TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Promenade Mall informed its few remaining tenants of their intentions to close the mall permanently on Sept. 17.
Anchor businesses like Genesis Gym, Dillards, CREOKS, TruHealth, Extra Space Storage, and Oilers Ice Center at Promenade are not included in the stores that have to vacate.
Tulsa Fire Department confirmed to 2 News Thursday morning a fire marshal issued citations recently and told Promenade Mall management to improve its fire suppression system and keep it up to fire code. If taken care of, the mall could stay open.
TFD said the mall informed them it had chosen to shut down.
Some tenants received this letter on Sept. 11, but some not until Sept. 12, giving less than a week to move their businesses out of the mall.
The letter says management will reach out to each retailer to work through the lease agreement and create a schedule to remove inventory. There are roughly 20 businesses left in the mall.
Bridal Rentals and MoreOwner Brenda Hughes told 2 News she and other tenants have been scrambling since being notified.
"And with kind of business I do, I've got brides depending on me. I've got homecoming girls depending on me," Hughes said. "What are they going to do if they don't have their dress?"
The abrupt order to leave also impacts the non-profit Against Global Hunger, which is based inside the mall.
"We have felt the effects of no heat and air, no elevators or escalators and the decline of visitors with no repairs being done. We talked about it with management on several occasions and always hoped the owners would decide this building was worth saving," Executive Director Letitia Williams told 2 News in a statement Thursday afternoon.
The letter comes as no surprise to Karen Gilbert, who heads Tulsa Crime Stoppers.
Its main office was in Promenade for almost a decade until a pipe burst last December. Gilbert said that was the final straw, and the organization moved out June 30.
"Water damage in the walls seeped into our circuit breaker panel that just about caught on fire," Gilbert said.
"And after reaching out to management saying, 'Are you going to help us clean this up, or at least compensate us if we have to clean it up?' No. They said no."
Hughes said she knew the closing was coming but is trying to look on the bright side.
"As you can tell I'm trying to get things ready. Business hasn't stopped for me," Hughes said. "I mean, we've got people still coming in looking for dresses. I've still got to make money."
2 News spoke to managers at Bridal Rental and More, Abby's Jewelry, Against Global Hunger, and Hibbett Sports, all of which said they will move to a temporary or new permanent location.
The mall was built in 1965, but it wasn't until 1986 that it was rebuilt into the indoor mall we see today.
At almost 1,000,000 square feet, the mall was once a prominent shopping center in the middle of Tulsa.
Slowly throughout the years, due to mall popularity going down and online shopping becoming more common, the mall became less frequented and stores trickled out.
In Aug. 2017, an EF-2 tornado caused light roof and structural damage.
In 2019, missed mortgage payments and long term maintenance issues, the mall went into receivership.
In 2020 JCPenney shut down its department store that anchored the mall.
Promenade is owned by New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group and has a reputation for failing to improve the malls it buys.
Bartlesville's Washington Park Mall is also owned by Kohan.
2 News called its CEO's office and corporate office multiple times for comment Thursday, but have yet to hear back.
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