Penn Square Mall

[Bimmerdude]

1901 NW Expressway
Opened March 3, 1960
Owner=Simon Properties
Sq. feet=1,100,000

Information & Latest News

2012: AMC buys and renovates theater
3/2/88: Reopens after major renovation: added 2nd level, Foley's dept. store
11/11/81: Enclosed mall area complete
6/17/80: Enclosure of the mall commences
3/3/60: Opened with John A. Brown, Montgomery Wards and Rothschild's as tenants
11/5/58: Ground breaking

Ground was broken for the first shopping mall in the Sooner State in September 1958. Originally known as the BELLEVUE SHOPPING CENTER, the prospective retail hub's name had been changed to PENN SQUARE CENTER by the time its first stores opened for business, on March 3, 1960.

The single-level, open-air complex was developed by OKC's Ben Wileman and the Rooney Family and designed by the firm of Sorey, Hill and Sorey. It was situated on a 49.5 acre tract, adjacent to the future route of Interstate 44, which was 3.5 miles northwest of the Oklahoma Statehouse.

Enveloping 575,000 leasable square feet, PENN SQUARE housed forty-six inline tenants and two anchor department stores. On the southwest was a 2-level (101,100 square foot), Oklahoma City-based John A. Brown. On the southeast stood a 2-level (168,400 square foot) Montgomery Ward.

Charter tenants included Lerner Shops, Peyton-Marcus apparel, Rothschild's apparel, Val Gene's Cafeteria, Extension One ladies' apparel, Rosenfield's Jewelers, the National Bank of Oklahoma City and an S.S. Kresge 5 and 10.

A taste of commercial competition came to PENN SQUARE in 1964, with the completion of SHEPHERD MALL {1.8 miles southwest, in Oklahoma City}. The latter was a small, community-class complex and the two shopping centers coexisted peaceably.

Other major shopping hubs built in the PENN SQUARE trade area were HERITAGE PARK MALL (1971-2010) {8.6 miles southeast, in Midwest City}, CROSSROADS MALL (1974) {10 miles southeast, in Oklahoma City} and QUAIL SPRINGS MALL (1980) {5.8 miles northwest, also in Oklahoma City}.

An enclosing renovation was done at PENN SQUARE CENTER in 1981-1982. The complex now encompassed 587,900 leasable square feet. The first nameplate change took place in September 1984, when John A. Brown was rebranded by Dillard's. In September 1985, the mall was sold to Cincinnati's JMB Federated Realty.

They initiated a 100 million dollar renovation of the property in 1986. The existing Dillard's was expanded into a 142,900 square foot operation. A second level of retail stores -including a new Food Court- was built and a 2-level (161,000 square foot), Houston-based Foley's was added to the mall's north side. Moreover, a 3-level parking garage was added, which was adjacent to the new Foley's.

The mall was officially rededicated March 2, 1988. The Dickinson Penn Square 10 multiplex, installed in new Upper Level space, showed its first features May 19, 1988. With this massive renovation, a rather mundane PENN SQUARE CENTER had reinvented itself as PENN SQUARE MALL; now the city's most upscale shopping venue.

A 2-level (126,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, built on the east end of the complex, opened for business October 30, 1995. This addition increased the mall's GLA to 1,051,000 square feet, making it the third-largest shopping mall in the state; this following Tulsa's WOODLAND HILLS (1976) and the aforementioned QUAIL SPRINGS MALL.

PENN SQUARE MALL was given a 10 million dollar facelift in the year 2000, with new flooring, lighting and soft seating areas installed. The year 2001 saw Montgomery Ward close its location. The store area was downsized to 125,500 square feet, with the remaining area dedicated to new inline tenants.

Dillard's East (a Men's and Children's store) opened in May 2002. The existing Dillard's was reconfigured as Dillard's West (dedicated to women's clothing and accessories). Foley's, on the north end of the mall, was "Macy-ated" in September 2006.

The Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group had acquired the center in February 2002. In 2007-2008, the mall's six entrances were rebuilt. A subsequent remodeling, done between August 2012 and May 2013, saw the Food Court and restrooms revamped and the cinema remodeled and renamed the AMC Penn Square 10.
Links

Official Site
County Assessor Record
Gallery