Von Maur

[Urbanized]

The earth is flat. Everyone knows that.

Like

[Urbanized]

From Duany Plater-Zyberk and Co:

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah I wouldn't do that.

[gopokes88]

That'll never happen.

[Urbanized]

Probably never in OKC, that's for sure.

[bradh]

probably is, who wants to live in density like that around where current shopping malls exist?

[CuatrodeMayo]

Yeah I wouldn't do that.

no surprise there

[bchris02]

probably is, who wants to live in density like that around where current shopping malls exist?

Its a longshot, but not unthinkable to see dense redevelopment in the Penn Square Mall area. A lot of larger cities have traditional malls in urban areas with very dense mixed-use development around them. I don't see Quail Springs ever seeing such redevelopment - the area is too suburban by nature.

[traxx]

From Duany Plater-Zyberk and Co:

I vote yes. The greater OKC metro needs this in oh so many places.

[Plutonic Panda]

no surprise there

build a couple strip malls and stand alone restaurants around the mall and add a parking garage to make up for the loss of parking. But we do NOT need to turn Quail Springs Mall into a mixed-use urban development. This just further proves you want to urbanize everything. That is dumb.

Now I would support doing something like this around Penn Square. Perhaps even the Sooner Mall in Norman. But Quail Springs is suburban shopping mall and should stay that way. We are already getting a mixed-use development close to it anyhow.

[HOT ROD]

I agree that the (at least initial) focus of urban redevelopment techniques should be applied to locations within the core of Oklahoma City. It is best to pool resources to rebuild the inner city as urban as possible due to density and purported efficiencies that likely will be achieved. That is a no brainer to me and should be the focus of OKC planning as we reinvest in the city (and not just approving redevelopment for the sake of it because someone shows up).

However, as the urban areas fill-in longer-term I would like to see this strategy applied to suburban zones; until then we could even come up with a similar (but cheaper) strategy for existing suburban where there is adoption of some urban design. This would allow for continued development of the existing urbanized area (in suburban zones) that bring desirable urban elements in a cost effective manner.

[Pete]

Guys, we are way off topic here.

Back to discussing Von Maur, please.

[Soonerman]

Is Von Maur going to have a soft opening or are they just going to open on October 18th when they have their grand opening?

[ljbab728]

They are currently running ads on local TV advertising the Oct. 18th opening date. I suspect they will be packed that day.

[Plutonic Panda]

Heard the soft opening is the 13th

[Plutonic Panda]

Soft opening is tomorrow from what I've heard.

[Soonerman]

So did anybody go by and see if it was open?

[Plutonic Panda]

Was just in and found out it did open yesterday. This place is beautiful and unlike any other store in OKC. I would advise anyone here that wants to see it go before Saturday because that is their grand opening. They are open, but quiet right now because it is under the radar; come Saturday, that will change.

Toook and obscene number of photos and will post them shortly.

[Plutonic Panda]

10/14/2014

Some exterior shots













Upstairs Entrance from the Mall

[tpg4635]

Wow, really impressed with how this turned out. While is definitely does make other parts of the mall look very outdated, Von Maur provided a very much needed boost to this mall, and I think will ensure its foreseeable future. Hopefully it will get the other anchors to renovate as well, interior and exterior.

[Plutonic Panda]

Interior





































Cool interactive directories that are placed throughout the store.

[Plutonic Panda]

I spoke with a very nice gentleman who worked there and he said he loves working there. They trained their employees for about a month before it opened and said they were very strict on providing great customer service. He said they plan to expand to Milwaukee and Tulsa next.

[Plutonic Panda]

Wasn't planning on posting this because it was kind of bad, but what the hay. . .

Pianist at Von Maur. The video isn't that great, but gives an idea for the feel. This place is simply amazing. I go Nordstrom's at the Galleria multiple times a month and I'm going to put this place right up there with Nordstrom.

[Dustin]

Very nice and shiny!

It has a very dated look, but I guess it's part of their charm.

Hope it does well... I can't see myself shopping there. I'm not really a mall person.

[bchris02]

Great photos, PluPan!

This reminds me of a cross between a flagship Belk and Nordstrom. Definitely a step up for OKC.

I agree with whatever poster said they hope this encourages the rest of the mall to up their game.