Northwest Oklahoma City’s retail boom around Lake Hefner Parkway may be about to kick into another gear, as Crest Foods has filed plans for a large new supermarket just north of the sprawling Scheels development. The proposal is headed to the Oklahoma City Planning Commission next Thursday, where officials will weigh whether the grocer should anchor a fresh wave of shops clustering around the fast-rising sports and entertainment hub.
City documents describe a 105,643-square-foot Crest Foods store that would serve as the centerpiece for nearly 30 surrounding retail spaces, according to The Oklahoman. The filing lists Neeha Inc. and Kajal Inn Inc. as the property owners and places the supermarket site directly north of the Scheels project that is already under construction.
How it fits with Scheels
The Crest plan arrives as the Scheels complex, first announced last July as a 300,000-plus-square-foot, entertainment-focused destination for northwest OKC, keeps moving ahead, according to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “The Scheels store will likely cover between 250,000 and 300,000 square feet,” Kenton Tsoodle told The Oklahoman, a footprint that sets the stage for a regional draw and a built-in customer base for any neighboring retailers.
Tax revenue and jobs
The city has already approved an $8 million incentive package to help land the Scheels development, and local economic estimates suggest the project’s long-term sales tax contribution will land in the low millions each year, according to The Journal Record. City officials and developers say the full build out of the area, pairing Scheels with a major grocery anchor and a ring of additional retailers, could generate hundreds of jobs and encourage further capital improvements along the corridor.
What’s next
The Crest proposal is scheduled to go before the Oklahoma City Planning Commission at its regular meeting next Thursday, according to the City of Oklahoma City. If commissioners advance the application, the project will enter later rounds of permitting and detailed review, and residents will be able to weigh in during upcoming public hearings.
