Costco

[Plutonic Panda]

I doubt Tulsa will secure a location first, I'll even extend that I doubt Tulsa will have one for about 2-3 years after we get our first.

[okcpulse]

I often wonder if marketing departments for retail companies pull raw numbers for OKC and Tulsa before they look at geographical demographics. If that is the case, OKC would have a lower percentage of households with incomes > $175,000 because of Nichols Hills, while Tulsa's version of Nichols Hills is in Tulsa, therefore making Tulsa appear more attractive.

[Pete]

I often wonder if marketing departments for retail companies pull raw numbers for OKC and Tulsa before they look at geographical demographics. If that is the case, OKC would have a lower percentage of households with incomes > $175,000 because of Nichols Hills, while Tulsa's version of Nichols Hills is in Tulsa, therefore making Tulsa appear more attractive.

Almost all retailers look at demographics in a 1-, 3- and 5-mile radius.

[bchris02]

Almost all retailers look at demographics in a 1-, 3- and 5-mile radius.

True, and this is where OKC gets killed every time, unfortunately.

[soonerguru]

The ironic reality, however, is that once Costco opens here its results will invariably dramaticly exceed projections, just like Whole Foods and others have, and OKC will certainly exceed Tulsa's numbers its too bad our lack of density skews our numbers so badly, because it makes the numbers lie.

[Pete]

Yep, it seems every new retailer that opens here blows their projections completely out of the water.

I'm sure the people at the Chamber who are employed full-time to recruit new retailers have put together an impressive presentation. They have lots of concrete data they can now sell to others.

[GaryOKC6]

There are a lot of example as to why the demographics don't represent the true story in OKC. For example the Horison Group that built the outlet mall exceed their projected sales and added on right away. Penn square is one of many properties owned by Simon. As of last year it was the best performing mall in their chain. the Macy's in Penn Square is one of the top grossing Macys stores in the chain. We may not look good on paper but our recors speaks for itself.

[kevinpate]

There are a lot of example as to why the demographics don't represent the true story in OKC. For example the Horison Group that built the outlet mall exceed their projected sales and added on right away. Penn square is one of many properties owned by Simon. As of last year it was the best performing mall in their chain. the Macy's in Penn Square is one of the top grossing Macys stores in the chain. We may not look good on paper but our recors speaks for itself.

Though I imagine it is a significantly lesser gross, I have heard the Buckle at PSM is one of their better volume locations.

[Teo9969]

The lack of competition also doesn't hurt...

[Pete]

Demographics only show incomes and the like but do not take into consideration general cost of living factors and disposable income.

Incomes in Oklahoma are lower than many other states but because the cost of living is so low, people tend to have lots of disposable income.

So, the typical numbers used don't tell the full story. And as more and more retailers move in and experience great success, that will be easier to convey to other prospects.


Remember, the Chamber has a full-time person who does nothing but court new retailers. There are also incentives available.

[bchris02]

On the otherhand, there are cases where a retailer was planning on both a Tulsa and OKC location, and the OKC location gets the shaft because the Tulsa location didn't perform up to expectations. There was a recent case of this but I forget which retailer it was. It was something that most certainly would have been supported in OKC. Sometimes retail we get in OKC depends on how well it does in Tulsa.

It would be great if somehow an OKC and Tulsa location for Costco could be announced at the same time. Costco isn't an upscale retailer. I don't see a reason, even using the formulas they use, that they should consider OKC to be riskier than Tulsa.

[Mississippi Blues]

On the otherhand, there are cases where a retailer was planning on both a Tulsa and OKC location, and the OKC location gets the shaft because the Tulsa location didn't perform up to expectations. There was a recent case of this but I forget which retailer it was. It was something that most certainly would have been supported in OKC.

I think you're talking about La Madeleine's.

[progressiveboy]

On the otherhand, there are cases where a retailer was planning on both a Tulsa and OKC location, and the OKC location gets the shaft because the Tulsa location didn't perform up to expectations. There was a recent case of this but I forget which retailer it was. It was something that most certainly would have been supported in OKC. Sometimes retail we get in OKC depends on how well it does in Tulsa.

