From upscale to accessible, contemporary to classic, Oklahoma City’s Western Avenue district has something for everyone. This district is the perfect gateway for Oklahoma City’s diverse shopping and dining options, from local dives on Western Avenue to chic shops along Classen Curve.

Classen Curve, located at the northern edge of the Western Avenue district, contains some of OKC’s most fashionable shops. National retailers Sur La Table, lululemon athletica, Anthropologie and West Elm call the stretch of Western between Northwest Grand and Classen boulevards home. If local retail therapy is more your style, Balliets, Red Coyote Running & Fitness, On a Whim and Liberté provide good options. If you’re looking for a day of self-care, you can find everything from float spas to cycle studios in this upscale outdoor shopping area.

If your shopping tastes tend toward finding hidden gems, the Western Avenue district is also known as a destination for curated treasure hunting in one of its many antique shops. Guestroom Records, located at NW 36th Street and Western Ave., is ideal for audiophiles, offering new and old vinyl albums for your listening pleasure. And with several antique stores located along Western Avenue, you are sure to find something unique.

If sampling the foodie scene is more your style, then you’ve got plenty of options in the area. From nationally recognized chains like Zoe’s Kitchen and Hopdoddy to local favorites like Tucker’s Onion Burgers, RePUBlic Gastropub, Café 501, and Osteria, you’re certain to find the perfect place for dinner with friends. If you prefer late nights, be sure to check out VZD’s Restaurant & Bar, The Drum Room, 51st Street Speakeasy, Sipango, Cock of the Walk or Flip’s.

Did we leave out your favorite Western Avenue hangout? Let us know in the comments!

Whether you consider yourself a shopping aficionado or not, there is no question that the retail offerings of a community have an impact on its quality of life. More retail means more options and – most importantly to any city in Oklahoma – more sales tax revenue to fund the city’s core services and day-to-day operations.

That’s right, shopping in Oklahoma City helps fund important stuff like police and fire, fixing streets, building sidewalks, beautifying parks, etc. While property taxes can be used to fund voter-approved bond issues for specific capital projects, Oklahoma law actually prohibits cities from levying property taxes for services. That means the more you shop in OKC, the more you help your community!

For that reason, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber works throughout the year to recruit national, recognizable retailers to our market. One important method of doing that is by attending the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon conference each year. The Chamber, the City of Oklahoma City and other community partners use ICSC RECon to build relationships with national retailers who are looking at locating in the Oklahoma City market. Learn more about the delegation’s work at ICSC RECon on VeloCityOKC.com.

When you combine our low unemployment rate with a low cost of living, people simply have more buying power. And that makes Oklahoma City a great place for retailers to thrive. Retailers love OKC and we, of course, love the steady stream of new shopping and dining options.

Whether you just like to keep up with the latest retail headlines or you need some handy tools to open up your own shop of restaurant, visit okcretail.com. It is a website dedicated to helping the world know about how easy it is to find retail success in OKC. Scout for locations, pull demographic reports, find out about permitting and even peruse property listings from literally anywhere. You can also hear success stories from others who are proud to have a retail presence in OKC.

When we say that retail is successful in Oklahoma City, don’t just take it from us! Stores representing all sizes and specialties are speaking up about their Oklahoma City experience (spoiler alert: it’s good). Read on for accounts from Oklahoma City retailers about how their business is thriving.

• The OKC Outlets - The OKC Outlets shopping center just off I-40 in western Oklahoma City has emerged as the go-to shopping destination for outlet shopping enthusiasts across Oklahoma and beyond.
• Classen Curve- A shopping trip to Oklahoma City’s Classen Curve can be such an unexpected delight that you will come away with a one-word description of the experience: unique.
• Homeland- There is a distinctive neighborhood flavor to the newly remodeled Homeland grocery supermarket at NW 18 and Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma City. It might be the “Welcome Friends, Locally Owned – Community Proud” sign that greets you as you enter the store.
• Stella Nova- The ultimate neighborhood coffee shop for Oklahoma City continues to expand.
• The Black Scintilla- For Rachael Gruntmeir, owner of The Black Scintilla, shopping is more than a transaction. It is relationship building.
• Chisholm Creek- Two words perfectly describe the Chisholm Creek mixed use development in far northwest Oklahoma City. Experiential. Placemaking.

Can’t get enough retail and development news? We don’t blame you. Luckily for you, VeloCityOKC.com has an entire section devoted to people breaking ground on new concepts in Oklahoma City. Read the latest announcements.

