Historic Crystal City shopping center to be auctioned

TULSA - A historic shopping center will soon be up for grabs.

Crystal City shopping center will be auctioned next week. Originally an amusement park, Crystal City became a thriving shopping center more than 50 years ago.

Today, only a handful of businesses remain. Most store fronts sit empty and many are boarded up.

Rich Leible owns Good Guys Gun & Pawn, and opened it at Crystal City two and a half years ago.

He has heard plenty of stories about the old days.

"This side of town was the place to be 30 years ago on a Friday or Saturday night," he said.

Leible hopes whoever purchases the shopping center will revitalize it, making it more attractive for businesses.

Tulsa city councilor Jeannie Cue is a passionate supporter of Crystal City.

Cue has been looking for investors who would be interested in purchasing the shopping center for revitalization.

"When people come to Tulsa, we want them to enjoy Route 66, have restaurants to go to, places to shop and there's no better place than Crystal City," said Cue.

Cue said another important reason she wants to see the property redeveloped is because there are no grocery stores in the area.

The auction takes place Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m. and will be held at Crystal City, located at 42nd & Southwest Blvd.

For more information about the auction, visit Williams & Williams auction company website or call 918-250-2012.