Comments on: Dancing On a Retail Grave?

By: Steve Lackmeyer

Steve Lackmeyer — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:22:25 +0000

Jason, I know – I wasn’t even thinking that would be the implication of what I was writing in the comment! All this online stuff is really complicated!

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:27:18 +0000

Steve, I wasn’t trying to accuse you of “stealing” this concept. Sorry if it sounded that way. I was more frustrated that the rabid “shop local” types there refuse to see the value/need for some presence of name-brands to anchor downtown retail. I’m all about the local establishments, but what local shopping could feasibly be downtown? Full Circle, Blue 7, Crescent Market… What else?

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:40:55 +0000

Jason, I swear I didn’t see your comment. Glad I’m not the only crazy man out there.

By: Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:13:57 +0000

The Underground needs more retail. Seriously, it is such a cool space just to be wasted on old photographs, empty hallways, and one or two mediocre restaurants. The Underground would be a great place for coffee shops, funky shops, and other querky local establishments. Are there any movements to improve this area of downtown?

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:51:44 +0000

Look. Give me the Pac Sun and American Eagle from Crossroads and send it downtown and I’m happy. They should do well along with FireFly, Lit, and Envy Clothing Stores. Ugh, maybe that’d attract an Urban Outfitters. :/

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:40:33 +0000

Excellent- The malls stole downtown, why can’t downtown now steal the malls?

There isn’t much difference between the mall environment and the urban environment- the whole point of malls was to bring the store-to-store shopping experience indoors. So business plans for the mall-based stores would mostly stay the same.

The only real difference is that parking in Bricktown is not the most visible element as it is with the mall.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:26:58 +0000

I made this EXACT suggestion on OKCTalk a few weeks ago and everyone there pooped on it.

I’m all for local retail, but we have to have some chains as catalysts to retail concentration.

By: John R. "Radar" Doyle

John R. "Radar" Doyle — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:05:29 +0000

Two thoughts come to me immediately. First, businesses like Things Remembered, Zales and Kay Jewelers, and Waldenbooks have traditionally been mall-based retailers, at least in this region. They may not have a business model for a location based in a downtown office building or a Bricktown/Automobile Alley facade.

Second, there are the questions surrounding Core To Shore. Once developers get to see what the landscape will look like, it may be possible for them to consider building a medium-sized mall, like Northpark or 50-Penn. Or, they may decide to build a shopping plaza like Mayfair or Belle Isle. This could be located at Downtown Airpark, or near the current I-40/Western/Farmer’s Market area, or nearby.

Of course, these ideas are probably at least 5 years away, and longer if the recession lingers. These Crossroads retailers need to consider their immediate future.

Bonnie’s Popcorn could be a good fit for First National Center, The Underground, or canalside at Bricktown. Perhaps Waldenbooks adjacent to a coffee house in Midtown?

Any other thoughts?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:43:10 +0000

Look at that, Steve, someone blames parking again! I thought you had long since dispelled that awful rumor about the parking “problem”.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:34:44 +0000

Two main reasons why I don’t think retail has hit downtown just yet: 1)not enough people live downtown yet. 2) insufficient parking (in Oklahoman’s opinion).

Are these real reasons Steve?