We all know the feeling. Heck, most of us are feeling the same thing this time of year. Christmas is right around the corner and we still haven’t finished up our shopping. If you haven’t wrapped up your shopping yet, there’s no need to fret. Your friends at Better Life Central are here to save the day with last minute Christmas ideas that everyone on your list is sure to love. Give a gift uniquely Oklahoma from The Black Scintilla, Plenty Mercantile or Exhibit C.

Are you looking for a one-stop experience to gather all of today’s trendy must-have gifts? You are sure to find it at one of OKC’s malls including the OKC Outlets, Quail Springs Mall, Penn Square Mall, or perhaps peruse the various rotating offerings at the Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown. And gift certificates to some of OKC’s coolest destinations are sure to make anyone on your list shout with glee. From high-flying fun and whitewater adventures to a day of golf, your gift list will be complete in no time flat.

If you want more great shopping ideas be sure to visit the shopping section of our website.

This time of year shopping is on every one’s mind. The holidays, combined with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, are the busiest time of year for retailers nationwide. When shopping for those on your nice list, don’t forget your local stores. A great place to show your support is Small Business Saturday.

Why is shopping local so important? Besides supporting local entrepreneurs, more of the money you spend locally stays local. In a place like Oklahoma City, where sales tax is the primary source of revenue, it means funds crucial for services like fire and police. This year’s Small Business Saturday is this Saturday, Nov. 24.

P.S. If you get a free candy bar from a local business on Small Business Saturday be sure to open it. 500 of those bars will have a golden ticket that will get you on one of the very first rides of Oklahoma City’s new streetcar.

Want to save money this year? Guess what… You’re already doing it just by living in Oklahoma City! Some might say that living in OKC is like finding a $200 shirt for $30… every time you go shopping. To achieve the same standard of living in OKC that $65,000 would get you in Seattle, you would only need $37,043, a difference of nearly $27,957.

You can rest easy knowing OKC is an extraordinary, affordable place to live and grow. Check out our Cost of Living calculator to see how OKC stacks up against other top cities in the nation.

The comic novice looking to read all the classics, the hardcore fan looking for their favorite niche series, the collector with rare comics they’re looking to buy or sell, will all find good things at OKC’s comic book stores. Whereas many book stores also have a comic book section, there’s something special about the dedicated comic book store: The fan interactions, the better variety, the merchandise, etc. So here’s a list of some of OKC’s favorite local comic book stores! As always, this isn’t an exhaustive list, so let us know if you don’t see your favorite(s) on here!

Okie Comics (publishes local comics)
All Star Comics
Atomik Pop!
DZ Comics
New World Comics & Games

Anyone who tells you toys and video games are just for kids has clearly never gone hunting for retro toys and video games. There’s a lot of fun to be had looking around, reliving your childhood, sharing major parts of your childhood with your kids, or maybe even getting the toys/games you couldn’t get then, well, now. And in the interest of helping you experience that joy, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best vintage game/toy stores in and around OKC.

Amazing Action
Got Games
Plastic Galaxy
Toy Base 10
Vintage Stock

Located just five minutes from downtown, Classen Curve is a local hot spot for OKC shopping. Classen Curve is the combination of three shopping centers in one with trendy and upscale shopping to meet the needs of those in the heart of the city. The popular assortment of nationally recognized and locally owned concepts includes Cycle Bar, Cos Bar and Red Coyote, as well as Anthropologie, Lululemon and Barre3.

Classen Curve also offers a wide variety of delicious and delightful dining experiences. Café 501 is the culmination of the owner’s love of travel and has grown from its humble beginnings as a “little lunch spot” to become synonymous with experienced taste in good wine and great foods. Upper Crust is an uptown pizzeria & wine bar specializing in wood-fired thin-crust New-York style pies at a reasonable price. Enjoy one of the best audio visual systems in the country to watch your favorite sporting event at Republic Gastropub, a contemporary American pub house with emphasis on craft beer and an imaginative menu to compliment your beverage.

Whether your grocery list includes items from around the globe or just around the corner, Trader Joe’s has you covered with great quality at great prices. Stocked with Oklahoma-grown produce and other gourmet items in a beautiful store, Whole Foods Market is perfect for a quick healthy lunch at their buffet or for grabbing ingredients for a unique meal.

