Some chains aren't cheesy. Cheesecake Factory, a CHAIN, is not cheesy, well... it IS a Cheesecake Factory. :)...

I would say the exception to my prohibition of chains in Bricktown would
be Cheesecake Factory.....but I really don't think of that as a chain "yet"....
point is it would be unique enough at least that people in Norman, Edmond and
Yukon wouldn't have one in their backyard.....same can't be said for IHOP...
Hell yeah, I believe in financial stability, but mark my word: if 10 well known chains
move into Bricktown beyond the local chains that already have......you could have
the overall reputation of the district falter into being known as a cheesy "nothin special"
place to go eat versus a proprietary, must come here to get it type of venue.....
As far as financial feasibility, restaurants must diversify like Nonna's......catering to the
gift shop clientele, as well as meeting space.....etc....Nonna's will knock all others
off the charts in time......the place is absolutely stunning on the inside.....and the food
is just as great....

Count me in to be at Nona's when it opens!

The value of some chains is that they can lend a stamp of legitimacy (to customers and businesses/developers) to a shopping/entertainment district. The Cheesecake Factory is probably one of them, but I think it should be used to pave the way for more retail, not more restaurants. Of course, being a free market economy, we can't choose what comes in, only how it looks like (via Bricktown design guidelines).

If we could the Centennial Comission wouldn't have let an IHOP come in.

Guys, I must stand corrected.

In my post, I said that sushi rolls was called Inari. At the time I wrote the post, that is all I could think of, I could not remember maki. If you go back to my post, and substitute maki where I said Inari, you would have it correct (the post wouldnt let me edit it - oh well).

Actually, sushi roll is called maki (mah-kee). Inari is a nigiri sushi which consists of thumbnail rice surrounded by thin-fried tofu (bean curd), and is the favourite sushi of my fiance's brother.

Please accept my apologies, but sushi roll is called maki. Inari would be a great try for beginners, tho - tofu is very simple.

:)

Also wanted to mention,

dont feel so bent out of shape about the IHOP. While I agree it should have gone into downtown CBD or deep duece, having diversity of a 24 hour joint only adds to the urban feel of downtown OKC. And those whose pockets are thinner can come and enjoy what bricktown has to offer - without dropping their pockets going to the local restaurants.

I can tell you, when I return to OKC to visit, I plan to visit all restaurants in Bricktown/Downtown but I will definitely go to IHOP for breakfast. See, if IHOP were not in Bricktown then you (OKC) would have missed that increased tourist revenue.

And that is my point, while IHOP is a chain and so on, no local company came forward to answer the void of a 24 hour breakfast joint - i dunno why. IHOP answered the call, and it will be much appreciated and used (especially by tourists in the morning and downtown residents all day).

Besides, it will adopt a bricktown theme (which will be the ONLY IHOP I know of that does not have its trademark roof, parking lot, etc.) That is something to be grateful of.

If we could the Centennial Comission wouldn't have let an IHOP come in.

Although I'm not a big fan of low end chains, I like IHOP locating in Bricktown. We didn't have a decent breakfast place in Bricktown, and IHOP fills that void. IHOP is probably the more upscale of the breakfast restaurants.

Although I'm not a big fan of low end chains, I like IHOP locating in Bricktown. We didn't have a decent breakfast place in Bricktown, and IHOP fills that void. IHOP is probably the more upscale of the breakfast restaurants.

Personally, I'd rather have seen Jimmy's Egg go in there. It's at least a local chain. But IHOP works as well.

I would consider Hideaway and Bourbon Street Cafe chains, and yet they seem just like local eateries. That is what Bricktown needs.

Hideaway and Bourbon Street are both local restaurants aren't they? Bourbon Street is based in Tulsa, with restaurants in Tulsa (2), OKC (1), and Amarillo (1). Hideaway Pizza is headquartered in Stillwater with locations in OKC, Tulsa, Edmond, Stillwater, and Norman. They have 8 locations.

Yes. So I would call them a chain, because you can find them in more than 3 locations out of Bricktown.

There needs to be more Hideaway's period

Ahh... have we turned you pro upscale chains?

honestly nobodies turned me into anything....Hideaway Pizza is just one of the best things about OK period.

But, it is an upscale chain.

Does that really truly matter though...I really don't care if it's a hole in the ground, they have some of the best pizza period and one of the best things about Oklahoma.

Goes to show that some upscale chains really ARE good... This is what me and Patrick had in mind. I have an idea... I'll share it on my 3:00 break.

Well some are and some are crap...what's the point? Lotus closed, I never ate there, monkeys fling poo

Hideaway an upscale chain??????

I would wholeheartedly agree that they have
some of the most mouthwatering Pizza in the
state, but these places are not upscale
by any stretch of the imagination......

I do think there's a place for one in bricktown.....

Has a bowling alley ever considered locating in Bricktown? I think there would be good money to be made if a business offered something to actually do in Bricktown besides eat. People pay $5.00 to ride on a boat, why not bowling or an arcade?

They already have a Hideaway in Bricktown. Also, know that they are the top of the chain in their pizza sector. And, when a pizza costs $20, I think that is upscale. When a bowl of mushrooms cost $8, that is upscale. I thin kthe eating environment is also upscale.

That's a good idea, Midtowner. I just hope it doesn't begin to attract trash people from the Capital Hill area.

