Making a List: Upscale Retail

[jbrown84]

I know we have had similar threads, but with so many upscale shopping centers going in around the metro (University North Park, The Village at Quail Springs, The Bridges at Spring Creek, The Falls, Covell/I-35), I thought it would be good to compile a comprehensive list of upscale retail we would like to see come to OKC. Perhaps we can use it to organize email campaigns. Let me know what you have to add.


Anchor Blue
Angelika Film Center
Anthropologie
Armani Exchange
Au Bon Pain
Bose
Cabela's
California Pizza Kitchen
Chipotle
Crate & Barrel
The Container Store
Dave & Buster's
Dick's Sporting Goods
Discovery Channel Store
Forever 21
Gucci
Guess
Haagen-Dazs
Levi's Store
Lord & Taylor
Lucky Brand Jeans
Nautica
Neiman Marcus
NikeTown
Nordstrom
Polo
Prada
REI
Restoration Hardware
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Saks Fifth Avenue
Urban Outfitters
Whole Foods
Wild Oats

[John]

la Madeline

[cas]

Forever 21 is opening this summer at Sooner Mall in Norman.

[CMSturgeon]

Forever 21 is opening this summer at Sooner Mall in Norman.

Unimportant add on to the convo:

I am so excited. I check their site like once a week. Nice clothing, cheap prices, loved the store in the Galleria this weekend.

A Louis Vitton store would be big here but I dont see that happening. Oh, and Tiffany's and Kenneth Cole.

[bandnerd]

Great list, I can't think of anything I'd like to add!

Though Dave and Busters, Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, Whole Foods, Chipotle, and Lucky Brand hold a place in my heart.

Wait--no Trader Joe's? It's not "upscale" I guess but neither is Forever 21. I'd love a TJ's here!

[Pete]

Here's some more:

Smith & Hawken
Trader Joes
Diesel
Claimjumper
Sur la Table
Houston’s
Corner Bakery
Sports Chalet
Adidas
Jos A. Bank
Brooks Brothers
Z Gallerie
Urban Home
Sony Style
Tourneau
Burberry
Chanel
Coach
Cole Haan
H&M
Oliver Peoples
Sephora
Tiffany & Co.
Rainforest Café
Wolfgang Puck

[metro]

I'd LOVEEEEEEE to see a Metropark here. Metropark - Fashion. Music. Art.

[bandnerd]

We already have a Sephora, Coach store, and several Joe A. Banks.

[metro]

I believe you mean Jos. A. Banks and I think we only have one, maybe two at most?

[y_h]

I just have a few comments to make with respect to a number of the original suggestions:

Armani Exchange - Might be a good fit if 50 Penn ever gets going again.

Au Bon Pain - This chain has been a part of the Panera family for about 10 years, so I doubt they'd bring another brand into town.

Bose - Good fit for Penn Square Mall

Cabela's - I think they'd do well in OKC. We're getting our first one in St. Louis (only about 10 miles from Bass Pro, to boot) and it's going to be located at an outlet mall of all places.

California Pizza Kitchen - Perhaps a freestanding store in one of the new developments or up at Quail Springs. Pepperoni Grill's existence at Penn Square knocks that location out of the picture.

Chipotle - I think that would do well in OKC. They are opening up all over St. Louis and we already have Moes and Qdoba. Apparently there's plenty of room in the market for three burrito chains.

Crate & Barrel - I think this would be a great anchor tenant if someone wanted to redevelop the shopping arcade at 50 Penn.

Dave & Buster's - I think this would be a good Bricktown attraction.

Gucci - See Armani Exchange

Guess - Would go well in Penn Square

Haagen-Dazs - Meh. I prefer places like Marble Slab or Cold Stone

Levi's Store - There used to be one at Quail Springs Mall (this is going back to 1990). I certainly don't see why they couldn't go back there.

Lord & Taylor - Parent company Federated (soon to be renamed Macy's Group) is actually closing L&T's rather than expanding this brand. You've already got Macy's and they have the ability to tailor (no pun intended) their inventory to incorporate the same types of lines that L&T carries if the market will bear those lines.

Lucky Brand Jeans - See Armani Exchange.

Nautica - See Armani Exchange.

Neiman Marcus - Not a huge fan. I think the local independent, upscale boutiques cover most of Neiman's ground already and frankly Dallas isn't that far away or inconvenient for the lion's share of their target customer base.

