Crossroads Mall

[Roger S]

This seems like a poor choice of location and frankly hope it fails. We have an awesome Asian district and I think the focus on future development should be there instead of in a dead/isolated mall on the southside of town.

Southside/Moore/Del City has a fairly significant Asian population.

[jn1780]

Hmm, feel like we went down this path before........

Also, I love how there is pot being grown literally beneath the feet of elementary school students. Not saying there is anything wrong with that. Its just funny. How far we have come.

[shawnw]

Southside/Moore/Del City has a fairly significant Asian population.

didn't realize this (and I'm asian).

[Roger S]

didn't realize this (and I'm asian).

I think predominantly Korean but Asian none the less.... Oklahoma City has about a 4.5% Asian population as of 2020 census and Moore is 2.4% and Del City is at 1.8%

Edit: Norman's 2020 population is 4.9%.

[SEMIweather]

Looking forward to this plot of land finally becoming a viable mixed-use district 5-10 years after whenever the commuter rail line finally gets going.

[corwin1968]

The old pictures of the interior of the mall gave me a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings. I have no history with Crossroads, but spent time at Town East (Wichita) as a kid and Quail Springs as a teenager/young adult. Lots of really good memories from the mall scene.

[Roger S]

The old pictures of the interior of the mall gave me a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings.

Yep.... I would sure like to be able to spend one more afternoon hanging out in the LeMans arcade playing Space Invaders and Asteroids

[Pete]

I'm very sentimental by nature, but Crossroads has a special place in my heart because I worked there (Orbach's) through most of my college years, so it is intertwined with a very important time in life.

There were a big group of OU students who worked there, from different fraternities and sororities. We all became good friends and would often go to each other's parties.

Among them were two different couples who met there and then married.

And we received amazing discounts on clothing... I think it was their cost -15%. So for most items that was way below half price. I learned to Dress for Success and developed an appreciation for dressing sharp and quality men's clothing that has served me well.

Breaks were spent getting an Orange Julius and/or playing Donkey Kong at Le Mans.


One of my fondest memories involves the Miracle on Ice in the 1980 winter Olympics. That hockey game against the Russians was played in the afternoon for some reason and customers coming into the store gave us the unbelievable news. It was to be aired on TV prime time, so as soon as I left work that night instead of going back to my place in Norman I drove to my home in NW OKC so I could watch the game with my mom, who was a huge hockey fan. I think she knew that we won because I showed up to watch it, but I never let on until it was over. Still, one of the most thrilling moments of 50+ years of sports fandom. My mom has been gone for 35 years and that was one of my favorite memories with her.

[jccouger]

didn't realize this (and I'm asian).

The Giac Quang Buddhist temple on SE 44th st is a beautiful facility considering the area

[Laramie]

The Giac Quang Buddhist temple on SE 44th st is a beautiful facility

Thought of this when I saw Pete's renderings.

[Roger S]

The Giac Quang Buddhist temple on SE 44th st is a beautiful facility considering the area

Yep... I considered mentioning the number of Korean and Vietnamese religious facilities on the south side. That shopping center at 89th and Penn is predominately Asian.... Panang, Pho B&B, Bistro B, and i forget what the place next to Panang was called but it's now Thai Street Eats. And that was also where the south side Asian grocery was before they closed it and opened World Fresh Market.

There are also several clothing alteration businesses, one at the corner mentioned above, that are all Asian owned and operated.

[HOT ROD]

when I first saw the gate I was like - finally, we're getting a real Chinatown gate to the Asian District; then I read it is going into 'crossroad's mall'??? and wha???

I'm all about economic development and for growth in OKC but this will be a struggle; as mentioned, we already have a chinatown/international district that's thriving but needs some more theme/placemaking that's bolder than what we currently have. I so wish this could be developed there as opposed to Crossroads, as mentioned, Crossroads is better suited for a latin/hispanic theme. BTW, it failed because of the lack of vision and wanting to take on the entire property as opposed to something "smaller" like this.

