For those craving more retail on Auto Alley, Wayne Cone just announced Dwelling Spaces (ultra-trendy home store in Tulsa) will be opening a location next to the Womb on 9th.

http://www.dwellingspaces.net/

Any idea why he would be the one making this announcement? Is it possible that he has some personal involvement?

Wayne and Mary Beth have worked together on several art shows, projects and the like. She is heavily involved in supporting the art and music scene in Tulsa and statewide. I'm sure he lured her here, and her love for the Lips and what Wayne is doing probably made luring her an easy task. I tried to talk her into coming to Bricktown a few years ago, but I don't have quite the drawing power Wayne does, LOL.

Regarding the "Don't Hate the 918" shirts, those are made by a Tulsa artist by the name of Steve Cluck. He also made some that said "405 fo' sho." We carried BOTH in Bricktown and did well with both designs. Tulsans often were surprised and delighted when they came in and saw that we were carrying the 918 shirts. Blue 7 also carried (carries?) Louis & Cluck stuff, and I think they carried the 918 variety too.

Mary Beth has her own line called Okie Grown, which we have carried with a lot of success. I'm out of most of it right now, but the design is outstanding, prominently featuring a Scissortail Flycatcher.

Chad, I'm going to check out your place next time I need a new shirt. Something to rep home while I'm gone..

Wayne and Mary Beth have worked together on several art shows, projects and the like. She is heavily involved in supporting the art and music scene in Tulsa and statewide. I'm sure he lured her here, and her love for the Lips and what Wayne is doing probably made luring her an easy task. I tried to talk her into coming to Bricktown a few years ago, but I don't have quite the drawing power Wayne does, LOL.

Regarding the "Don't Hate the 918" shirts, those are made by a Tulsa artist by the name of Steve Cluck. He also made some that said "405 fo' sho." We carried BOTH in Bricktown and did well with both designs. Tulsans often were surprised and delighted when they came in and saw that we were carrying the 918 shirts. Blue 7 also carried (carries?) Louis & Cluck stuff, and I think they carried the 918 variety too.

Mary Beth has her own line called Okie Grown, which we have carried with a lot of success. I'm out of most of it right now, but the design is outstanding, prominently featuring a Scissortail Flycatcher.

I bought one of those Scissortail Flycatcher shirts and took it to Helsinki and gave it to a friend over there.

Helsinki is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Garage is proposed for Oklahoma City's MidTown and Automobile Alley
The Hotel Marion, one of downtown Oklahoma City's oldest buildings, may soon be renovated as part of a proposal to use tax increment financing to build a garage that would serve Automobile Alley and MidTown.


http://newsok.com/garage-is-proposed-for-oklahoma-citys-midtown-and-automobile-alley/article/3693311

It's great news, especially be abuse it's MidTown Renaissance. They'll do great work. This could be a great project!

will be very important in making those buildings all viable

Is it too much to hope for retail/office space along the first floor street frontage?

Is it too much to hope for retail/office space along the first floor street frontage?

The article states that Midtown Renaissance will be building the garage. I have complete faith that they will build it right.

It also says that the garage deal would require renovation of the Marion, 1100 Broadway and 1101 Broadway (shown in blue below).

That vacant lot for the proposed garage is owned by a private party. I wonder if they have a deal with the current owners or are planning eminent domain?


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/autoalley71812.jpg

Helsinki is one of my favorite cities in the world.

In the summer, Yes, October through April, not so much.

The article states that Midtown Renaissance will be building the garage. I have complete faith that they will build it right.

Especially if it can be linked to the Marion in a supporting role.

We could have a pretty nice shopping enclave here. Shops west down 10th and south on broadway

Any idea how tall the parking garage will be? I am guessing at least 5 stories. I have counted the spaces in the lot just south of the Packard Building and it has about 100 spaces currently as a reference. I really thought the garage was going to be built there as I was under the impression that Frontline Church owned the proposed site. I can tell you that both parking lots plus the available street parking is full every Sunday morning as it is.

Any idea how tall the parking garage will be? I am guessing at least 5 stories. I have counted the spaces in the lot just south of the Packard Building and it has about 100 spaces currently as a reference. I really thought the garage was going to be built there as I was under the impression that Frontline Church owned the proposed site. I can tell you that both parking lots plus the available street parking is full every Sunday morning as it is.

they use the parking but do not own the site ..