Other notable amenities include Pops, where you can experience their record-breaking selection of ice-cold sodas & beverages while enjoying classic comfort food-fare, and Boardroom Salon for Men to enjoy the nostalgia of an old-time barbershop with outstanding client service while you confidently enjoy the ultimate relaxed grooming experience for men.

We’ve spent this week talking a lot about retail. You might be wondering why it matters? I mean it is just shopping and eating right? In reality, retail is one of the key drivers of our city.

In short, retail is what makes our city go. Sales taxes in Oklahoma City fund the city’s core services and day-to-day operations. That’s important stuff like police, fire, street maintenance, the Zoo, parks, etc. While property taxes can be used to fund voter-approved bond issues for specific capital projects, Oklahoma law actually prohibits cities from levying property taxes for services. The more you shop in OKC, the more you help your community! So put down the mouse, get out of the house, and get to shopping for a new blouse, pet grouse, Westinghouse, a choice porterhouse, downspouts, bean sprouts or a new spouse (just kidding on that last one, obvi). But seriously, shopping in your community is not only fun and easy but important to maintaining a healthy city.

One thing newcomers to our great city are sometimes surprised of is the vibrant Asian community that permeates our city. The epicenter of the community and culture is the Asian District, located around NW 23rd and Classen.

Oklahoma City experienced an influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the 1970s who were looking to escape religious and political persecution. Those new citizens helped establish OKC as one of the most underrated centers of Asian cuisine in America. We aren’t kidding when we say our city has some of the best and most authentic Vietnamese food this side of the Pacific. Of course we’ve been known to succumb to hyperbole at times so don’t take our word for it. Check out this article on Vietnamese food in Oklahoma City from the New York Times.

The Asian District is not just limited to Vietnamese food though. You can also find Tokyo-style sushi, Taiwanese bubble tea, Hong Kong-style dim sum and so much more.

One of the newest additions to the district is the Vietnam War monument that was dedicated last summer. The monument is located in Military Park and features an American Soldier and South Vietnamese soldiers standing together.

The bustling district is also home to shops, nightclubs and Super Cao Nguyen, one of the largest Asian grocery stores in this part of the United States.

One of the most disheartening parts about wanting to cook something new is not being able to find the ingredients you need at your typical go-to grocery store.

Thankfully, Oklahoma City has a plethora of options outside of your standard grocery stores. Whether you’re going organic or looking for more ethnic flavors, the metro has a place nearby that has exactly what you’re looking for.

The hardest part would be finding where these places actually are; that is, if we didn’t make things a little easier for you first. Take a look at our specialty grocery store page on our website. Do you notice any stores missing from our list that people have to know about? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.

If you’ve read the blog before, you know we are guilty of bragging about the momentum and future of Oklahoma City from time to time. That might be true, but it doesn’t mean we don’t also like to embrace our past and heritage. Stockyards City is a place where that heritage comes alive.

The district was home to one of Oklahoma City’s first major industries, with a rush of meat processors and packing plants, and was known affectionately here as Packingtown. When the original plant closed in 1961, a cattle auction was added to secure the district’s future. The Oklahoma National Stockyards, the world’s largest stocker and feeder cattle market, is open to visitors so you can experience the action firsthand every Monday and Tuesday.

If you have cowboy needs (even of the urban cowboy variety), Stockyards City is the place to be as some of the businesses date back to the early 1900s. Boot and hat repair, western wear and even the Rodeo Opry make up the district.

Of course, talking about the district wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the world-famous Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. The steakhouse opened in 1910 and has been serving hungry ranchers and cattlemen ever since. Heck, if it is good enough for John Wayne and a sitting president, you might want to give it a try.

We all know the feeling. Heck, most of us are feeling the same thing this time of year. Christmas is right around the corner and we still haven’t finished up our shopping. If you haven’t wrapped up your shopping yet, there’s no need to fret. Your friends at Better Life Central are here to save the day with last minute Christmas ideas that everyone on your list is sure to love. Give a gift uniquely Oklahoma from The Black Scintilla, Plenty Mercantile or Exhibit C.

Are you looking for a one-stop experience to gather all of today’s trendy must-have gifts? You are sure to find it at one of OKC’s malls including the OKC Outlets, Quail Springs Mall, Penn Square Mall, or perhaps peruse the various rotating offerings at the Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown. And gift certificates to some of OKC’s coolest destinations are sure to make anyone on your list shout with glee. From high-flying fun and whitewater adventures to a day of golf, your gift list will be complete in no time flat.

If you want more great shopping ideas be sure to visit the shopping section of our website.