NikeTown - I've never been impressed with the one in Chicago and frankly I don't think they carry very many items that can't be purchased in other stores.

Nordstrom - Most certainly should be in OKC. My guess is that they could easily anchor a development in Edmond and would do quite well there. I'm a huge fan.

Polo - See Armani Exchange

Prada - I think they'd be satisfied serving the OKC market through other upscale retailers.

REI - I think they'd do well in an upscale strip mall.

Restoration Hardware - This seems like a natural fit for Penn Square Mall. There's a wee bit of overlap with Pottery Barn but not enough to be an issue. A fun store to peruse for those who are unfamiliar.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - I've said before that this would be an excellent addition to the downtown scene, especially with the re-emergence of the Colcord and Skirvin as upscale business class hotels.

Saks Fifth Avenue - Probably a better option than Neiman, although if Nordstrom comes in, I doubt Saks would enter the market (and vice versa)

Urban Outfitters - Not my cup of tea, but perhaps a decent fit for Quail Springs.

Whole Foods - Most certainly a good fit for the market. I think one or two locations would do well. Ditto for Trader Joes -- the two chains can and do coexist.

Wild Oats - Not crazy about them. I think Whole Foods does a much better job.

[scotplum]

la Madeline

I was able to get some of la Madeline's tomato soup at Albertsons on 122nd and Rockwell the other day. Not sure if they had special ordered them for that time only or what. My fiancee is certainly with you on wanting a full blown la Madeline.

[bandnerd]

Sorry, yeah, Jos. Typing during passing periods is tricky Haha. And there's one in Penn Square as the hubby is completely attached to that store...and I think there's one in Tulsa. I know Tulsa doesn't really "count" but it's not that far.

[jbrown84]

I believe you mean Jos. A. Banks and I think we only have one, maybe two at most?

One in Penn Square and one in Spring Creek Plaza. Not sure about Norman.

[jbrown84]

Good commentary y_h, and I agree with a lot of it, although I don't see much changing for 50 Penn or Quail, or even Penn Square. I expect most new entries to the market will go to these new developments.

For example, Levi's may have been in Quail at one point, but now I believe they are more exclusive and would fit better at Penn or the new Simon outdoor mall at Covell & I-35.

[CMSturgeon]

Dave and Busters...... what is that?

[jbrown84]

Sort of an adult Chuck E. Cheese...

Dave & Busters :: Home Page

[Decious]

One in Penn Square and one in Spring Creek Plaza. Not sure about Norman.

There is a Jos A. Bank Clothiers in Brookhaven Village on the west side of Norman. My girlfriend buys most of my suits there. I guess that makes three in all w/ Penn, Spring Creek, and BV.

[jbrown84]

Yeah I was thinking there was one in Norman.

[brianinok]

NORDSTROM!!!!

As you can see, I feel very strongly about this.

[Superhyper]

Just FYI, Wild Oats is no more, It's been acquired by Whole Foods so they are one and the same now. My vote definitely goes to Urban Outfitters!

[mranderson]

You missed several. Among them Gucci and Tiffany's.

[BG918]

I'm really surprised either OKC or Norman never had a Wild Oats, I wonder why? There has been one in midtown Tulsa for several years now, and I guess it will become a Whole Foods? That will definitely please the people in Tulsa. I was also surprised OKC never had Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom, both of those would be good fits in OKC maybe with Saks anchoring the "new" Nichols Hills shopping plaza on Western and Nordstrom downtown.

[writerranger]

I would guess the best chance at most of these is through Simon. That would be either Penn Square or Covell/I-35. They are aggressive and I am sure already pitching hard for the new Covell/I-35 property. By the way, does it have a name yet?

--------------------------

[floater]

On top of what's already been mentioned:

Van Heusen
IZOD
Dean & Deluca
Caribou Coffee
Pizzeria Uno
Maggiano's Little Italy
Il Fornaio
Home Depot EXPO Design Center
Ligne Roset
AIA Bookstore

[mranderson]

I'm really surprised either OKC or Norman never had a Wild Oats, I wonder why? There has been one in midtown Tulsa for several years now, and I guess it will become a Whole Foods? That will definitely please the people in Tulsa. I was also surprised OKC never had Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom, both of those would be good fits in OKC maybe with Saks anchoring the "new" Nichols Hills shopping plaza on Western and Nordstrom downtown.

That is because most people could care less about "organic" foods. They would rather spend their money wisley.