Although this is not a new development, I thought I'd share these photos because I don't think we've previously had any of the Rooftop @ Rawhide.

http://shoprawhide.com/


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rawhide1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rawhide2.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rawhide3.jpg

Is there going to be a Saturn Grill opening in Auto Alley or Midtown?

Saturn Grill is going in just behind GoGo Sushi on Walker, across from Kaiser's.

Thanks Pete.

I'm familiar with this building, that seems like a small location for Saturn Grill. There is another building at 8th and Walker that is for lease. Any chance that is the location for SG?

Any news on, When is Saturn expected to open?

Same building as GoGo.

I think the building at 8th and Walker is leased. Or at least someone told me they'd leased it. I really, really want to see a restaurant at the building on the NW corner of 10th and Harvey, I believe, turned into a restaurant. It is just record storage, I think. It's got great garage doors and an overhang that would be perfect for patio dining. I thought it would have been perfect for Saturn. That behind the building location will hurt business a little.

It sounds as if there's hope for the Hotel Marion. TIF funds for parking were approved today at the Council Meeting that will help pay for parking for the buildings on the NW corner of 10th and Broadway. The Marion was specifically mentioned as one that will need to use that parking.

Good news that was approved!

The parking funding is bundled with renovating the Marion and the buildings on the NE and NW corners of 10th & Broadway.

Good news that was approved!

The parking funding is bundled with renovating the Marion and the buildings on the NE and NW corners of 10th & Broadway.

But in doing so they drained the remaining $5 million out of the TIF fund, so don't expect many more TIFs like this in the near future until they get some properties paying back into the fund...

BIG NEWS!!! I saw a Lululemon sign hanging from above one of the old Front Line Church store fronts. If anyone is unfamiliar, they are a very trendy national yoga apparel company. This is great for the hope that AA becomes a retail hub. http://shop.lululemon.com/home.jsp

Awesome!

That old Frontline space is 712-714 N. Broadway.


This is 712:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010011792001sA.jpg



But I bet they are taking 718:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010011804001rA.jpg

Awesome!

That old Frontline space is 712-718 N. Broadway.


This is 712:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010011792001sA.jpg



But I bet they are taking 718:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010011804001rA.jpg

The one on the far left is already the scuba store. I think it was the one on the far right.

You're right!

718 is Blue Water Diver, so it has to be that 712 building.



Thanks for the eagle eye.

Confirmed:

http://www.facebook.com/lululemonoklahomacity

You're right!

718 is Blue Water Diver, so it has to be that 712 building.



Thanks for the eagle eye.

Yep! I deserve bonus points because I saw it while biking home in a massive down-pour :)

Confirmed:

http://www.facebook.com/lululemonoklahomacity

It is odd that their facebook says 712 Broadway, which is the building I saw today, but then it says Moore.

It is odd that their facebook says 712 Broadway, which is the building I saw today, but then it says Moore.

Happens a lot when you put a Broadway address into a mapping program without the zip code.

Getting a high-end national tenant like this is fantastic for Auto Alley.

I bet they do very well and that will pave the way for more... Come on down Urban Outfitters! Perfect spot for them.

I'm telling you guys, I absolutely think that A-Alley will be THE retail place in downtown. NW9th is already pretty decent, with a great local mix with ShopGood, restaurants, Rawhide, Treasure's Past, Schlegel Bicycles, Broadway Wine Merchants, Dwelling Spaces moving in, and now LuLuLemon. The space that they're moving into, next to the SCUBA shop (which I'd also chalk up to retail), is the space that I've long dreamed about a GAP going in. It would be so perfect. I wonder if GAP or UO are paying attention to any of this, as I know they've (or at least UO has) scouted out AA and liked it but had concerns about activity and similar retail concentration..

I was walking to Hideaway the other day and noticed through the windows of Pinpoint, which I believe is a popular screenprinting business, that they seem to be transitioning into selling some apparel for walk-in.. or at least their window displays are totally geared toward that.

I can't say enough, I think A-Alley's future exists as a great concentration of high-quality local retail oriented toward people who A, have high taste, or B, have active lifestyles, or C, both..

This is also the perfect location along the streetcar line to have retail. Just to throw that into the mix. AA is going to surprise some people here in a few years, especially if 1100, the Marion, and 1101 get renovated into a retail/housing/office mix. I say that because to tell the truth, AA has long been the most immaculate underperforming downtown district (due to its heavy office concentration) that's been extremely stagnant while Midtown just a block over has surged ahead. I think after two decades of expecting AA to surge, it's finally bound to happen.

