I decided to put this here because our other Pops thread got derailed.

I went today.. bad choice in timing. Labor Day Weekend - Sunday - 11:30am.. along with half of the state of OK - they must have all gotten out of church at the same time!


We waited 1.5 hours for a table ( why? I'll never know and never do again).

It's sort of a novel idea for the first 5 minutes.. ( looking at Pop, buying 4 @ $1.99 each and then sitting outside with the flies for the next Hour and 25 minutes waiting for one of only 5 or 6 tables that actually hold 4 people. It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't something I'd ever recommend.

The bathrooms were so tiny and packed that you couldn't open the door without hitting someone or getting hit yourself. They were out of seat covers, and the trash bins were overflowing.. expected yes, the place was packed. Still.....

It appears that to offset some of the crowds, they have set up a separate tent outside serving burgers, hotdogs with drinks and chips for $5 - in retrospect, we should have just done that. We didn't want to eat in a tent in the heat but we ended up sitting on the patio waiting for a table anyway.

The food was okay, I had a half pound mushroom burger which was good but at that point, I was so hungry, I would have eaten cardboard and thought it tasted good.

The fries seemed homemade.. tasted good, a little chilled for my taste. I like my food piping hot. It wasn't. We saw workers carrying cartons of what looked like cole slaw so don't go expecting homemade slaw.

The shakes were good but we felt so guilty sitting there waiting for the shakes ( took at least another 15 min to get them after we finished lunch) taking up the booth table with so many people waiting to eat, some of the enjoyment was lost because we grabbed the shakes and bolted out of there.

Overall, for a price of nearly $50 for burgers and shakes and an hour and a half wait, the metal pop bottle sculpture was not worth it at all to me.

I might go back after the dust settles and the crowds dissipate... the kinks are worked out and they add another outdoor ( screened in room) for additional dining and fly control.

Usually, I'm pretty excited about new businesses and really want them to succeed, but I have to say I was really disappointed in the whole experience.

At least you got shakes! When we went, they were OUT of ice cream!!!!

NO!!!!!

After all of that ... I would have died!

(lol.. they thought they had a fly problem before! ha,ha)

I actually went there last night. We arrived about 30 min. before the sun went down, so we were able to see it in the daytime and watch it light up as the sky got darker.

Had a 10 min. wait for a couple of seats at the counter. Fun place to sit. I ordered a burger, fries and sweet tea and my wife ordered a cherry coke and quesadilla with a cup of chicken noodle soup.

They gave us our drinks promptly. The sweet tea was nothing to write home about (no McAlisters') but hey...the name of the place is POPS, not Sweet Tea's. The cherry Coke was...cherry Coke. Had to wait awhile for our food...apparently there are still somes kinks being worked out...but the manager was super nice and gave us two free meals for next time we come in. My burger appeared to have been on a warmer for some time and was not exactly juicey. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on that...I can imagine when they settle down the burgers will be hot off the grill. The fries, however, we hot and delicious. My wife's quesadilla and soup were fantastic. We orded a peanut butter cup shake (on the house for the wait) that was probably the best shake I can remember.

POPS is great...but it is not designed for crowds, nor should it have been. This was discussed at great length in the other thread, but POPS is the way it is to stay true to the concept of a roadside c-store and diner. Once the novelty has worn off, the crowds die down, and the kinks are worked out, POPS will be a fantastic place to visit. Give it time.

The sad thing is, this just goes to show how starved the people of OKC are for the unique and different. If a Circle K with a Subway opend down the street, whoop-de-do. But when somebody puts a little more thought, money, and passion into an idea, look what happens...

I hope the success of POPS is a lesson to all developers.

The sad thing is, this just goes to show how starved the people of OKC are for the unique and different. & I hope the success of POPS is a lesson to all developers.

I think you hit the nail right on the head.

While I do love the concept, and I respect Rand Elliot and Aubrey Mclendon's vision, from a designer's standpoint POPS is ugly.

I know the cantilevered covering is supposed to represent the future, but seriously, nothing is tackier than exposed metal trusswork. I think design wise this place missed the mark. The place lacks color and imagination.

Maybe I'd feel better if they ever would have Orangina in stock.

