A shopping mall that had gone into decline in Oklahoma City is getting a facelift and is slated to be reopened as a "Hispanic cultural and commercial center" Crossroads Mall is now known as "Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads" and is counting on support from the Latino community to make the revitalized property a success.

The "cultural center" aspect of the equation seems to be the key element for the new concept.

"Instead of relying on big department stores as the driving force behind traffic, the establishment of a cultural center with weekly programming now becomes one of the first building blocks in bringing families back to the property," the development company said on the mall's Web site. "This is good news to many cultural and arts organizations constantly struggling to find ways to deliver these types of programs to an under-served population. It is also good news to the Hispanic community seeking opportunities to teach their children more about their cultural heritage. Pilot events since last August have already resulted in a positive response. Each event has produced an average of 2-3 thousand patrons."

Like many shopping centers in Mexico, this mall will feature a large space for numerous small vendors called "El Parian" which will be leased to up to 300 small businesses.

"It's not going to be like a flea market. Nothing can be used that's being sold in there - it has to be brand new," said Plaza Mayor Manager Kristi Cole in an interview with The Oklahoman during a recent tour of the facility. "We will build out some salons, and some restaurants will be built out inside what used to be the Dillard's space. That'll be on the first two levels.

She said there will also be space leased out for offices in the mall's third floor.

The project is being coordinated by Raptor Properties, which purchased the property in 2011, and The Legaspi Company, a commercial real estate development/brokerage company based in California.

The Legaspi Company is also responsible for the development of "La Gran Plaza" in Fort Worth, Texas, billed as the largest Hispanic-themed mall in the United States. This is the seventh Hispanic mall developed by the company which also includes properties in Georgia, Texas, Arizona and California.