Tulsans offered shopping alternatives

Saturday, November 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The rain added to the frustration for holiday shoppers Friday. 71st street has long been one of Tulsa's busiest retail areas. Many shoppers there Friday said along with the rain, their biggest headache was the traffic.

KOTVâ€™s Donn Robertson says businesses in other parts of Tulsa are trying to capitalize on their lack of such traffic tie-ups. Honking horns are a familiar sound this time of year near Woodland Hills Mall. At least one man avoided the traffic jam headache by taking his bike. "You can get around much quicker, you have to be careful though, it's not for everybody."

A handful of Tulsa businesses are trying to appeal to those who want a more relaxing drive. The Promenade Mall saw its busiest day-after-Thanksgiving ever. They've added about 30 new stores and spent $30-million in the last five years to draw in the crowds. Shoppers, like Reed Rohmiller, say the covered parking can seal the deal. "It makes all the difference in the world when it is raining cats and dogs out there."

New businesses across from the mall also help. Promenade Mall manager Mike Johnson says "you have a shopping district. You have a regional mall and a power strip center, it truly is a destination area over here now."

A few miles away near 21st and Yale, at the Centennial Plaza, the Sears store has a new look to go with the new restaurants, a new Gordman's, and a renovated Target.

Also nearby, is Utica Square, one of Tulsa's oldest and most exclusive shopping areas. Tulsa's third enclosed shopping center, the Eastland Mall is adding new stores to try to bring in more business.

And, south Tulsa has something new to offer, a new Kohl's that just opened its doors near 91st & Riverside. "This is the first time I have shopped the day after Thanksgiving and it really isn't bad, it's a lot of fun." Which brings us back to the traffic at Woodland Hills. Some say its just part of the holiday, part of getting to what "they" say is some of the best shopping in town.

So far, retailers are happy with Friday's turnout. Shoppers lured by deep discounts and extended hours, swamped stores nationwide. In many places, people lined up early for the best Christmas buys. Economists expect this year's Christmas spending to be up 3% to 4% over last year.