Crossroads Mall

[Martin]

i believe they renovated the mall in '89, so it has to be before that. judging by the shops, my guess is that the pics were taken in the early to mid '80s.

this flickr album has some interesting shots in it, too...


-M

[oustud7]

I looked at the comments on a couple of those photos that said the pictures were taken in 1976.

[Martin]

i could believe '76. -M

[ShiroiHikari]

Oh no! The LeMans/Bally's/Aladdin's Castle/whatever is closed? That makes me sad. I used to go play DDR there. I always loved that they still had that vintage signage on the storefront.

[Thunder]

The only time Crossroads look lively is during November and December. They bring out all these decorations (but a lot less than before).

I saw garlands and lights along the upper rails in the picture. I never seen it that way in person at that place.

Maybe the owners should try to apply for Extreme Makeover on ABC. lol Can you imagine the biggest hit that would be? Thousands of Oklahomans would pitch in and help knocking the whole building down and reborn Crossroads. That would be 3 or 4 hours special and for sure would be a major hit. The project would actually be 14 days instead of 7.

[Pete]

I have to say all this makes me quite sad.

I was 16 when that mall opened and I remember driving (what seemed like forever) to go get jeans at the Gap. At that time, the place was awe-inspiring.

Many of the stores had very open interiors and multiple levels which made some of the spaces quite unique.

Then, I worked at Orbach's all through college (early 80's) and there were lots of nicer tenants at that time. And of course, spent all my breaks at Le Mans -- wow, that's depressing that that place is closed, too.

[Thunder]

I was born in '84 and I'm 23. I guess that I experienced the last glory days at Crossroads and Heritage Park Mall. They were lively, interesting, and fun to go to. I agree, Pete, it does make us sad and depressed to see how things come and go. We can never keep anything forever.

[SeinfeldBlock]

I love the idea of Extreme Makeover making over Crossroads. I would definitely go there to see the finished product!! I doubt they could get Macy's and JCPenney to move back in though.....

Those pics make Crossroads look like a piece of paradise. I think the first time I ever went there was when I was 11.... so probably 1994 or so. It was fun then. Not so much now.

[JWil]

I'd rather the Mythbusters guys just blow it up.

[kevinpate]

.oO(Buster and Adam star in Crossroads ... Up in Smoke)Oo.

[Thunder]

Mythbusters are a joke. I've seen episodes and most is just wrong. There was one that they wanted to prove that if a hole is formed in a plane way high up and things flying around inside (cuz of pressure) to be false. Well, they got a plane, but it was on the ground the whole time. They did something to the pressure on the inside and shot out a window, but nothing flew around inside. They labeled it as myth. Duh! The plane is on the friggin ground, the air pressure equalized already quickly! Mythbusters have a lot of info wrong. I would say they are much worse than Dumb and Dumber duo.

[SoonerDave]

That interchang rebuild can't happen too soon. IN the last six-months/year, I'd be willing to bet the frequency and severity of accidents at this interchange have spike. There was a horrible four car collision on the eastbound-I240-to-northbound-I35 ramp this morning that had traffic backed up the better part of a mile; Friday night last, there was another accident just a few hundred feet west, near Shields on the eastbound side. I was perhaps 30 second behind another horrible accident on that same stretch not two weeks ago...I-240 at that interchange is getting very, very dangerous.

[metro]

All this Crossroads will close in Spring '09 stuff is silly.

These stores have leases. You don't just close a mall. It will just continue to lose more and more stores.

Since there are several "national chain" stores, they could just pull out of the mall and pay the rest of their lease off if they find it more cost effective. Look at the 600+ Starbucks that just recently closed, some of them brand new with 5 year leases, they found it cheaper to pay the 5 years of lease than to pay employees, rent, utilities, etc for 5 years compared to their projected profits or losses.

[jbrown84]

Yeah but it just doesn't happen that way.

[metro]

So did Macy's and Dillards Leases expire or did they pull out with remaining terms on their leases. I guess time will tell us what will happen.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Dillards is still there.

[Thunder]

Dillards is still there.

I was there over the weekend. Dilliards is CLOSED! Doors locked, inside all empty. It is GONE! Okay, I don't mean to cause a heart attack, just know that I'm jokin. lol

[bdub02]

Dillards is still there.

I think they downscaled it to only one floor. It used to be 3. I bet it gets closed in the next round of closings for Dillard's.

[Thunder]

Last time I was there, around few weeks ago, they still have all 3 floors.

[SWOKC 4 me]

I think they downscaled it to only one floor. It used to be 3. I bet it gets closed in the next round of closings for Dillard's.

I saw it for myself ... as of today still a full store with all 3 floors fully stocked.

[scootinger]

So did Macy's and Dillards Leases expire or did they pull out with remaining terms on their leases. I guess time will tell us what will happen.

Actually, Macy's and Dillard's own/owned their buildings at Crossroads; however, Crossroads owns the JCPenney and Steve & Barry's buildings. (according to Oklahoma County Assessor) obviously I'm not totally sure, but seeing how Dillard's owns their own building and it probably wouldn't sell for much if they closed, then I would think it would stay open for a while as a "clearance center" as they do with declining stores in other areas.

[Patrick]

jbrown is right. Like with Shepherd Mall, Crossroads will continue to dwindle. It won't close all at once. Eventually, in 10 years, someone will purchase the property for cheap, and redevelop it as something else. That's just the way real estate development works. I wouldn't be surprised to see a multi-use development concept with offices, some retail, middle-range apartments, etc.

[ssandedoc]

Hey guys, just found out Dillards is closing their top floor (3rd floor) everything is clearanced to 20% on that floor only. This also means no Christmas products this year.

[Lauri101]

I have to say all this makes me quite sad.

I was 16 when that mall opened and I remember driving (what seemed like forever) to go get jeans at the Gap. At that time, the place was awe-inspiring.

Many of the stores had very open interiors and multiple levels which made some of the spaces quite unique.

Then, I worked at Orbach's all through college (early 80's) and there were lots of nicer tenants at that time. And of course, spent all my breaks at Le Mans -- wow, that's depressing that that place is closed, too.

I went to work as assistant manager of Frederick's of Hollywood on opening day. I had been working at the MWC Frederick's and was offered the Crossroad's store and a small raise. Crossroads was a beehive of activity and a fun place to work!

Funny - the biggest problem we had at Frederick's was people shoplifting crotchless panties! We lost about 2 dozen pair a month. I always wondered who would wear those things - they're darned uncomfortable!

[ShiroiHikari]

Uh oh. If Dillard's is closing the top floor, then Crossroads only has maybe one more year left. I think I'm gonna go down there and have a look around for old times' sake.

Also, I found one guy's account of Crossroads on Deadmalls.com:

Dead Malls dot Com: Feature: Crossroads Mall: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

He says that Crossroads actually contributed to the decline of that area. Does anyone else feel that way? I wasn't even alive yet when it was built so I'm curious.