West Park Mall: NW 63rd and MacArthur

[ljbab728]

My co-worker talked to someone in the office of the NW Chamber of Commerce about this today. She said they were supposed to have a meeting about it but the date got pushed back so she wasn't sure where it stands now. The chamber person told her something about Walmart and Sams taking it over. I would seriously doubt that though. It's too close to other Walmart and Sam's stores.

[Pete]

That site isn't nearly big enough for a Sam's or Walmart.

Maybe they meant Walmart Neighborhood Market?


Thanks for the info! Hope something happens here soon... That center is a blight on NW OKC.

[ljbab728]

That site isn't nearly big enough for a Sam's or Walmart.

Maybe they meant Walmart Neighborhood Market?


Thanks for the info! Hope something happens here soon... That center is a blight on NW OKC.

Yes, I think you're right. I questioned her a little more about it and I think a Walmart Neighborhood Market was what she meant.

[ljbab728]

Something is finally happening here.

http://newsok.com/suburban-oklahoma-...rticle/3695846

It looks like what I was hearing earlier about a Walmart Neighborhood Market was premature but not totally off base.

[Pete]

Yes!!

Thank goodness... That shopping center is one of the biggest eyesores in the entire metro.


I bet they end up tearing the whole thing down, as that mall space back in the corner is completely vacant and pretty worthless.

[NoOkie]

Yes!!

Thank goodness... That shopping center is one of the biggest eyesores in the entire metro.


I bet they end up tearing the whole thing down, as that mall space back in the corner is completely vacant and pretty worthless.

Excellent. I used to work at 63rd and Rockwell, I always wondered why no one did anything with it. Lyrehood can't be that much of a bad influence on the surrounding area.

[Pete]

Warr Acres would be smart to provide incentives and get a good grocery store at that location.

Seems like that entire area of OKC is very short on grocers.

[Mr. Cotter]

That shopping center is less than a mile from the Homeland on NW Expressway & MacArthur. If it needs a grocery anchor, I'd like to see something that stands out from that Homeland, and the two Buy For Less locations that aren't far from here.

Maybe some basic services would do well? A nail salon, barber, dry cleaner, donut shop, and one or two neighborhood restaurants would be great. This is a solid neighborhood, housing wise, and I think it could support good options.

[Pete]

There used to be far more grocers in that area: 63rd & MacArthur, 63rd & NW Expressway, 50th & MacArthur, 50th & Meridian, huge Gibson's at 42nd & MacArhtur and many more.

The NW Expressway corridor and north is well-served but the area south of there has very little.

[Larry OKC]

True, the nearest grocery to there is the Buy 4 Less on MacArthur a few blocks south of 39th...which for a short while was a Kennards/Buy 4 Less(?) when they relocated from 50th/MacArthur.

[Mr. Cotter]

True, the nearest grocery to there is the Buy 4 Less on MacArthur a few blocks south of 39th...which for a short while was a Kennards/Buy 4 Less(?) when they relocated from 50th/MacArthur.

The nearest is the Homeland at NW Expressway and MacArthur, less than 1 mile away. The Buy For Less on 39th is 2 miles. It's interesting how separate 63rd and MacArthur feels from NW Expressway and MacArthur.

[CaptDave]

I am just glad they are redeveloping an "old" site and not abandoning that one only to build a new development a few blocks away. I think we need to attempt to redevelop existing sites before pushing the sprawl out farther. This is good for the residents of that area, and good in general practice.

[Mr. Cotter]

Absolutely! And if this goes well, hopefully it will spur development of other corners in the area. (I'm looking at you, 50th and MacArthur.)

[ljbab728]

That shopping center is less than a mile from the Homeland on NW Expressway & MacArthur. If it needs a grocery anchor, I'd like to see something that stands out from that Homeland, and the two Buy For Less locations that aren't far from here.

Maybe some basic services would do well? A nail salon, barber, dry cleaner, donut shop, and one or two neighborhood restaurants would be great. This is a solid neighborhood, housing wise, and I think it could support good options.

There is a beauty salon, dry cleaner, barber shop, and donut shop just across on the SE corner as well as a great restaurant. Basic services are not missing. I'm sure there are other things that could be included, however.

[1972ford]

Absolutely! And if this goes well, hopefully it will spur development of other corners in the area. (I'm looking at you, 50th and MacArthur.)

50th and macaurther has become the 24hr convenience corner its nice. Not really sure what they could do with the rest of that area unless the city would allow a little entertainment bars and such into the area. There is quite a bit of square footage available on the corner. What would you propose for the area?

[Mr. Cotter]

There is some good stuff at 50th and MacArthur, but some of it could use some updating (or at least a powerwashing). Isn't the center with the Goodwill quite empty? A neigborhood bar, a casual resturant, a yogurt shop, a giftshop/Hallmark would be nice.

I really like this part of town. The park is nice. The houses are well cared for. It's just a really nice "regular" neighborhood.

[mgsports]

Mega Marshalls or TJMAXX and More or Bealls would be good in it's place.

[ljbab728]

Parking lot demolition has started but nothing on the mall as of yet. Of interest is that there is a new sign for "Family Dollar coming soon" which is already in that center. It may be that they will have a place for that business to move to before starting demolition on the mall itself.

[bchris02]

Warr Acres would be smart to provide incentives and get a good grocery store at that location.

Seems like that entire area of OKC is very short on grocers.

Wal-Mart put nearly everything else out of business and it's taking a while for the market to correct itself especially considering the risk of opening a grocery store in OKC with no wine or strong point beer. It's slowly happening though. Crest should really open a few more stores in the metro. Every existing location is usually busy competes very well against Wal-Mart.

[Pete]

Parking lot demolition has started but nothing on the mall as of yet. Of interest is that there is a new sign for "Family Dollar coming soon" which is already in that center. It may be that they will have a place for that business to move to before starting demolition on the mall itself.

Thanks for the update.

Glad to see progress and I'm sure before long that entire corner will be redeveloped.

[mkjeeves]

The building is being razed. Any new info on what's next?

[Pete]

Just spoke to Jim Tapp, the developer.

He told me that other than the Family Dollar building that has now been completed in the parking lot (they were moved from within the center itself) that a Walmart Neighborhood Market will be the only other tenant in this development.

Said that building and the related parking will take the entire property.


BIG improvement and I look forward to seeing the new grocery go up.

[Larry OKC]

Pete: I am a bit confused. Is the entire strip mall coming down to make way for the Walmart Neighborhood Market? What about the Post Office? Neighborhood Markets don't seem to require much of a foot print...many are in former "regular" Wal-marts. But even new built ones seem to have a relatively small footprint (see the one in the Sears parking lot @ SW 44th & Western and the former site of Southwest Ford behind the McDonalds and Walgreens on SW 59th & Penn). On the surface this mall and parking (3 blocks x 2 blocks mol) seems more than ample for just a Wal-Mart???

[Pete]

Larry, the post office moved out of the mall some time ago, as did everything but the relocated Family Dollar.

From what Jim Tapp told me today, the entire structure is coming down and the grocery will utilize the entire parcel, other than the free-standing Family Dollar building.

It does seem like a lot of land (10.7 acres) for just a Walmart Neighborhood Market but perhaps this will be one of their bigger locations?

To compare, the entire Westpark Mall was about 125,000 square feet (lots of dead space back in the corner) and the larger Neighborhood Markets are about 80,000 s.f.

[Larry OKC]

Pete: Thanks for the clarification..thats what I was thinking. I still miss the Furrs and the Treasury Drug that was in that mall.