With another Black Friday in the books, that means it is officially shopping season. If parking lot fighting is not your thing, or if you are looking for a gift on the unique side, why not do some pop-up shopping?

The Holiday Pop-Up Shops are back in Midtown, featuring a weekly rotating schedule of local vendors. The pop-ups are open now and will run through December 13.

Are you looking for the right piece of furniture or artwork to accent your living room? Do you like to shop small and support local business? If any of these descriptions fit you, head on over to An Affair of the Heart, October 20 - 22 at the State Fair Park!

This unique shopping experience will feature booths filled with a wide variety of arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles, furniture, decorative items, accessories, jewelry, clothing, gourmet foods and more. There will be something for everyone in this marketplace. Affair of the Heart is recognized as one of the largest arts and crafts shows in the United States.

Entrance into this ultimate shopping experience will be $8 for adults but is free for kids ages 12 and under. Tickets are currently on sale, so buy yours today!

When you hear the word ‘Western,’ the image that comes to mind may be that of an old black and white, gun toting, horseback riding western film. Or, if you’re an OKCitian who knows their way around, you probably imagine food, retail and a fun-filled day in a certain section of town.

Ranging from contemporary to classic, the Western Avenue district has a little something for everyone. Classen Curve, located at the northern edge of the Western Avenue district, contains some of OKC’s most fashionable shops, including national retailers like Lululemon Athletica, Anthropologie, Cos Bar, Kendra Scott and West Elm. If local retail is more your style, Balliets, Bebe’s, CK & Co., On a Whim, Red Coyote Running and Fitness and Liberté are a few great options. The momentum at Classen Curve is not slowing down as retailers like Athleta, Bassett Furniture and Francesca’s have stores opening soon.

Foodies will also take heart in the number of restaurant options throughout the district, from upscale options like West to fast-casual concepts like All About Cha, The Wedge, Sushi Neko, Musashi’s, The Drum Room, Tucker’s Onion Burgers, and Café 501. There’s plenty to see and do on Western Avenue, so go out and explore all there is to offer like you’re John Wayne on horseback riding feverishly into the Oklahoma sunset.

One of the most disheartening parts about wanting to cook something new is not being able to find the ingredients you need at your typical go-to grocery store.

Thankfully, Oklahoma City has a plethora of options outside of your standard grocery stores. Whether you’re going organic or looking for more ethnic flavors, the metro has a place nearby that has exactly what you’re looking for.

The hardest part would be finding where these places actually are; that is, if we didn’t make things a little easier for you first. Take a look at our specialty grocery store page on our website. Do you notice any stores missing from our list that people have to know about? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.

As the 4-0-5 has grown over the past decade, so has Oklahoma City’s retail scene. We don’t know about you, but one of the things we love about OKC is the absolute perfect mix of national retailers and eclectic locally-owned boutiques.

The last few years has seen major national retailers like Trader Joe’s, H&M, Cabela’s and TopGolf (just to name a few) plant their flag in OKC.

One booming area might be something to hang your hat on in some cities, but not in OKC. Call us overachievers, but we revel in the fact that each and every area of our city is thriving with new developments. Every corner of our city has something to brag about when it comes to retail development.

We would be amiss not to give kudos to the different districts in the heart of OKC. Each district has its own flair and showcases fun and funky boutiques as well as world-class restaurants. Get more information on each of our district here.

Oklahoma City is also lucky to have some of the biggest and fastest growing retailers in the country headquartered in our city. Names like Sonic, Hobby Lobby, Orange Leaf, Braum’s, Love’s and Mathis Brothers are just a sample of those who have taken their local success nationwide.

What makes OKC a prime place for retailers? It is actually pretty simple. When you combine a low unemployment rate with a low cost living, people simple have more buying power. Retailers love OKC and we, of course, love the steady stream of new shopping and dining options.

Whether you just like to keep up with the latest retail headlines or you need some handy tools to open up your own shop of restaurant, visit okcretail.com. It is a website dedicated to helping the world know about how easy it is to find retail success in OKC. Scout for locations, pull demographic reports, find out about permitting and even peruse property listings from the literally anywhere. You can also hear success stories from others who are proud to have a retail presence in OKC.

In OKC, we mean business – literally. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the city of Oklahoma City and a number of our other community partners are always looking for new ways to attract new businesses to our community. It is with this goal in mind that a group from OKC is heading west to Las Vegas next week for the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon conference. We’ll have an opportunity to tell more than 36,000 retailers, business owners and developers how great OKC is in a mere three days.