There is an organic quality to the design, red rock emerging from red earth... a roof line rising and falling like the ridge of the hills in the distance... light streaming through walls of glass where people, more than pop bottles, provide the color in a spakling chrome and white interior. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the display of engineering prowess that is the cantilever roof. Over time, I've grown to appreciate its compatibility with the natural and road environments, seen in perspective after curving through Arcadia from the east and climbing over the hill that takes you into Edmond.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!! You can't be serious!

Yea...cover up that ugly truss with some EIFS.

Maybe if the color-changing pop bottle was a little bigger it would make it a cool place.

Pops was packed the day I visited. It is amazing to see a business take off with such a success. I think like any new venture there are small things to work out especially if you become an instant success the way Pops has. Knowing Aubrey they won't be out of ice cream many times and he will get control of the issues that customers find to be a problem.

It is a great asset to the community out there and hopefully we will others prosper in that area. Economic growth helps us all.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!! You can't be serious!

Yea...cover up that ugly truss with some EIFS.

Maybe if the color-changing pop bottle was a little bigger it would make it a cool place.

Andy Warhol photo, Andy Rooney sensibilities... we'll put you down as a "no" for appreciating modern architecture and its simplied form. Taste is personal - and your comments make that certain.

I agree with Bob - should the designers have made the pop bottle twirl around and spew soda into the air for entertainment? Now that thar would be some dang good de-zine!

Andy Warhol photo, Andy Rooney sensibilities... we'll put you down as a "no" for appreciating modern architecture and its simplied form. Taste is personal - and your comments make that certain.

My comments were meant to be a sarcastic respose regarding an earlier post. Read more than the last two posts and you will see what I am refering to. Your comments would be more appropriate for another poster in this thread.

Not only do I appreciate modern architecture, I design it every day.

Andy Warhol photo, Andy Rooney sensibilities... we'll put you down as a "no" for appreciating modern architecture and its simplied form. Taste is personal - and your comments make that certain.


You said it exactly. "Modern" is not futuristic by any means. I agree with the concept and the cantilever design, but bare trussing is just so tacky. The one thing that POPS misses in its architecture is the most crucial; to be inviting.

I work in theme park design. We deal with human emotion on the forefront of design as that ultimately decides whether a person connects with a concept or not. One basic rule is if you have to do trussing, don't color it black or white. It sort of reminds people of oil rigs, cranes, and machinery. Not something you want in a hospitality based business. Some color would have gone a long way.

White can be futuristic, just not when used with un-futuristic materials and building methods.

I don't mean to offend anyone or start an argument. I just don't like the design, but maybe okies do... if so. Good. Right?

All in all it seems that POPS' design suffers from an identity crisis. It struggles to be hip, while maintaining the Oklahoma organic perspective, yet somehow tries to still fit with the Route 66 theme (which is where I think it failed the most). The end result didn't necessarily work. I can't see Route 66 fans clinging to something that has no connection to Route 66 nostalgia besides concept. I also can't see it being timeless by any means.

It is a matter of taste... some people like the look of offshore drilling rigs.....of the future! Keep in mind that "modern architecture" and "simple" is an oxymoron.

With all due respect, theme park design is a far cry from real architecture. That colors your perspective.

I don't know if the posting is still on this thread, but when Pops opened there were some Architecture students from New York visiting who were interviewed by a reporter from the Oklahoman. I remember how awestruck they were by the architectural design of the structure. And apparently it is quite inviting due to the masses of people from all over the world who have visited in the last few months.

The great thing about Pops is that it invites discussion and dialogue - whether you agree or not - on design. How many buildings in and around OKC can say that?

With all due respect, theme park design encompasses more than just architecture. You build pretty buildings. We build pretty buildings that become living, breathing spaces.

My double major was in architecture and theatrical set design, my masters in environmental design. I've worked on plenty of giant scale projects outside of theme design to know that I have some credibility. Don't judge me if you don't know my background.

I can have an opinion on what sucks and what doesn't.

"The great thing about Pops is that it invites discussion and dialogue - whether you agree or not - on design. How many buildings in and around OKC can say that?"

Now that I will agree with. It does invoke intrigue, which is good and something that is very lacking in OKC.

My comments were meant to be a sarcastic respose regarding an earlier post. Read more than the last two posts and you will see what I am refering to. Your comments would be more appropriate for another poster in this thread.

Not only do I appreciate modern architecture, I design it every day.

