mall 100% occupancy, a first for the mall in sometime, although the mall does have a waiting list.

Anyways, in the meantime, mall managemen has negotiated a short term lease to fill one of those spaces with a new store operated by the OKC Zoo. The store will sell zoo type merchandise and educational material for children. I thought this was interesting, especially since we've been discussing the zoo lately.
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Here's the article:


Zoo plans to open educational merchandise store in mall
July 26, 2004

By Karen Klinka
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Zoo officials plan to open a store during November and December at Penn Square Mall following approval by the Oklahoma City Zoo Trust this week.

Zoo officials anticipate store sales will bring in an estimated $80,000 to $150,000 in net revenues for the two-month period.

Karen Jones, visitor services manager, said the zoo store would stock educational merchandise geared primarily toward children.

"For the most part, we plan to have merchandise that's different from what other stores in the mall sell," Jones said. "The products we plan to carry are ones designed to market the zoo, its mission, and to help educate children about animals, nature and conservation."

The zoo's education department staff members will present free puppet shows, animal demonstrations and story times each week during the two months the store will be open, Jones said.

Mark Campbell, the zoo's director of business services, said the zoo will lease a 3,100-square-foot space on the mall's northeast side from Oct. 1 through Jan. 15. The rent will be $3,500 per month.

Zoo officials will set up the store during October, open the store Nov. 1 and close it the first week of January, Campbell said.

Campbell said he has estimated gross sales of about $250,000 to $500,000, and labor costs at about $26,500 for the three-month period.

Zoo officials said profits generated by the store should be exempt from business income taxes."