"North Pole City" closed/for sale ?!?!?

[FritterGirl]

Best to keep it central. Really, their current location is pretty much easily accessible from all points in OKC. The only challenge was the parking and the accessibilty on/off the highway.

Not many in far north OKC/Edmond will cross south of I-240 to shop, even for specialty items; just like not many from Moore/Norman will travel to north OKC (Penn Square a notable exception) for specialty items.

[brianinok]

Yeah! I'm glad they aren't closing. I loved going in there and always buy a few things. I bet they end up around Penn Square or Quail Springs.

[linze]

I haven't seen this posted yet. But I noticed today that North Pole City had a For Sale sign posted. Have they gone out of business? Or are there plans to expand and move to a bigger and better location? Any information would be most appreciated.

All the Best,
Linze!

[Thunder]

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...osed-sale.html

[metro]

I'm thinking the old Circuit City location on NW Expressway might be a good move.


North Pole City makes plans to move, expand
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: March 12, 2009

The "for sale” sign is out in front of North Pole City, but owner David Green is not following the wave of other retailers closing their doors after being battered by the economy.

Instead, Green is looking to expand, upgrade and capitalize on a recently weakened commercial real estate market.

"We’ll probably be at this location through Christmas,” Green said. "I’m looking to get a whole new building at a new location. What we want to do is have something wonderful (for) Christmas but also have people coming in the rest of the year.”

Green admits his current location, 4201 S Interstate 44 Service Road, has always been more impressive inside than out. But when he started the business in 1987, he wasn’t sure if a Christmas store would last more than a year.

He sees his operation as a destination store — one that packs the parking lot and sometimes has lines out the door during the Christmas holiday season.

Now he’s looking for a new site with an improved exterior presentation and opportunities to add merchandise to increase off-season sales.

Ideally, Green said, he wants to find space near Penn Square Mall so he doesn’t stray too far from his southside customers. But he’s also open to other areas, such as downtown.

Louis Almaraz, a retail specialist with Grubb & Ellis-Levy Beffort, agrees more opportunities exist now now for someone like Green than a year ago.

"It’s my expectation there will be more closures,” Almaraz said. "But while we’re seeing downward pressure on rents, we’re not seeing the giveaways going on in the rest of the country. As time goes by, the opportunity for retailers to upgrade or find better bargains will increase more.”

[rondvu]

I just drove by NPC a banner is on the building stateing it will be open Sept,9th-ish give a take a few days (was in traffic) for Christmas.

[adrian30]

my house is closes to noth pole city and i saw people over there a week ago loading boxes i cant belive its not going to be there any more i love that store

[sgt. pepper]

but owner David Green

is this the same guy who owns hobby lobby?

Penn Square Mall so he doesn’t stray too far from his southside customers.

doesn't stray too far away? how far north is too far away? penn square is too busy for this place imo. maybe that's why he wants it there...busy area.

[metro]

No, not the same David Green

[jbrown84]

I just drove by NPC a banner is on the building stateing it will be open Sept,9th-ish give a take a few days (was in traffic) for Christmas.

I saw it too. So they are not closing after all? I drove by so fast, but it looked like maybe the for sale sign was gone.

[Jesseda]

thats good news, I like northpole city, the parking during the busy time is whats bad, and they have so much stuff it gets kinda crowded, maybethe can expand further out front

[jellen]

Unless I am Mistaken.... North Pole City owns the Dustee's stores around the city. It could be they are warehousing a certain amount and doing away with the rest so they could either sale the Christmas stuff at Dustee's during the Christmas season or open a new location.

We were just wondering the same thing. I'll ask the owners who are neighbors. We just enjoyed walking around there at Holiday time even if we didn't buy things.

[oneforone]

We were just wondering the same thing. I'll ask the owners who are neighbors. We just enjoyed walking around there at Holiday time even if we didn't buy things.

They did a press release right after the this thread started. The told one of the news outlets that they were searching for a new home with better access and visability. They are keeping the current store until they find a new home.

I think it would be great if they find or build a store where one side could be the showroom like they have now and a retail store next door.