Has a bowling alley ever considered locating in Bricktown? I think there would be good money to be made if a business offered something to actually do in Bricktown besides eat. People pay $5.00 to ride on a boat, why not bowling or an arcade?That is quite possibly one of the best ideas ever!

They already have a Hideaway in Bricktown. Also, know that they are the top of the chain in their pizza sector. And, when a pizza costs $20, I think that is upscale. When a bowl of mushrooms cost $8, that is upscale. I thin kthe eating environment is also upscale.


Well said Sooner&RiceGrad! I wa about to post the same exact thing! I don't consider $20-30 for one pizza cheap!

Has a bowling alley ever considered locating in Bricktown? I think there would be good money to be made if a business offered something to actually do in Bricktown besides eat. People pay $5.00 to ride on a boat, why not bowling or an arcade?


Actually the Sega Gameworks Randy Hogan proposed several years ago would've been a new concept for Sega, offering not only the arcade and restaurant, but also a bowling alley and movie theater. Well, as you know, that deal feel by the wayside and we now have Harkins 16 instead!

Regardless, Bricktown Bowl or Bricktown Lanes (however you'd like to put it) would be a great idea, providing another entertainment venue to the area! The more entertainment venues we have, the more of a 24-7-365 destination Bricktown becomes.

It's interesting that you mention this Midtowner, because I actually thought about a bowling alley concept the other day when I was driving through Bricktown. I don't think the canal would be a good lcoation for such a facility, but one of the larger WH Stewart Steel Co. buildings might be a good location! The steel building kind of reminded me of a large bowling alley.

It would add to the mixed development concept of the Steel Yard development.

What do you think?

Midtowner, I'm going to start a new thread about this. We've exhausted the Lotus thread!

I think it is a good idea, but the bowling alley must be upscale in some way, so as to fend off the Inner South Side gangbangers that are close in proximatey to the area.

Guys, I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, because we've gotten way off base from the original topic. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that (in fact the discussion here has been great), but starting a new thread is probably a better alternative. Thus, I've started a new thread entitled "Bricktown Bowl/Bricktown Lanes."

Just see if you can move the posts over.

The program won't allow me to do that SoonerRiceGrad....can you repost your bowling post in the Bricktown Bowl thread? Just copy and paste it!

Guys, if there's a topic here that really sparked your interest (like the Hideaway discusion) feel free to start a new thread. I just think we've exhausted the talk on Lotus/sushi and really moved onto other topics. Thus the need to close the discussion here and direct focus on other topics discussed here.

Okay, I have an idea. I really don't want to close this thread because it's brought up so much great discussion. I'll just try to steer us back on topic.

What would you like to see where Lotus used to be? How long do you think it will take to fill the space again?

:backtotop

A Louis.

whats louis? you mean Louie's?

whats louis? you mean Louie's?

That's probably what he meant since he's been high on Louie's for some time now.

Although I'm not so sure a Louie's would be a good option, I think an upscale deli like Camille's, or something local would be a good option. I had thought about Panera, but there's nothing unique about Panera. We'd definitely want something more unique, and maybe even more upscale (although I know Panera is pretty upscale for a sandwich shop).

That's such a great space, I think within four months it will be filled. I still would like to see a Braum's in Bricktown, but not at that location. I thought Lotus was a great complement to Bourbon Street, so something equally as upscale and unique. PF Chang's would have been a great place. What about a La Baguette, with its tapas bar? What about a soul/comfort food place, like an upscale Delta Cafe with staples such as meatloaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese? That would be a GREAT complement to Bourbon Street.

I don't think we have a single French restaurant downtown.

I think we need one. Heck, as "red" as this state is, you'd probably have to call it the "Freedom Café" to get any business.

There is not a single one in the entire city. Lido and La Baguette come closest. A casual French restuaurant would be great. Something like Bon Vie in Columbus' Easton Town Centre:

http://www.bon-vie.com/

It seems like a restaurant like Bon Vie would want to locate here since there's obviously no competition for them here. Bricktown would be obviously be a nice fit.

Another possible location would be Penn Square. I spoke with Bob Landdeck yesterday and Penn Square is rethinking locating a Carraba's Italian Restaurant on the old Wards automotive site. The lease is on their desk right now and they could sign it and Carraba's could start building immediately, but with Pepperoni Grill in the mall and Olive Garden locating right across the street, they're beginning to rethink having so many Italian restaurants together. Maybe a French restaurant would do goof there. I bet Nichols Hills people would eat there.

Yeah, Patrick, I think Bon Vie's a good fit in the OKC market because it's not so gourmet that it alienates people. It would a nice first entry for French. I can pronounce most of the menu items ;)

Enough with the "red state" crap already!!!

I agree a french restaurant would be a great idea downtown! We need more local, diverse options. It CAN happen. Just be as stubborn as me, and it will happen.

Enough with the "red state" crap already!!!

I agree a french restaurant would be a great idea downtown! We need more local, diverse options. It CAN happen. Just be as stubborn as me, and it will happen.

I wish I had that stubborness, okcpulse. Anyway, are there any other French restaurant possibilities you know of -- successful chains that deliver an authentic product? Admittedly Bon Vie is a little Disneyland, but sometimes you do have to break in new tastes gradually. I am surprised that Nichols Hills or even Edmond doesn't have one though. I wonder if OKC had any French restaurants during its oil boom heyday.

But what about the Metro Wine Bar and Bistro on N. Western? Anybody been there? French at all?