My apologies to you Cuatro! When your post follows mine and doesn't quote the "offending" statement, confusion is bound to occur. I did read all of the posts in the thread but I can't claim to know your full body of work that reveals you as the reincarnation of Bruce Goff or another organic architecture pioneer. Plus, I had just read your post "advocating" an urban Wal*Mart adjacent to the Bricktown Ballpark. LOL

"Sir, there is nothing by which a man exasperates most people more, than by displaying a superiour ability or brilliancy in conversation. They seem pleased at the time; but their envy makes them curse him in their hearts." [Boswell: Life of (Samuel) Johnson]

No problem! Sorry for the ambiguity.

Hey now. I'm not wanting one next to the brick...I am just saying a walmart is not a bad thing for an urban neighborhood.

http://www.okctalk.com/bricktown-wired/10160-200-million-development-bricktown-3.html#post113393

EDIT: Oh...and Bruce Goff is da pimp.

The quotations and LOL should say it all... I knew what you were trying to say on that other post - just thought it was a worthy tongue-in-cheek to muddy your reputation here. I'm guessing that you would give your right arm to move the Price Tower onto that strip of land before supporting a superstore (any flavor) crammed in vertically or horizontally. Utopian design would reflect the existing natural landscape, the surrounding architectural influences and, of course, the functional requirements. In that way, the only thing POPS lacks to fit in "perfectly" on Route 66 is time.

Well said.

But that is so ambiguous, you can easily apply that to many structures that we don't see fit. Wal-Mart, Target, etc.

Either way, who cares. It's a cool place and Oklahoma needs it.

I was just there a few hours ago. The food was great.

With how well POP's has gone over, I wouldn't be surprised to see a small chain of them along the 'Mother Road'. If it can attract this much attention here, I don't see why it wouldn't be able to go over just as well in a few locations between here and LA & Chicago.

I had the best omelet of my life at POPS - the Crosstimbers Italian. No kidding - I don't know if I just hit it right (time of day, cook or what?) but it was incredible. Only $6 and included home fries and toast. We've eaten there for 3 meals - a breakfast, lunch and dinner. The wait can get a bit long so go prepared for leisurely service - unintentionally European, in that way.

So true...

Last time I went it took so long that the manager gave us a free milkshake and free entrees next time we came in.

That's awesome... well not awesome that it took so long, but a free meal next time is sweet.

I think slow service seems the complaint of everyone. I went in a 3 with virtually nobody there and it still took forever.

The only bad thing I had there was the chicken fried steak. That was on opening day though when everything was a mess. I wonder if it has gotten better.

Nice Dallas Morning News article about this place ... Store near Oklahoma City boasts hundreds of varieties of soda pop | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Travel: Texas and Neighbors (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/texasneighbors/stories/DN-pops_1202tra.ART0.State.Edition1.470459f.html)

Great find Doug.

I went last week (first time since about a week after it opened). I was very pleased to see the coolers fully stocked (seems like the prices have gone up???). 15 minute wait for dinner (around 5:15) and the food was excellent. (The chicken pot pies were SO good).

We were in there a few weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised they now have the special Dr. Pepper now. (They didn't the first time I was there soon after opening)

We were in there a few weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised they now have the special Dr. Pepper now. (They didn't the first time I was there soon after opening)

Do they have Coke imported from Mexico with cane sugar instead of corn sweetner? MMMMMMMM............

Do they have Coke imported from Mexico with cane sugar instead of corn sweetner? MMMMMMMM............

They've had it before. Just depends on their current stock.

We ate there when it first opened up. It was during the summer and there were flies all over the place . The food was ok, but not as good as we had hoped. I'd go back and try it again sometime, but it wasn't worth the drive from the city. There are other places I would rather go.

That was the same for me. I went when they opened and was disgusted with the flies and empty shelves/lack of soda. The food was not good at all.

After giving them a few months, it seems they've improved a lot and my fiance and I eat there somewhat often.

Anyone else see this?

They were pushing a new book that covered all 50 states and had cheap things to do. POPS in Arcadia was the second place they mentioned. :)

Cool. Do you have a link to the broadcast or a YouTube?

see if this works - POPS is the second place mentioned about 1 minute 14 seconds into the feature. you can advance to that point

msnbc.com Video Player (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25260251#25260251)

It's not in the "middle of nowhere." Funny when our things make national news they never quite get it right. They could at least have mentioned that it's not far off I35. But I digress.

