Sooner Mall — Local services in Norman

I recently moved back to Norman, after retiring from the Arizona Department of Education as an Education Specialist. I lived in Arizona for almost twenty years. Being an identifiable Native American male, twenty yeas ago in Oklahoma, I was used to having store clerks having a tendency to follow me around the store, just to ensure that I had prompt service I'm sure. I was sure that things had changed when I moved back. My wife and I went to Dillards in the Sooner Mall, she was wanting to purchase some perfume. As I waited for her I decided to get some cuff links and a tie clip. After making my selection, I was waiting for my wife (she had the money, of course, LoL). I was approached by a security guard who asked if I needed any assistance. I replied that I was waiting for my wife so I could make my purchase. He walked over to a counter and proceeded to stand there, watching me. As he stood there, waiting and watching, I began to feel more and more uncomfortable. When my wife had made her purchase and found me, she could tell I was really upset. When the security guard saw my wife, he walked away. My wife paid for my items, after telling me to go outside and calm down. She then complained to the store manager, who said that she would talk to the security guard. Maybe I was oversensitive and over-reacted, but I never felt like this in Scottsdale AZ, it was only after I had moved back to Oklahoma that I had this type of experience. I do apologize for the length...

This mall is easy to get used to, thanks to its design of like four hallways meeting in a center. There used to be a large fountain in the center, but they sadly tore it down and replaced it with a coffee shop. The coffee shop is nice with a playable video game and two movies playing on screens on the side of it for customers to enjoy. Most people who work at the mall seem like really nice people who seem to be going through life just fine. I do regret that they put the coffee shop there, but I understand that things do have to move on. There is a makeup kiosk with a lady that is extremely difficult. She would not leave me and my girlfriend be until we bought one of the products she was selling. I would not recommend her to anyone. My mother says she works there about every christmas season. The food is limited but with variety, with a chinese place, mexican place, a subway, and an italian place. There is also a place called "boba tea" that opened up that I enjoy. All things put aside, the mall is great, but I do wish that the new "disposable charger" kiosks actually dispensed chargers that worked. My sister bought one for $4.99 and she couldn't get her phone to charge, even with her phone case taken out. I had to take the phone case out of mine to charge my phone with another one that I bought.

Pros: good food good people nice atmosphere

cons: prices are pricey cleanliness = 7/10 ( kinda sketchy bathrooms) needs at least a movie theater to be...

New Fashion Mall — The Sanctuary We’ve Been Waiting For

This ain’t just a mall — it’s a miracle. Jordans for $60 and everybody’s still making money? That’s not a sale, that’s a system that works. Every shop, every kiosk, every vendor is thriving — not because they’re gouging, but because they’re part of something real. No scams, no flexing. Just value, all day long.

This mall is for the people — every shade, every story, every budget. You walk in and it just feels different. The energy? Clean. The deals? Unreal. The vibe? Home.

Parents ain’t stressing about back-to-school. Teens ain’t stuck outside window-shopping. The food court’s full, the sneakers are fresh, the prices make sense. And somehow, everyone’s winning.

⸻

Let’s Pretend…

Let’s pretend every mall in America looked like this. Let’s pretend nobody had to pick between rent and new kicks. Let’s pretend local brands stood next to Nike and both got love. Let’s pretend this was normal — not rare.

Let’s pretend the AC was always cold, the Wi-Fi always free, the bathrooms always clean. Let’s pretend security treated people like humans, not suspects. Let’s pretend this was sacred ground — a place where culture, hustle, and family come together.

Let’s pretend the New Fashion Mall was the blueprint.

Now stop pretending.

This is it. The sanctuary is real. And it’s...