This is a valid point and also, in my opinion, argues for a store that can pioneer and serve as a retail anchor, as I think Metro mentioned. This would be a store that is a supplier of quickly turning over consumables, Walgreens fits that bill.

My daughter is in management at Anthropologie. She says they don't like to go into malls, and it's always a last choice for them. Classen Curve is actually probably the best choice for an Anthropologie, as they like upscale open air shopping areas best. I don't know if that lifestyle center behind Quail Springs is still going up, but that would be another type of place they'd put a store, with its' proximity to Edmond and Edmond demographics.

However, I agree. They'd not go into Bricktown as the first store, and would want associated retail in the immediate area, although parking would not be as much of an issue with them. Urban Outfitters would probably be a more logical option for the downtown area, and she's frequently said that there are some buildings in Midtown that look perfect for an Urban.

betts, I agree and so have I. The two buildings on the NW and NE corner of 10th and Broadway are perfect Urban Outfitters buildings and would be a huge anchor for Automobile Alley in making it a destination.

What if the City were to offer them a sweetheart deal to locate at 10th and Broadway, much like that of Bass Pro??

I wish they would, but not sure how the city would, considering it's privately owned property. I suppose the City could buy it or pay the rent to the investor. It would definitely spur downtown retail far more than a $19 million Bass Pro didn't. We could probably get by on less than a quarter of a million incentive for such retail too, compared to the pork that was Bass Pro. We should turn Bass Pro into an IKEA.

betts, I agree and so have I mentioned such. I even emailed Banta's company a year or so ago about it. He wanted to put office space in there from how I understood it. Man those buildings are ripe with retail potential!! The two buildings on the NW and NE corner of 10th and Broadway are perfect Urban Outfitters buildings and would be a huge anchor for Automobile Alley in making it a destination.

Speaking of the Candy Factory, it's coming along and there are a lot of visual changes now. I look forward to hearing what they get in the way of retail.

Not to be a "negative nance", haha, but I am having a hard time visualizing retail in Bricktown as we know it.

I know there are a few shops in new bricktown and a few little shops near the canal. But to really see retail in Bricktown, I don't see it.

Now I can visualize retail all up and down Broadway in auto-alley.

Having said that, the Candy Factory is coming along nicely and I hope this project meets the expectations of the owners. Wish them best of luck and I will continue to support anything that is happening in and around downton Okc.

okclee, I'll ask what I just asked in another thread.

Have you been to The Plaza in Kansas City? It has all the national retail of Penn Square and more, with virtually no surface parking and no residential or hotels in the district proper.

Why are you having a hard time visualizing retail in Bricktown? What would be retail as "you" know it in Bricktown? Just curious????

At the risk of sounding like a shill for Walgreen's, I think with the right location and signage, they could pull people off the Interstate while I-40 is still there and by then, downtown and midtown could support one without the traveler traffic. I think they're the perfect anchor for center city retail.

I have mentioned more than once the San Antonio Riverwalk and that all of the retail along their canal is located in a central location, the Riverwalk Mall.

I do like that there are a few shops in "new Bricktown" near the Harkins, but even that area is limited with space.

I just think until there is a very large space somewhere in Bricktown that is dedicated to retail, we really won't ever get the retail that most people are looking for.

People will shop in Bricktown, but to really get a shopping experience there needs to be multiple shops strung together that will generate real foot traffic. That is why Auto Alley has more potential for retail then does Bricktown. One could easily string together multiple retail shops from one end of Auto Alley to the other and have an endless amount of foot traffic.

I am no expert and these are just my opinions, and I could be convinced otherwise.

If they went in Candy Factory, they could get a sign on the top of the building. That would give them a lot of visibility--from I-40, from sidewalks all around, from the hotels all around, etc.

I agree. And again, until we see a cluster of successful local retailers, we wont get the attention from nationals. And obviously AA is best suited for this, and as of now there is very little retail so far. At the very least aother bar or restaurant needs to open along Broadway.

At least one more is planned for NW 9th just off Broadway and one planned next door to Red Prime.

Can you elaborate or is it an I know something you don't know kind of thing?

warreng, it's an I already posted it months ago sort of thing. I'll see if I can dig up the old thread.

Ah, yes...... http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...red-prime.html

Now, it's been so long, I can't remember the concept, I want to say it was sushi or japanese/seafood or something. I'm willing to bet the concept might evolve/change by the time they are ready to launch this project (especially since several new sushi places have opened up downtown recently). I know tuck said it was on hold for awhile, I'm guessing the economy isn't helping that right now. Maybe tuck can correct me and/or elaborate.....?

The building just north of Red Prime had a "for lease" sign on it when I drove by last week... is this the area you are talking about?

But a chain has more potential to solve the Mom & Pop crises.

teehee

Shutup. Lol.

Well, Firefly hasn't closed down yet.

Most national retailers look for clusters of retail areas to locate in. I see very few stand-alone Anthropologies for example. We need someone with a vision in mind to create a dedicated area of concentrated retail downtown.

True, but there is no one individual that has the amount of property to do something like this, at least that Im aware of. And trying to acquire more property from a neighbor just isnt financially feasible.

So what area is best suited for retail? Bricktown? Auto Alley?

I think most agree that Automobile Alley is the best suited and likely candidate for true urban retail.

Also what is the status of Candy Factory, it appears they are about done, but haven't heard anything in quite awhile, not to mention, I see no signage on the building.