Harps to Take on Tulsa

Harps Food Stores Inc., a grocery chain based in Springdale, Ark., plans to open a 37,000-square-foot location in the Garnett Plaza space during the first three months of 2009.

Jay Max Van Hoose, vice president of store planning at Harps, told the Tulsa World the new location was an easy choice since the company is growing and already has locations in smaller markets in northeast Oklahoma. Furthermore, he feels the immediate area is on the upswing.

“It's a good established neighborhood,” he said. “We think there's a little rebirth going on there.”

Arthur Thurman, president and CEO of Garnett Plaza owner Mathias Properties — also based in Springdale — said the company had been working to replace the anchor tenant ever since Albertsons left Oklahoma last year and shuttered the store.

The location, along with Albertsons sites at 1601 N. Peoria Ave. and 12912 E. 86th Street North in Owasso, were closed when Albertsons left. The latter two locations remain vacant.

Eight other stores were purchased by RPCS Inc. of Springfield, Mo., and rebranded as Food Pyramids, while the location at 15th Street and Lewis Avenue was purchased by Tahlequah-based Reasor's.

At Garnett Plaza, approximately 15,000 square feet of the former Albertsons store is now taken up by Drug Warehouse. Harps will fill the remainder.

Thurman said Garnett Plaza is now 84 percent occupied counting the Harps lease, and he is confident the new grocery will help him fill the rest.