Brand Name Stores Eyeing Oklahoma City For Expansion

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- One of the biggest construction projects going on in the country right now is in Oklahoma City. An outlet mall is being built at I-40 and Council Road, and now there are at least 15 other companies that also want to expand into the metro.

See a list of committed stores for the outlet mall as of May 10.

Over a dozen household names are eying Oklahoma City from Anthropologie to Dick's Sporting Goods and The Container Store.

"People know those names, are excited about them and companies are looking for places now," said Jim Parrack, Price Edwards & Company Senior Vice President.

Other businesses, like Gold's Gym, could be opening in a neighborhood near you. A year end retail market report by Price Edwards and Company showed Oklahoma City has weathered the recession better than other cities and that's the reason stores are seeing the city in a different light.

"When the national market recovers, there will be certain cities that are sort of the national retailer, the Phoenix, Austin and San Franciscos of the world will overshadow us again, but this is our time in the sun," Parrack said.

Many stores in the outlet mall should be open by Fall 2011.

More:

• Outlet Mall Plans Move Forward
• Site Work Begins for Oklahoma City Outlet Mall