It would be great if somehow an OKC and Tulsa location for Costco could be announced at the same time. Costco isn't an upscale retailer. I don't see a reason, even using the formulas they use, that they should consider OKC to be riskier than Tulsa.

A prime example of OKC getting the shaft is LaMadeleine's French Bakery. The company opened a corporate store in Tulsa on Cherry Street about 2 years ago and it is the "lowest performing" store in the entire company and there are about 62 locations across the USA..I frequent the LaMadeleine's in Frisco on Hwy 121 and was told by 2 different management staff that OKC will probably not get one because of Tulsa's poor performance. On the contrary,I believe it would quite well in OKC because I have also heard from management staff at the stores down here in DFW that they get tons of OKC people eating in their cafes and always asking when will OKC get one? Do not understand why they would be doing poor in Tulsa as all their other stores nationwide do well!

[Shake2005]

A prime example of OKC getting the shaft is LaMadeleine's French Bakery. The company opened a corporate store in Tulsa on Cherry Street about 2 years ago and it is the "lowest performing" store in the entire company and there are about 62 locations across the USA..I frequent the LaMadeleine's in Frisco on Hwy 121 and was told by 2 different management staff that OKC will probably not get one because of Tulsa's poor performance. On the contrary,I believe it would quite well in OKC because I have also heard from management staff at the stores down here in DFW that they get tons of OKC people eating in their cafes and always asking when will OKC get one? Do not understand why they would be doing poor in Tulsa as all their other stores nationwide do well!

LaMadeleine kinda sucks. Good bread, but as for the rest it's poorly done French inspired fast casual food. If you don't know French food, it's probably ok, but if you really like French it's just plain lame. It's like Airport kiosk French food.

[bchris02]

LaMadeleine kinda sucks. Good bread, but as for the rest it's poorly done French inspired fast casual food. If you don't know French food, it's probably ok, but if you really like French it's just plain lame. It's like Airport kiosk French food.

Does OKC even have a French restaurant?

[Mississippi Blues]

Does OKC even have a French restaurant?

La Baguette Bistro.

[soonerguru]

Does OKC even have a French restaurant?

Have you not been to La Baguette on North May? Easily one of OKC's best restaurants. Owned and operated by brothers Michel and Alain Buthion , who come to our city from Grenoble, France. They are restaurant treasures in Oklahoma. You should go for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

[Plutonic Panda]

On the otherhand, there are cases where a retailer was planning on both a Tulsa and OKC location, and the OKC location gets the shaft because the Tulsa location didn't perform up to expectations. There was a recent case of this but I forget which retailer it was. It was something that most certainly would have been supported in OKC. Sometimes retail we get in OKC depends on how well it does in Tulsa.

It would be great if somehow an OKC and Tulsa location for Costco could be announced at the same time. Costco isn't an upscale retailer. I don't see a reason, even using the formulas they use, that they should consider OKC to be riskier than Tulsa.

Sorry in advance if there are any Tulsa lovers and/or livers on this board that read this, but I wouldn't mind seeing an OKC only announcement.

[bchris02]

Sorry in advance if there are any Tulsa lovers and/or livers on this board that read this, but I wouldn't mind seeing an OKC only announcement.

Me either, but an announcement for both cities would be far better than Tulsa first in then OKC a few years later like a poster above hinted at.

[beshy]

So when to expect any announcements about if costco will come memorial and western. Anybody has an inside scoop.

[betts]

I would much rather have a Trader Joe's. I've shopped at Costco with my kids and don't see it as a glaring hole in our local retail offerings. Even the lack of Trader Joe's doesn't bother me much, as I fear they would hurt some of our local stores.

[warreng88]

I am curious if this will help our liquor laws change in the future:

High-point Budweiser products approved for Oklahoma | News OK

[Teo9969]

I am curious if this will help our liquor laws change in the future:

High-point Budweiser products approved for Oklahoma | News OK

http://www.okctalk.com/current-event...-oklahoma.html

[warreng88]

http://www.okctalk.com/current-event...-oklahoma.html

Ah, sorry to be tardy to the party...

[circuitboard]

Does this mean refrigeration in the liquor store now? Fat Tire?