Why is bringing new retail to OKC important? In short, retail is what makes our city go. Sales taxes in Oklahoma City fund the city’s core services and day-to-day operations. That’s important stuff like police, fire, street maintenance, the Zoo, parks, etc. While property taxes can be used to fund voter-approved bond issues for specific capital projects, Oklahoma law actually prohibits cities from levying property taxes for services. So shop till you drop – not only will enjoy finding great deals on fabulous items, but you’ll be helping keep our city great.

Tammy Fate is the manager of retail development and recruitment for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

Why is retail important?

Retail is the lifeblood to our community that ultimately funds critical services like: police, fire, public safety and enhances our quality of life. That means every dollar you spend in OKC keeps our city going. Beyond that, retail helps give areas a sense of place. Whether it is local or national retailers, places like the Plaza, Bricktown, Western Avenue, Uptown 23, Midtown, Penn Square or the Memorial corridor, creating an experience and gathering spot is a way to keep retail alive and vibrant.

What makes Oklahoma City attractive to national retailers?

National retailers are really number driven. Average household income, number of people within a given area, traffic counts and commuter patterns are crucial to identify the perfect site. Competition is another factor that weighs in on decision making. Retailers are attracted to a city with a positive population growth and a vibrant and affordable quality of life. Having a healthy downtown core resonates throughout the city and makes Oklahoma City an attractive market.

What is Oklahoma City’s strategy in recruiting retail?

Attracting new-to-market, destination retailers and working with developers to create experienced based retail options in our community. Given the size of Oklahoma City, grocery stores continue to be an important component in developing outlying areas in our city. In addition to recruiting new, we work with existing retailers to provide research, data and a variety of tools to help grow and identity opportunities in our market.

How does local retail fit in the picture?

Local retail is extremely, extremely important to us. So much of our local identity is defined by our unique/one of kind local restaurants and boutique shops. We are thrilled every time we can recruit a Trader Joe’s or Cabela’s to the metro. However, lots of cities have Trader Joe’s. Concepts like Big Truck Tacos, Kitchen No. 324, Plenty Mercantile and Black Scintilla help create the fabric in our community that people identify OKC with when they visit our market. It’s a part of our DNA. It takes a healthy mix of local and national retailers to cultivate a city and provide a variety of diverse offerings to you as the consumer.

Save

Whether you’re just visiting Oklahoma City or you’re a long-time resident, the Visitor’s Guide is a great resource to learn the ins and outs of OKC. Published and updated twice each year, the Visitor’s guide can give you ideas for dining, shopping and recreation with a map to help get you where you need to go. The Oklahoma City Visitors Guide is available in magazine version by request or as a digital version online.

Save

Save

Save

Save

We are four shopping days away from Christmas! If you haven’t wrapped up your shopping yet, there’s no need to fret. Your friends at Better Life Central are here to save the day with last-minute Christmas ideas that everyone on your list is sure to love. Give a gift uniquely Oklahoman from Red Dirt Emporium, Plenty Mercantile or Exhibit C.

Are you looking for a one-stop experience to gather all of today’s trendy must-have gifts? You are sure to find it at one of OKC’s retail mechas including the Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City, Quail Springs Mall, Penn Square Mall, the Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown or the Winter Shoppes at the Myriad Gardens. And gift certificates to some of OKC’s coolest destinations are sure to make anyone on your list shout with glee. From high-flying fun and whitewater adventures to massages or a day of golf, your gift list will be complete in no time flat.

The holiday season is in full swing and whether you are a long-time OKCer who is looking to entertain guests or a visitor checking out the city for the first time, OKC has plenty of shopping, holiday lights, museums, events and activities to keep everyone bustling.

There’s no better place to get in the holiday spirit than Oklahoma City. Here are a few of our favorite ways to introduce OKC.