As I stare into my bottle of Route Beer (that's how it's spelled, I swear.) I'm going back later for the Round Barn variety of root beer that's made locally.

I have wanted to go out there for awhile. Maybe I'll take a lunch trip with a friend or my sister.

It's not in the "middle of nowhere." Funny when our things make national news they never quite get it right. They could at least have mentioned that it's not far off I35. But I digress.

As I stare into my bottle of Route Beer (that's how it's spelled, I swear.) I'm going back later for the Round Barn variety of root beer that's made locally.

Eh...its not exactly in the middle of "somewhere" either...

Middle of no where? sheesh..I can be there in 15 min.

Oh well, glad for the coverage anyway... pretty cool!

I didnt even know about this place

It's pretty cool.. of course, we went when it was new and a novelty and it was not a good experience as we had to wait what felt like Hours for food! ... but now, I'll bet it is all worked out, the service has improved and the novelty might have worn off... (but maybe not, with the new publicity).

Definitely worth a day trip to Arcadia.

I have been wanting to go out thre, does anybody know if they have crystal pepsi, I loved hat stuff as a kid, short lived but great.. it was clear pepsi, des anybody remember this?

Yea I was there a month or so ago an I remember seeing it.

I didnt even know about this place


Yea I was there a month or so ago an I remember seeing it.

Riiiiiiight

I was there last Friday and I don't remember seeing it. Pretty sure you'll never see Crystal Pepsi again. The wait problem seemed to be resolved, but as with any restaurant, it helps to go at the right time (i.e. early), and it helps to have a smaller group.

My cheeseburger was really good. I figure eventually I'll try every kind of root beer they carry. I didn't even know about the Red Barn brand until the local TV news carried a story about it. I'm rather partial to IBC, but I'm afraid to drink it while I'm driving just in case some overzealous cop sees me and decides to assert some authority. My front license plates could incite violence in the right circumstances.

does anybody know if they have crystal pepsi,


I was there last Friday and I don't remember seeing it. Pretty sure you'll never see Crystal Pepsi again.


i was told they rotate thier products. If you don't see it one day, that does not necessarily mean they don't carry it at some time.

To my knowledge, Crystal Pepsi has been off the market since 1993. I see where an unopened bottle sells for $30 on eBay.

I would consider even as an Oklahoman that particular location "middle of nowhere", at least metaphorically speaking. Undoubtedly to a New York perspective this is even more true.

I can't imagine the current fuel prices helped in the understandably "reasonable-to-fair" pricing of the sodas.

I guess "middle of nowhere" really does depend on your perspective. To me, "middle of nowhere" really means "miles and miles from anywhere" and Arcadia doesn't really fit that bill. Pops is only 10 minutes or so from my house, or at least, I think that's how I remember it, and I live right in the middle of Edmond. On the other hand, I suppose you're right, Pops is not exactly surrounded by urban sprawl. Yet.

I looked on pops web site and nope no crysal pepsi ;(

Okay, so they goofed on the whole "middle of nowhere" thing. But c'mon, people! Look on the bright side--Oklahoma was represented in a nice way!

Sorry - you make a good point. I had something really bad happen yesterday and I'm raining on your parade, bandnerd.

They could have easily said 'just north of Oklahoma city, 5 miles off of I-35'.

Middle of nowhere is a stretch.

They weren't very specific with anything. They said it was on Route 66, and that a lot of people go that way.

Buncha Debbie Downers today!

what i thought was funny is when he said OKLAHOMA and she threw her arms up like ... "i dunno"

If you haven't tried Pops for breakfast you are missing something. Also the milk shakes are way above average.

i was told they rotate thier products. If you don't see it one day, that does not necessarily mean they don't carry it at some time.

I think he was more or less talking about how this person said they've never been to it, then saying they had seen it in POPS a month ago.


To my knowledge, Crystal Pepsi has been off the market since 1993. I see where an unopened bottle sells for $30 on eBay.


Crystal Pepsi has been off the market for 15 years, I feel old, and i'm only 21.

But for those who want to petition Pepsi... Sign the Bring Back Crystal Pepsi Campaign Petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/clear/petition-sign.html?)

Also, remember other flavors, like Pepsi Spice or Pepsi Blue?

Pepsi blue sucked

Thank you for your review.

Thank you for your review.mmonroe you jumped the gun. Why? Because in his next post Wayne will tell you about the great taste of Pepsi Blue, and oh how he loved it.