Sam's Club

[Pete]

As we were first to report way back in January of 2014, Sam's Club will be building a 140,000 square foot new store on the northwest corner of N. May Avenue and I-44 / 39th Street Expressway. This is the location of the former Lynn Hickey Dodge.

This area of NW Oklahoma City is seeing a lot of attention from retailers of late, with Winco Foods purchasing a site less than a mile to the west, and OnCue Express set to construct a new location just a few blocks to the south.

4-29-14: Purchased the 13.8 acres for $6.3 million
5-12-14: Building permit application for 140,000 square foot structure
3-20-15: Building permit finally issued
3-25-15: Application to move two construction trailers onto the property

[amaesquire]

That is a good, central location. Much better option than I-40, north Penn, NW Expressway, MWC, or north of The Wall (Edmond).

[rmcgill]

Perfect....forevermore I will refer to Edmond as "The Wall"

[OKCisOK4me]

I still argue access and exit points along I-44 Frontage Rd. toward Drexel. That stretch of May is going to be horrendous traffic wise but I do agree that it is a great interior location.

[amaesquire]

I still argue access and exit points along I-44 Frontage Rd. toward Drexel. That stretch of May is going to be horrendous traffic wise but I do agree that it is a great interior location.

Good idea. Access point behind the Shell station. Which makes me wonder, how happy are they going to be about a Sam's gas station popping up next door?

[OKCisOK4me]

Good idea. Access point behind the Shell station. Which makes me wonder, how happy are they going to be about a Sam's gas station popping up next door?

Probably going to have to lower their prices to compete. The glass shop and the O'Reilys on the east side of May should be happy about this. Business should go up with the new influx of customers in the area.

[gjl]

Good idea. Access point behind the Shell station. Which makes me wonder, how happy are they going to be about a Sam's gas station popping up next door?

I think SAM's gas is all E10. If the Shell sells no ethanol 100% gas they will do fine.

The new Sams will be more convenient for me than any of the other ones provided they stock the products I buy at Sams. Not all Sams in OKC stock the same items. Some things I buy at the Reno Sams are not stocked at the NW Expressway Sams.

And a question about Costco. Are there any Costco stores anywhere in the country that do not sell wine? I mean are they in any states that do not allow it because of their liquor laws?

[bchris02]

And a question about Costco. Are there any Costco stores anywhere in the country that do not sell wine? I mean are they in any states that do not allow it because of their liquor laws?

Costco is speculated to be coming to Tulsa and they are also in Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The liquor laws aren't the sole reason they aren't here.

[Pete]

Costco is coming to Tulsa for sure and they are also in Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The liquor laws aren't the sole reason they aren't here.

Do you have a link to Costco coming to Tulsa "for sure"?

[gjl]

Costco is coming to Tulsa for sure and they are also in Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The liquor laws aren't the sole reason they aren't here.

I'm not wanting to debate why they are not here. So are you saying they don't sell wine in their stores in those states?

[Soonerman]

Costco is speculated to be coming to Tulsa and they are also in Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The liquor laws aren't the sole reason they aren't here.

Doesn't Kansas have similar liquor laws?

[bluedogok]

I think SAM's gas is all E10. If the Shell sells no ethanol 100% gas they will do fine.

If the EPA gets their way "real gas" will be a thing of the past anywhere.

The new Sams will be more convenient for me than any of the other ones provided they stock the products I buy at Sams. Not all Sams in OKC stock the same items. Some things I buy at the Reno Sams are not stocked at the NW Expressway Sams.

We found that to be the case, my wife likes the Topo Chico Mexican mineral water, the Sam's location we normally went to in Austin (South Mopac) did not carry it but the other location by our house (South I-35/Southpark Meadows) did. Costco did not carry it in Austin and neither Sam's or Costco carry it up here in Denver, we have buy it at Walmart Neighborhood Market since they have the 12-packs. I couldn't find Yoshida's marinade in Austin (at either place) and I know that OKC used to have it, pretty easy to find here in Denver. Griffin's distributed their products at Sam's in Texas but not up here.

And a question about Costco. Are there any Costco stores anywhere in the country that do not sell wine? I mean are they in any states that do not allow it because of their liquor laws?

The ones here in Colorado only have 3.2 beer inside the store. Just like in the Austin stores, some have an adjacent liquor store which is nothing more than a space leased to a separate operator and no connection to or card needed to buy liquor. The adjacent liquor stores here in Colorado have wine, high point beer and liquor, the location in Austin did not have wine or beer (that I remember) but did have liquor. I rarely went to the liquor store in Austin with Spec's nearby. Up here in Colorado any entity can only hold one liquor license, they do not have the 10-year residency requirement like Oklahoma. Whole Foods has their one location with wine, high point beer and liquor in Boulder, Trader Joe's will have their one wine/beer location near Downtown Denver and King Soopers (Kroger) has theirs in Glendale just southeast of downtown. Sam's stores here also have the adjacent liquor store at some locations.

I know the Massachusetts liquor laws can be more restrictive than Oklahoma requiring anything with alcohol to be sold at package stores. The Whole Foods that we would go to by our hotel we stayed at in Boston at has no beer or wine. Never did go to a Costco up there but did see one off the highway when taking Amtrak to Mystic, Connecticut.

[amaesquire]

In looking at what was provided to the Planning Commission, it appears that there will be good access from 39th.

