The Fargo, North Dakota-based retailer plans to invest approximately $132 million in a destination sporting goods store in the Woodland Hills Mall.
Scheels, which counts an aquarium, arcade games and an indoor Ferris wheel among its attractions, intends to tear down the mall’s former Sears location and build a 250,000-square-foot store that could open by the fall of 2024, according to a senior official. Vice President Casey Stowe said. Financial and real estate management for PartnerTulsa, the city’s economic development organization.
“This is a huge investment,” says Stowe. “We think it will not only lift the mall, but the entire retail corridor with the traffic it drives.
The company plans to hire 450 to 500 people, 40% of whom will be full-time, Stowe said. Mall owner Simon His Property Group is a key partner in the project, which is contingent on incentives that must be approved by the Tulsa City Council.
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The city council on Wednesday is expected to consider a resolution declaring its intention to consider approving the project plan and creating a new sales tax increase financing district. The resolution begins creating a legal framework that will allow the city to collect a portion of the sales tax generated by the company for economic development.
“This is an incredible win for Tulsa, and I am extremely excited that Seals, a store like no other, will be coming to our city,” said Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum in a statement. said in “Given the jobs this creates and the people that visit our city from across the region because of Shields, this is an incredible testament to the teamwork that went into making this happen.
“I would like to thank PartnerTulsa for helping Scheel find ways to expand their business into our state. We would like to thank Simon Property Group for their tenacity in ensuring that Tulsa and the 71st and Memorial Areas.
Employee-owned Scheels offers a retail selection of hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, biking, men’s and women’s fashion, and team sports. Brands we carry include Nike, Under Armor, Yeti, and Trager. The Tulsa store will be the company’s first in Oklahoma and his 34th nationwide.
Councilor Lori Decter Wright, who represents the district that includes the Woodland Hills Mall, said: “They want to go to Oklahoma and we are thrilled they chose Tulsa as their first store.
“…it would be a great revitalizer for that corridor. and this will be the next revitalization of the field.”
Sears was one of Woodland Hills’ anchor stores when the mall opened in 1976. Sears closed the location after filing for bankruptcy in late 2018. The site’s current occupant, Overstock Furniture & Mattress, is showing signs of closing.
The proposed store will be adjacent to District 8, where Phil Lakin serves on the City Council.
“Scheels is a groundbreaking addition to Tulsa’s largest sales tax corridor,” he said by phone. “Financially, this investment will bring in substantial revenues to support public safety and repair roads. Equally important is the unique experience Scheels will bring to the region, Continued reinvestment is needed so that the entire population wants to shop, eat and just have fun.”
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