• Take a Water Taxi Along the Bricktown Canal: Enjoy the lights, sights, and sounds and get a quick introduction to Bricktown during a water taxi ride this holiday season.  Free rides are offered on designated days in November and December. Nearby in Deep Deuce, Legends Night will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 17 and will bring some of the best jazz musicians in OKC back to Downtown in December.
• Gaze at 55 Feet of Beauty: 2,400 individually hand-blown glass pieces make up the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s 55-foot Chihuly Tower, making it one of the tallest Chihuly structures in the world. In fact, Oklahoma City Museum of Art is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly glass sculptures in the world.  Art lovers will also enjoy the eclectic exhibits at 21c Hotel and Museum in OKC’s Film Row district.
• Take a stroll through the gardens: During the holidays, the Myriad Botanical Gardens is a favorite destination among locals and visitors as they enjoy the Devon Ice Rink, Winter Shoppes and the holiday carousel. The Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory offers a beautiful balmy oasis featuring more than 750 varieties of plant life in two distinct climates: a tropical wet zone at the south end and a tropical dry zone at the north end.
• Explore our history. Step back in time at the National Cowboys and Western Heritage Museum and discover the American West through one-of-a-kind exhibits, artwork and artifacts or check out the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum to learn about the day that changed our city forever.

Of course, this is just a small sampling of the fun going on here in OKC. There are so many festivals, games and activities happening in various districts, you’re sure to find an activity to appease any guest. Our friends at Visit OKC offer a plethora of ideas on how to get out and experience OKC. Learn more at visitokc.com.

As your social media feeds fill up with stories of camping out in parking lots, fistfights and stampedes just for dubious deals on soon-to-be-obsolete electronics, stay nice and smug snug as you shop locally and without fear of getting hit over the head for that last flatscreen at some of the pop-up shopping opportunities around downtown.

Deluxe Winter Market – Nov. 26 and 27, Leadership Square

Holiday Pop-up Shops at Midtown – Nov. 25 – Dec. 22 (weekly Thursday – Sunday), NW 10th and Hudson

Winter Shoppes at Myriad Botanical Gardens – Nov. 25 – Dec. 18 (weekly Thursday – Sunday), North Plaza of MBG by the Great Lawn (look for the carousel!)

Save

Ranging from contemporary to classic, the Western Avenue district has a little something for everyone. From local dives on Western Avenue to the chic shops along Classen Curve, this district has you covered for shopping and eating.

Classen Curve, located at the northern edge of the Western Avenue district, contains some of OKC’s most fashionable shops. National retailers lululemon athletica, Anthropologie and West Elm call the stretch of Western between Northwest Grand and Classen boulevards home. If local retail therapy is more your style, Balliets, On a Whim and Liberté provide good options. This area is also known as a destination for curated treasure hunting in its many antique shops. Guestroom Records is ideal for audiophiles, offering new and old vinyl albums for your listening pleasure.

Foodies will also rejoice at the restaurant options dotting the district, including upscale options like West, fast-casual concepts like All About Cha, Tucker’s Onion Burgers and Café 501, and local favorites like The Drum Room, The Drunken Fry and The Sandwich Club. There are plenty more ways to experience all that Western Avenue has to offer, so get out and explore!

The last few years have had us buzzing about all the new retailers who are making their way to OKC. And there seems to no signs of a slowdown in our future. We don’t know about you, but one of the things we love about OKC is the absolute perfect mix of national retailers and eclectic locally-owned boutiques.

Following the successful openings of H&M in Quail Springs Mall (which we hear was the largest opening in the Midwest by the way) to Cabela’s, TopGolf and iFly, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for our city.

One booming area might be something to hang your hat on in some cities, but not in OKC. Call us overachievers, but we revel in the fact that each and every area of our city is thriving with new developments. From the ever-growing list of tenants at the Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City and Westgate Marketplace to the continued success and vibrancy at Penn Square Mall, most retailers agree that OKC is where they want to be. We can’t wait to see what the future holds as The Market at Czech Hall near Yukon opens this year with a slate of top-notch tenants.

We would be amiss not to give kudos to the different districts in the heart of OKC. Each district has its own flair and showcases fun and funky boutiques as well as world-class restaurants. Get more information on each of our district here.

In OKC, we mean business – literally. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the city of Oklahoma City and a number of the other community partners are always looking for new ways to attract new businesses to our community. It is with this goal in mind that a group from OKC is heading west to Las Vegas next week for the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon conference. We’ll have an opportunity to tell more than 36,000 retailers, business owners and developers how great OKC is in a mere three days.   

Why is bringing new retail to OKC important? In short, retail is what makes our city go. Sales taxes in Oklahoma City fund the city’s core services and day-to-day operations. That’s important stuff like police, fire, street maintenance, the Zoo, parks, etc. While property taxes can be used to fund voter-approved bond issues for specific capital projects, Oklahoma law actually prohibits cities from levying property taxes for services. So shop till you drop – not only will enjoy finding great deals on fabulous items, but you’ll be helping keep our city great.