West Park Mall: NW 63rd and MacArthur

[MadMonk]

Glad to see something using that space. I know my in-laws will be happy with having a grocery store in that spot again.

[SomeGuy]

I wonder if the library is still there or will still be there

[Pete]

I wonder if the library is still there or will still be there

Library is still there and won't be touched.

[ljbab728]

The mall is probably about 80% demolished now. The dollar store still has lights on and hasn't started moving into the new building yet. I will be ecstatic when the parking lot gets rebuilt. Every time I pulled in there I was always afraid I would fall in a hole and never be found.

[Larry OKC]

True..true

[Pete]

Photos from metro... Looks like the whole property is scraped except for the gas station on the corner.

Note the WA Library is a separate parcel.


Looking northwest from 63rd & MacArthur:



Looking west:

[ljbab728]

Yes, I was by there several times today and that's exactly what it looks like. They should have all of the debris removed in a few days. Also, they have been bringing it dirt for some time for what appears to be the foundation for the new building. That land area looks surprisingly large with the building gone.

I'm not sure what the prospects are for the gas station. It's still open but the sign has been removed.

[Larry OKC]

maybe it is going to become one of the Wal-mart affiliated Murphy stations?

[ljbab728]

maybe it is going to become one of the Wal-mart affiliated Murphy stations?

Possibly, but that would likely mean a tear down and reconstruction. Those are normally next to full size Walmart stores. I go in there occasionally and it's been the same management for many years.

[Larry OKC]

Some of the Neighborhood Markets have them too (just down the street @ 23rd & MacArthur)

[Pete]

The gas station hasn't changed ownership.

I doubt there will be much change there, which is too bad as the place is a dump.

[ljbab728]

The gas station hasn't changed ownership.

I doubt there will be much change there, which is too bad as the place is a dump.

You're right about that. I only stop in there for lottery tickets.
I have to watch out for the craters in the drive area when I do.

[Larry OKC]

Just found out that the Murphy station in front of the 23rd & macArthur Walmart is no more. The building and signage are there (still advertising something like $3.26/gal but no pumps). Od, as that station always seemed to have plenty of business. Often having to wait for an available pump (and they had several).

[Geographer]

Larry, I believe that Walmart is moving out of that location as well.

[HangryHippo]

Larry, I believe that Walmart is moving out of that location as well.

Where did you hear this?

[Geographer]

Where did you hear this?

I obviously could be mistaken, but I heard it from a credible business group source in that area of town.

[HangryHippo]

I obviously could be mistaken, but I heard it from a credible business group source in that area of town.

Hmm. That's too bad as it's a convenient little market.

[Larry OKC]

True. Walmart still owns the property (it was originally a regular Walmart before they "relocated it into the I-40 Supercenter) and a a string of businesses in it before Walmart moved back into it again, but maybe they are "relocating" again up the street 40 blocks??

[metro]

True. Walmart still owns the property (it was originally a regular Walmart before they "relocated it into the I-40 Supercenter) and a a string of businesses in it before Walmart moved back into it again, but maybe they are "relocating" again up the street 40 blocks??

No, they originally "relocated" this Walmart to NW Expressway and MacArthur, where Gattitown and Lifechurch.tv NW Campus currently are, long before there was an I-40 and MacArthur Walmart.

[Jim Kyle]

No, they originally "relocated" this Walmart to NW Expressway and MacArthur, where Gattitown and Lifechurch.tv NW Campus currently are, long before there was an I-40 and MacArthur Walmart.

Not quite; the Walmart that was where Gattitown now resides came to that location from NW Expressway ant Rockwell, where Hobby Lobby is now located. That was a case of getting tax breaks from OKC for the Rockwell location, which expired and let them then get incentives from Warr Acres for the MacArthur site. When those expired, it moved back to OKC on NW Expressway between Rockwell and Council...

When I moved to the NW 122 and Council area in 1982, the Walmart was at the original Rockwell location. I've shopped in it at all three locations.

[ljbab728]

Back to the subject of this thread, they are going full speed ahead with construction here. Foundation work is well under way and tons of equipment and activity going on.

[jn1780]

I heard from a customer service manager a couple of years ago that they were going to shut when 23rd & MacArthur when 63rd and MacArthur opened up. Who knows what their reasoning would be for doing that, but closing down the gas station certainly suggests this very well may be the case.

[jn1780]

No, they originally "relocated" this Walmart to NW Expressway and MacArthur, where Gattitown and Lifechurch.tv NW Campus currently are, long before there was an I-40 and MacArthur Walmart.

I'm pretty sure the 23rd & MacArthur Walmart closed when the super center opened. It was one of the only few Walmarts in the city to not be relocated to a "second generation" medium sized store so it held for a long time. Kind of like the Midwest city store did.

[Larry OKC]

jn1780 is correct, the 23rd & MacArthur location was "relocated" to the I-40 Super Center. I see that Jim Kyle corrected the one Metro was talking about.