Von Maur

[Dustin]

Took this tonight. Are the lights a year round thing?

[bchris02]

Has anybody heard anything about how Von Maur is doing?

[Pete]

Has anybody heard anything about how Von Maur is doing?

Because they received incentives from the City, I'm pretty sure they will have to report their sales numbers on a regular basis, ala Bass Pro.

So, over time we should be able to track their numbers against the projections.

[Chadanth]

Because they received incentives from the City, I'm pretty sure they will have to report their sales numbers on a regular basis, ala Bass Pro.

So, over time we should be able to track their numbers against the projections.

I'd be interested to see those numbers. They seem steady,but not packed by any means. I still like the store.

[ljbab728]

Has anybody heard anything about how Von Maur is doing?

I was there Thursday morning for the first time. It was moderately busy. I was very impressed by the friendliness of the employees. They were going out of their way to be helpful to everyone.

[LandArchPoke]

I wasn't terribly impressed with the street. The carpet was horribly ugly (when was teal ok in this day in age?). The employees were super friendly I will say, much better service than Dillard's or Macy's with the only place I've had better service in Oklahoma is Saks in Tulsa. However, one guy was a bit overly snooty for the quality of the store when he asked me what I thought. I told him it was similar quality to the Macy's at Woodland Hills, and he asked me if they have three designers I had never heard of then rolled off that the Ralph Lauren selection they get is only carried by Neiman and Nordstrom.

Part of the problem was the younger men's section (as I'm under 30) was extremely limited. The Ralph Lauren section was about 1/5 of that one at Macy's in Woodland Hills and probably 1/10 of the one at Dillard's at Woodland Hills (even if it is elusive to only a few department stores it still sucked). They did have Diesel, but again it was literally one rack. The three things I saw I liked, not a single small. I ended up finding a Michael Kors orange purse for my mom however, that she loved and now wears to all the OSU games.

If I was a 50+ year old man I'm sure I would like the store a lot more. Color me unimpressed. I think it will help Quail Springs though try to reposition itself some, and it's always great to see new retailers opening in the state though.

[Mike_M]

If I was a 50+ year old man I'm sure I would like the store a lot more. Color me unimpressed. I think it will help Quail Springs though try to reposition itself some, and it's always great to see new retailers opening in the state though.

+1

[Pete]

In a presentation to City Council this morning, Roy Williams reported that Von Maur has exceeded their projections thus far and had a very strong holiday season.

Yet another retailer that comes to OKC and surpasses expectations.

[bchris02]

In a presentation to City Council this morning, Roy Williams reported that Von Maur has exceeded their projections thus far and had a very strong holiday season.

Yet another retailer that comes to OKC and surpasses expectations.

This is very good news.

[Pete]

Since they receive City incentives, they have to report their numbers.

Will be very interesting to see when that first report comes out.

[zachj7]

Indeed good news. Are companies hesitant to come to OKC unaware of other stores exceeding numbers? This will only help us in the long run!

[bchris02]

Indeed good news. Are companies hesitant to come to OKC unaware of other stores exceeding numbers? This will only help us in the long run!

Whole Foods.

They probably wouldn't be here to this day if it wasn't for Aubrey McClendon. They did so well they have already expanded and if I am not mistaking, are one of the top stores in the chain.

[Pete]

Yes, Whole Foods totally blew through their projections.

Also, I know the OKC Anthropologie store has done great and is beating numbers from the Utica Square location.

And I'm sure both will only do better as the area develops around it. I know West Elm has already helped Anthropologie (I know someone who works there).

[Motley]

Pete,

Don't you think the real issue with "premier" stores choosing not to locate in OKC has more to do with the lack of a modern and upscale lifestyle center than with the market and income levels? I think a beautifully designed center in OKC, along the lines of the Grove in LA, would have these types of stores lining up to enter the market.

[Pete]

Pete,

Don't you think the real issue with "premier" stores choosing not to locate in OKC has more to do with the lack of a modern and upscale lifestyle center than with the market and income levels? I think a beautifully designed center in OKC, along the lines of the Grove in LA, would have these types of stores lining up to enter the market.

Absolutely.

If OKC had something like Utica Square, this would be a non-issue.

As it is, if you are Restoration Hardware and looking in Oklahoma (and these chains almost always look at OKC & Tulsa simultaneously) where would you choose? You go to Utica Square because that's a slam dunk. Then where? Penn Square? OKC doesn't have a true lifestyle center.


