Downtown Sheraton getting new look...

[OUGrad05]

I'm still holding out for a 2 level Nordstroms, Saks, Neimann Marcus, or some other upscale dept. store.

Nordstroms or Neimann would be sweeeeeeet

[Prunepicker]

Nordstroms or Neimann would be sweeeeeeet

We need more upscale shops in OKC, especially downtown and Bricktown.

OKC can learn a great lesson from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. They got sick of
being Average Joe and did something about it. They raised their
expectations instead of relying upon Average Joe one month out of the
year. OKC can do the same thing. We need to sell ourselves big. OKC
needs to take the chance. OKC must think growth.

OKC has the opportunity to become an art culture. Did you know OKC can't
afford a full time orchestra? "Average Joe" might visit once in a blue moon
but that doesn't support a symphony. The Reynolds Art Center has great
possibilities. The money won't come from "Average Joe". The rich will
donate more than Average Joe will spend buying tickets. I makes sense to
attract the rich. They invest when they see a good thing. We must attract
those with money.

Average Joe likes to hang around the rich and glitzi. He might spend money
if somebody is looking. If OKC thinks "Average Joe" then that's what we're
going to get.

Let's get out of the box and think BIG!

[jbrown84]

I'm not really sure what you mean, Prune.

[rondvu]

I totally understand Prunepicker and couldn't agree more. We have plenty of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores as it is. Let's raise the bar in OKC.

[Kerry]

I think what Prunepicker is saying is that to have a Nordstroms you need to have people who can afford to shop at Nordstroms.

[Prunepicker]

I'm not really sure what you mean, Prune.

I'm saying that OKC need to draw some upscale stores to attract more money
which will bring more money into the coffers.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Easier said than done.

How exactly do we "raise the bar"?

[Tex]

Prune, what are some examples of what Ft. Lauderdale did to change? What was their process and criteria?

[Prunepicker]

Prune, what are some examples of what Ft. Lauderdale
did to change? What was their process and criteria?

For decades the city relied on the big surge of college kids and vacationers
during spring break. For about a month the economy would soar then it
would hit bottom.

The city council decided to take a chance and stop relying on the income of
a single month. They started making the city attractive to high end
retailers, hotels and restaurants. It worked.

I'm looking for the article but it's a couple of years old. It described how they
did it.

[Prunepicker]

I think what Prunepicker is saying is that to have a
Nordstroms you need to have people who can afford to shop at Nordstroms.

That's a good way of putting it. People like me, musician and average Joe,
will still have plenty of places to shop and we won't be left out.

[Prunepicker]

Easier said than done. How exactly do we
"raise the bar"?

We need to do whatever it takes to attract high end retailers. I like the idea
of cutting taxes to the bone. Give them incentives, as we did Bass Pro. It
won't happen overnight but we can do it.

[Kerry]

Word of caution Prunepicker - don't mention tax cut incentives as a way to spur development. You will lose 3/4 of the people on this site. They want to hear every idea except that one.

[bombermwc]

Agreed, I think we've all pretty much decided we're tired of that crap. It hasn't paid off for us in the past at all. Yeah it got some folks to move in, but we really lost in the long run.

[Prunepicker]

Word of caution Prunepicker - don't mention tax cut incentives as a way to
spur development. You will lose 3/4 of the people on this site. They want to
hear every idea except that one.

That's a sad commentary.

Thanks

[jbrown84]

You seem to be arguing two contradictory things. Is it "build it and they will come", or the opposite?

Bring the upscale retailers so we will "get" more rich people, or, as Kerry said and you confirmed, "to have a Nordstroms you need to have people who can afford to shop at Nordstroms."

[hoya]

We have people who can afford to shop at Nordstroms. We have people who can afford to buy the Nicholson seats at NBA games (yes, I realize that some of these were corporate purchases, but some where not). The trick is going to be getting them to shop downtown, as opposed to... wherever they shop now. My aunt knows a number of ladies who will go to Dallas to shop. We can keep those here. We're not going to have shopping like New York or LA, but we do have enough wealthy people that we can afford some upper-tier locations.

[Prunepicker]

You seem to be arguing two contradictory things. Is it "build it and they
will come", or the opposite?

Bring the upscale retailers so we will "get" more rich people, or, as Kerry
said and you confirmed, "to have a Nordstroms you need to have people
who can afford to shop at Nordstroms."

It's more like build it and they will stay. OKC has people driving around in
Aston Martins and Ferraris. Sure they shop in the local stores like us but
when they want something special they have to go to Kansas City, Denver
or Dallas because OKC doesn't have it. Tulsa has money and opportunity
but nothing is going to happen there. They can come here. There are RICH
people in Enid, Lawton and McAlester. Then there's Ft. Smith. Where do
they have to go? Why not here?

[Prunepicker]

Agreed, I think we've all pretty much decided we're tired of that crap. It
hasn't paid off for us in the past at all. Yeah it got some folks to move in, but
we really lost in the long run.

To which post are you responding? I can't find one that corresponds.

[jbrown84]

If we have these demographics, it shouldn't be that hard to draw these stores. You just have to provide a development or space that fits them. It may not be downtown for something like Nordstrom.

[Platemaker]

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Looks like the Sheraton went all out on the renovation... apparently they have added an ocean.

[bwana_bob]

The ocean wasn't supposed to be announced until MAPS 4: Island Quest.

[kevinpate]

Well, at least all dem thar sharky posters make more sense now

[Comm'l Real Estate Guy]

The first floor of the Century Center is absolutely retail space, not office space.

The issue is, you need really big retailers to make it work. Most retail spaces are under 2,000sf, and in Century Center, you really need 5,000sf tenants if they want exterior visibility and an exterior entrance (which 99% of retailers do).

[amylynn5656]

The ocean wasn't supposed to be announced until MAPS 4: Island Quest.

[SWOKC 4 me]

Looks like the Sheraton went all out on the renovation... apparently they have added an ocean.

Boy, how disapointing for people once they arrive..... I mean I have booked hotels before based on photos online and was disapointed when I saw it in person but i think this takes the cake!