Penn Square Mall
A two-level regional shopping mall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, managed and majority-owned by Simon Property Group.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Penn Square Mall is a regional shopping center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Northwest Expressway near Interstate 44. The property began operating in 1960 as an open-air shopping center measuring approximately 582,000 square feet. Its original anchor tenants included John A. Brown and Montgomery Ward, while the center also attracted specialty and department-store retailers such as Al Rosenthal's Park Avenue, which later changed identities through successive ownership and rebrandings. The center was enclosed in 1982 as Oklahoma City's retail environment became more competitive and enclosed regional malls gained importance. A major redevelopment followed in 1988, adding a second level, a food court, and a multistory parking structure. The work reportedly represented an investment of approximately $100 million. Additional expansion occurred in 1995 with a new JCPenney location, followed by another renovation in 2000. These changes transformed the property from a traditional open-air center into a large, multi-anchor enclosed mall. Penn Square's department-store lineup changed repeatedly over the following decades. John A. Brown was acquired by Dillard's in 1984. After Montgomery Ward closed, Dillard's opened a second location in the former Montgomery Ward space in 2001, creating the mall's two-store Dillard's presence. Foley's, which had been part of the 1988 expansion, became Macy's in 2006. The current anchor roster includes two Dillard's stores, JCPenney, Macy's, and AMC Theatres. The wider retail complex also developed through adjacent projects. Belle Isle Station opened beside the mall in 2000 with tenants including Walmart, Old Navy, Linens 'n Things, Babies R Us, Shoe Carnival, and Ross Dress for Less. After Linens 'n Things left during the late-2000s retail bankruptcies, Nordstrom Rack opened in that space in 2013. The former Babies R Us location was later replaced by REI and Five Below after the Toys R Us bankruptcy and associated store closures. Standalone additions included The Cheesecake Factory in 2006 and The Container Store in 2018. The mall contains approximately 1.08 million square feet across two levels and more than 140 interior retailers. Its tenant mix combines department stores, fashion, beauty, specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment, and service-oriented uses. Listed retailers have included Apple, Coach, J.Crew, Sephora, Pandora, Alo Yoga, L'Occitane, Tillys, and White House Black Market. In 2018, the property was reported to have generated sales exceeding $700 per square foot, indicating a strong sales performance relative to many conventional shopping centers. Simon Property Group manages the mall and holds the majority ownership interest. The property remains an active regional retail destination rather than a standalone consumer-products brand.
History
Penn Square Mall began in 1960 as an open-air shopping center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The original property covered approximately 582,000 square feet and was anchored by John A. Brown and Montgomery Ward. Its early tenant roster also included Al Rosenthal's Park Avenue, a higher-end junior department store. That operation later changed identity: the two-store chain was rebranded as Gus Mayer in 1969 after a change in ownership, and the location became a branch of Kansas City-based Harzfeld's in 1974. Harzfeld's closed the store in 1984. The competitive environment changed as enclosed regional malls opened elsewhere in the Oklahoma City area. In response, Penn Square Mall was enclosed in 1982. The property then underwent a major redevelopment in 1988, adding a second level, a food court, and a multistory parking structure. The reported cost of that project was $100 million. A further expansion in 1995 added a new JCPenney store, and the mall received another renovation in 2000. Department-store changes shaped the property's later configuration. John A. Brown was sold to Dillard's in 1984. Montgomery Ward eventually closed, and Dillard's occupied the vacated space with a second store in 2001. Foley's, associated with the mall's 1988 expansion, was converted to Macy's in 2006. These changes left the property with two Dillard's locations, JCPenney, Macy's, and AMC Theatres as its principal anchors. Adjacent development broadened the destination beyond the enclosed mall itself. Belle Isle Station opened next door in 2000 with a mix of large-format and specialty retailers, including Walmart Supercenter, Old Navy, Linens 'n Things, Babies R Us, Shoe Carnival, and Ross Dress for Less. Linens 'n Things departed during the retail difficulties of the late 2000s, and Nordstrom Rack opened in that space in 2013. Babies R Us closed after the Toys R Us bankruptcy in 2018; REI and Five Below later replaced it. The Cheesecake Factory opened outside the mall in 2006, while The Container Store opened in the parking lot in 2018. Today, Penn Square Mall is a two-story regional shopping center of approximately 1,083,937 square feet. It has more than 140 interior stores and combines department stores, fashion, beauty, specialty retail, dining, and entertainment. Its listed tenants include Apple, Coach, Alo Yoga, Express, J.Crew, J.Jill, L'Occitane, Pandora, Sephora, Tillys, and White House Black Market. Simon Property Group manages the property and owns a 94.5% interest. In 2018, the mall was reported to have achieved sales of more than $700 per square foot. The mall remains an active Oklahoma City retail destination.