Hate to say it should fail but I think it will stretch OKC too thin currently given its size and location away from the traditional, established district. But what if they brought in Asian Big Boxes like HMart and Chain restaurants like Yoshinoya or Din Tai Fung; it could actually work without taking away from the Asian District.

Who knows though, maybe they do this right and later open another anchor for the latin community (a revised Plaza Mayor), and perhaps one of the achor pods for Europe and another for Africa, then OKC would have a World International Mall as a tourism draw right with it's own Crossroads Commuter Rail Station and Transit Center and I-35/I-240.. Hmm.

[Pete]

I've learned the plan is to have a large restaurant and other businesses on the ground floor of the former JC Penney building and that a large Asian supermarket would be on the second level (ground level if you approach from the north/northwest -- the Friendship Gate would be just outside).


I had mentioned a cannabis grow facility which I have since deleted from the article because it sparked a furor.

There is a pending building permit application that shows it going into the same building as the elementary school (former John A. Brown) but it appears that was an error they made when filing. They are actually planning to build it in the former Dillard's which is owned by the purchaser of the mall, along with JC Penney.

After our story came out, I was contacted by the State Dept. of Education and the President of Santa Fe South Schools, both concerned about this grow facility. I've provided them with all the research I conducted. Very interesting, to say the least.

[David]

Hmm, feel like we went down this path before........

Also, I love how there is pot being grown literally beneath the feet of elementary school students. Not saying there is anything wrong with that. Its just funny. How far we have come.

Lol, I think you spoke too soon.

[HOT ROD]

very weird that a grow facility could ever think to be allowed at a school zone let alone a school. Dont we also restrict Alcohol in the same manner?

very nice on the Asian development; sounds like it very well might be HMart as they do have a collection of restaurants and shoppes integrated in or just outside of most of them. I personally think it will do well and wont canibalize from the Asian district as the audience and experience is slightly different. However, if you ask me the best location for HMart would be at Belle Isle, just north of the Asian District but outside enough. Perhaps OKC can support multiple locations like other metros?

[Plutonic Panda]

I fail to see the issue of the grow facility near the school

[David]

I fail to see the issue of the grow facility near the school

Residual moral panic about weed and kids. There may be specific Oklahoma code reasons that make this particular incident a problem, but in the end it all boils down to protecting kids from reefer madness.

[Soonerman]

Perhaps maybe it's going to be a Zion Market, They converted an old Sears store in Lewisville Texas in to a Zion Market. So maybe they'll do the same to Penney's.
https://zionmarket.com/new-location?store=lv

[Soonerman]

Residual moral panic about weed and kids. There may be specific Oklahoma code reasons that make this particular incident a problem, but in the end it all boils down to protecting kids from reefer madness.

Oh no not that evil Cannabis!!!

[HOT ROD]

we regulate alcohol production, consumption, distribution, and sale away from Children and most household residential areas. We also stipulate DUI enforcement for alcohol throughout the nation. Therefore, since weed is a controlled substance NOW like alcohol in society then similar controls should be placed - including not having a grow op near a school.

whether you use or not, drink or not - we should not have these activities near children and certainly not near public funded education.

[shartel_ave]

we regulate alcohol production, consumption, distribution, and sale away from Children and most household residential areas. We also stipulate DUI enforcement for alcohol throughout the nation. Therefore, since weed is a controlled substance NOW like alcohol in society then similar controls should be placed - including not having a grow op near a school.

whether you use or not, drink or not - we should not have these activities near children and certainly not near public funded education.

how about not having a non public school near a grow facility.

[chssooner]

how about not having a non public school near a grow facility.

Which was there first?

[Dob Hooligan]

I believe the state of Oklahoma has a hands off policy regarding marijuana. After it was legalized by popular vote, they decided there wasn’t enough specific framework in the law to approve lots of regulation at the beginning. I think they decided to leave it alone for 3 years and then regulate reactively.

[Pete]

By law, dispensaries cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school.

It seems they are more permissible when it comes to grow facilities.

[TheTravellers]

By law, dispensaries cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school.

It seems they are more permissible when it comes to grow facilities.

Which makes sense, because the public can't buy directly from grow facilities.