BTW, one of the reasons one never evolved in OKC was due to 50 Penn Place. It was essentially that exact thing, but it never had a retail anchor, Penn Square took some of it's tenants, and it went downhill fast.

But it was more or less a defacto lifestyle center at the time and thus another one never really developed.

[Motley]

I cannot understand why a developer doesn't see the potential and do one. Lots of locations around town would work and it could be a true urban center with housing, retail, food, and entertainment in a compact design. Baton Rouge has Perkins Rowe as a great example of the size and mix of what would be a great success here.

[bchris02]

Pete, do you think Chisholm Creek may finally fill that niche?

I totally agree the lack of a quality shopping center probably has more to do with OKC not getting certain retailers than Tulsa looking better on paper. When I was down in Frisco recently I took notice of some of the shopping centers there and thought there was absolutely no reason OKC couldn't have that kind of shopping. Tuscana would have been the development to fix OKC's retail woes if it would have been built. Cities all across the country were getting them during the mid 2000s boom. Unfortunately, OKC's was proposed a little too late.

[Pete]

No, I don't think Chisholm Creek is the answer. They are too far north.

Glimcher is by far the best opportunity and I'm sure that's what they've been working on.

[Motley]

I agree. Chisholm Creek is not quite right. Too big, although it will be a welcome improvement over the current state of centers in OKC. The Glimcher location is the perfect location if they do it right. I could also see something near Baptist Medical or maybe even the Shepard Mall site. It would be a draw onto itself, so people would come; add housing on the upper levels or in a midrise on the site, a Cinepolis theatre, some unique restaurants, a TJ or other destination grocer, and some room for small businesses, and you have a vibrant community.

I could see one in Edmond or Norman too.

[Plutonic Panda]

I heard the other day that said sales goal for this store was not reached. Did not seem like a good tune. Anyone have any other info?

[soonerguru]

I heard the other day that said sales goal for this store was not reached. Did not seem like a good tune. Anyone have any other info?

It has good merchandise but it seems very out of date. It is a bizarre place.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah I think the store is geared towards older people. However, it is a nice store and I do appreciate having it in OKC. I just heard from someone that the sales did not reach the targeted number. I don't know too much about retail and how many times that has to happen for a store to be nixed, but it would not bode well for OKC to loose this store. Hopefully it was wrong.

[dcsooner]

Yeah I think the store is geared towards older people. However, it is a nice store and I do appreciate having it in OKC. I just heard from someone that the sales did not reach the targeted number. I don't know too much about retail and how many times that has to happen for a store to be nixed, but it would not bode well for OKC to loose this store. Hopefully it was wrong.

A bit off topic, but, I have always thought that Oklahoma's touting of low cost of living though in many ways good, in terms of wages the State and City are woefully behind on the whole. People need good paying jobs that give them Disposable income to be able to afford extras beyond Gas, Electric,Water, Mortgage. I maintain that OKC has too many people employed in low wage jobs $10.00 or less (could even go the $13.00 or less). When the O&G sector lays off big time or Tinker slows, the City because of a lack of significant high paying jobs in large numbers suffers. I think this is the biggest driver in major national chains hesitant to come to OKC. Manufactuirnig if almost non existant in Oklahoma which is almost entirely service sector driven. Just my opinion

[Plutonic Panda]

A bit off topic, but, I have always thought that Oklahoma's touting of low cost of living though in many ways good, in terms of wages the State and City are woefully behind on the whole. People need good paying jobs that give them Disposable income to be able to afford extras beyond Gas, Electric,Water, Mortgage. I maintain that OKC has too many people employed in low wage jobs $10.00 or less (could even go the $13.00 or less). When the O&G sector lays off big time or Tinker slows, the City because of a lack of significant high paying jobs in large numbers suffers. I think this is the biggest driver in major national chains hesitant to come to OKC. Manufactuirnig if almost non existant in Oklahoma which is almost entirely service sector driven. Just my opinion

I've noticed how a lot of people in OKC complain about something being expensive that is perfectly norman in other cities. I've seen people go nuts over some of the new places opening up like paying $7 for a hotdog is expensive.

[chuck5815]

I've noticed how a lot of people in OKC complain about something being expensive that is perfectly norman in other cities. I've seen people go nuts over some of the new places opening up like paying $7 for a hotdog is expensive.

Let's not forget that LA is not representative of 99% of America.