- 2019
REI and Five Below replace Babies R Us
[1]The former Babies R Us space is replaced by REI and Five Below after the Toys R Us bankruptcy-related closure.
- 2018
The Container Store opens
[1]The Container Store opens in the mall's parking area. The property is also reported to have generated sales above $700 per square foot during the year.
- 2013
Nordstrom Rack opens nearby
[1]Nordstrom Rack opens in the former Linens 'n Things space at Belle Isle Station.
- 2006
Foley's converts to Macy's
[1]The Foley's store associated with the mall is converted to Macy's.
- 2001
Second Dillard's store opens
[1]Dillard's occupies the former Montgomery Ward space, giving the mall two Dillard's locations.
- 2000
Mall renovation and Belle Isle Station opening
[1]Penn Square receives another renovation, while the adjacent Belle Isle Station retail development opens.
- 1995
New JCPenney location opens
[1]The mall expands with a new JCPenney store.
- 1988
Second level and food court are added
[1]A major redevelopment adds a second story, food court, and multistory parking structure.
- 1984
John A. Brown becomes part of Dillard's
[1]Dillard's acquires the John A. Brown operation, changing one of the mall's original anchor identities.
- 1982
Mall is enclosed
[1]The original open-air center is enclosed as the property responds to the growth of competing regional malls.
Products and positioning
A large, established regional enclosed mall serving Oklahoma City and surrounding communities through a department-store anchor base, national specialty retailers, dining, and entertainment.
Anchor retail
Department-store retail
Penn Square Mall's anchor offer is built around two Dillard's stores, JCPenney, and Macy's. These stores provide broad merchandise categories such as apparel, accessories, cosmetics, home goods, and seasonal products, and give the center the scale and draw associated with a conventional regional mall.
Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stores
Specialty retail
The mall's specialty-retail mix includes national and international fashion, accessories, beauty, jewelry, and lifestyle brands. Listed examples include Apple, Coach, Alo Yoga, Express, J.Crew, J.Jill, L'Occitane, Pandora, Sephora, Tillys, and White House Black Market.
Entertainment
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres serves as the property's entertainment anchor, complementing the retail mix with cinema programming and helping position the mall as a combined shopping and leisure destination.
Food and beverage · 1988
Dining and food-court services
Dining is provided through the mall food court and restaurants associated with the surrounding complex. The Cheesecake Factory opened outside the mall in 2006, adding a prominent full-service restaurant to the destination.
Brand decisions
2001
Expand Dillard's presenceStrategyBackground
Montgomery Ward vacated one of the mall's anchor spaces.
Action taken
Dillard's opened a second store in the former Montgomery Ward location.
Aftermath
The move created two separate Dillard's anchors at Penn Square Mall.
1988
Undertake major expansion and renovationStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall required additional capacity and amenities to strengthen its regional shopping-center role.
Action taken
A second level, food court, and multistory parking structure were added in a reported approximately $100 million redevelopment.
Aftermath
The project substantially increased the mall's scale and supported its later multi-anchor format.
Reported redevelopment cost. $100 million (1988)
1982
Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The original outdoor shopping center faced a market in which enclosed regional malls were becoming important competitors and destinations.
Action taken
Penn Square was enclosed, establishing the basic format of the present two-level regional mall.
Aftermath
The conversion enabled later redevelopment, including the addition of a second level, food court, and structured parking in 1988.
Sources2 sources
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