[bchris02]

More and more Wal-Mart. I really doubt OKC will ever be able to support stores like Costco or a major national grocery chain. It seems like every new retail development in this town is Wal-Mart centered. Unbelievable.

[Jeepnokc]

More and more Wal-Mart. I really doubt OKC will ever be able to support stores like Costco or a major national grocery chain. It seems like every new retail development in this town is Wal-Mart centered. Unbelievable.

Seems to me that Costco needs to get off their ass then and put in a store to compete. Walmart/SamsClub is adding more stores as they see a need for it and apparently the economics support it.

[bchris02]

Seems to me that Costco needs to get off their ass then and put in a store to compete. Walmart/SamsClub is adding more stores as they see a need for it and apparently the economics support it.

Or to keep Costco and other retailers out... If Steve's sources are correct, Costco will not build a store sandwiched between two Sam's Clubs. They pulled out of the Memorial development after the Edmond Sam's Club was announced. If Wal-Mart blankets the metro with Sam's Clubs, there will never be a Costco here.

The lack of choices here, thanks to Bentonville, is absolutely apalling.

[OKCisOK4me]

Or to keep Costco and other retailers out... If Steve's sources are correct, Costco will not build a store sandwiched between two Sam's Clubs. They pulled out of the Memorial development after the Edmond Sam's Club was announced. If Wal-Mart blankets the metro with Sam's Clubs, there will never be a Costco here.

The lack of choices here, thanks to Bentonville, is absolutely apalling.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of mind blowing products does Costco sell that you can't find at Wal-Mart/Sam's Club?

[bchris02]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of mind blowing products does Costco sell that you can't find at Wal-Mart/Sam's Club?

I don't like supporting Wal-Mart in any way and I avoid them if I can at all help it. My reasons for that have been hashed out by myself and numerous people time and time again, but to sum it up Wal-Mart represents capitalism at its worst.

[catch22]

Or to keep Costco and other retailers out... If Steve's sources are correct, Costco will not build a store sandwiched between two Sam's Clubs. They pulled out of the Memorial development after the Edmond Sam's Club was announced. If Wal-Mart blankets the metro with Sam's Clubs, there will never be a Costco here.

The lack of choices here, thanks to Bentonville, is absolutely apalling.

When did they say they pulled out of the Memorial development??

[Jeepnokc]

Or to keep Costco and other retailers out... If Steve's sources are correct, Costco will not build a store sandwiched between two Sam's Clubs. They pulled out of the Memorial development after the Edmond Sam's Club was announced. If Wal-Mart blankets the metro with Sam's Clubs, there will never be a Costco here.

The lack of choices here and fugly suburban retail developments, thanks to Bentonville, is absolutely apalling.

Has nothing to do with Bentonville. If Costco is so great (and I like Costco) and such a better product, then they shouldn't be afraid to go head to head with Walmart. Look at Traders Joes which everyone is sure will be going into the old crescent location which is a couple of blocks from WF. What about CVS and Walgreens opening up across the street from each other all over the city. Those companies aren't afraid to compete. I don't buy into this crap about they won't come in because of Walmart. There are Sams Clubs all over the country and I am sure there are Sam's Clubs in markets where there are also Costcos.

I don't think Costco is worried about Sams. Looking at Costco's expansion plans, they have shifted from a majority of expansion being US stores to a higher percentage of new stores being outside the US as it is more profitable according to several of the business articles I have read.

[PhiAlpha]

Has nothing to do with Bentonville. If Costco is so great (and I like Costco) and such a better product, then they shouldn't be afraid to go head to head with Walmart. Look at Traders Joes which everyone is sure will be going into the old crescent location which is a couple of blocks from WF. What about CVS and Walgreens opening up across the street from each other all over the city. Those companies aren't afraid to compete. I don't buy into this crap about they won't come in because of Walmart. There are Sams Clubs all over the country and I am sure there are Sam's Clubs in markets where there are also Costcos.

I don't think Costco is worried about Sams. Looking at Costco's expansion plans, they have shifted from a majority of expansion being US stores to a higher percentage of new stores being outside the US as it is more profitable according to several of the business articles I have read.

That and all the targets across the street from walmarts...they aren't afraid to compete either.

[PhiAlpha]

More and more Wal-Mart. I really doubt OKC will ever be able to support stores like Costco or a major national grocery chain. It seems like every new retail development in this town is Wal-Mart centered. Unbelievable.

I shop at sams, I'm happy with this. If Costco doesn't want to test the market here, that's their loss. Sams will in no way prevent more high quality grocery stores from being built. That site has been empty for years and will now have a quality tenant, this is a great deal. Quit being so melodramatic.

[AP]

Quit being so melodramatic.

Yes. +1. Agree. Like. Anything else I can add?

[PhiAlpha]

Yes. +1. Agree. Like. Anything else I can add?

devil smiley face?

[zookeeper]

What a shot in the arm to this area. Along with the big Lowes store, this could anchor a southern end to a very nice strip of retail from NW 39th north. Considering all of the retail, restaurant, and development from NW 50th and May north, past the NW Expressway intersection on to 63rd (huge hub of activity), to Grand (Blue Seven, etc.) and then you could even make the argument it runs all the way to Britton Road where the nicest mainstream grocery store in the city is on May & Britton. The big question mark is Mayfair Shopping Center which has gone downhill fast. What an incredible opportunity with that land on both sides of May Avenue, whether to really update that center or tear it down and replace it with an all new Mayfair development.

This is really good news for a revitalized May Avenue that will now stretch a good distance.