I keep hoping for Urban Outfitters, especially since there's no action at the Triangle. I think 1101 Broadway would be a perfect location.

I view it as somewhat a given that UO will locate in OKC. I will be disappointed if it goes in the Triangle...just not a fan of that development.

Hate to burst your bubble, but are you sure this is not just a site for a showroom, like the one in Tulsa? Tulsa also has a LuLulemon Facebook, but they only have a showroom, not an official store:

http://www.lululemon.com/stores/

http://www.facebook.com/lululemonTulsa

They may call that one a showroom but it's still a retail store. They still sell yoga and athletic clothing

A showroom? Not sure what you're talking about because it is a retail store.

From the website:


what's a lululemon showroom?

Showrooms are all about spreading the lululemon love in communities that don’t have stores (yet). We open showrooms to share our culture, work with local athletes and provide a retail location that is unique to that area. During the week, we may host private parties, plan community events. Our showrooms act as local experts on where to find great yoga, pilates, fitness, or just plain good times in the neighbourhood.

Showrooms are only open part of the week so that we can be out in the community meeting our neighbours and participating in local yoga and fitness classes.

It still says they sell clothing, just a limited selection compared to other stores

It looks like their "showroom" concept is still a retail location, but also hosts classes and events. They stay open 3-5 days a week, and the employees spend the other days at yoga studios promoting the brand.

There was a location in Nashville when I lived there. It's a quality retail development, and was surrounded by a good mix of retail, resturants and services (WestElm, Whole Foods, Five Guys, several local gift boutiques, etc.). I would love to see OKC have something like that. A-Alley would hold it well.

I think a Lululemon showroom is just a marketing tool to see 1) if there is demand for LuLulemon in the area 2) If there is an interest for LuLulemon and 3) market their product. They probably will have a limited selection of merchandise, then they will direct you to the website if you want something different. Fact is, this location might not be an official store, but its a start, good deal.

Really wish that the City could have found the time for the Bomasada $38 million dollar development along Broadway.

The question is whether or not a "showroom" will have a neon LuLuLemon sign added along Broadway...

There was a sign going up yesterday and I haven't seen a non-neon sign installed in AA in a long time.

Its not uncommon for a landlord to put in the lease that they must approve the tenants sign. Not sure why any landlord along AA wouldnt do this. This would unlikely be a deal killer, especially for someone like lululemon

Neon signage along Broadway is not a design requirement. The 501(c)(3) organization that originally formed as a Main Street program to promote development in the district post-bombing created a special fund, underwritten by (if memory serves) the Kirkpatrick Family Fund to provide a FINANCIAL INCENTIVE to businesses to use neon signage.

When we first got the funding, if an applicant wanted to access the incentive the design of the proposed sign had to be approved by the AAMSP Design Committee, at which point we paid 10% of the cost of the sign, up to $1,000 (for a sign costing $10K). Well over a decade later I'm not sure if that arrangement is still exactly the same, but I would guess it is similar. I do know that the first $10,000 was used up within 2-3 years and that they went back for another round of funding (which they received). I'm guessing the incentive fund has had to be replenished at least once more since then, based on the number of neon signs that have appeared in the neighborhood.

Those buildings were (are?) owned by Fotis Bargeliotes. In my opinion Fotis was a nice and cooperative guy, but he never was especially interested in the AAMSP organization and its initiatives, so I would not be surprised if he did not mention the incentive grant fund to his tenants or otherwise push for neon.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0600.jpg

Thanks for the photo!

Is that small sign the only one you saw?

I think a Lululemon showroom is just a marketing tool to see 1) if there is demand for LuLulemon in the area 2) If there is an interest for LuLulemon and 3) market their product. They probably will have a limited selection of merchandise, then they will direct you to the website if you want something different. Fact is, this location might not be an official store, but its a start, good deal.
Aren't points 1&2 redundant? Also, I'm pretty sure they were confirmed for a Classen Curve store several months back, we're they not? Maybe they changed locations?

Aren't points 1&2 redundant? Also, I'm pretty sure they were confirmed for a Classen Curve store several months back, we're they not? Maybe they changed locations?

Never heard that about Classen Curve and nothing like that was ever posted here.

I'm almost positive. Search the site for LuLuLemon.

All that has been posted is the hope/rumor that CHK may have talked to them about the Triangle building.

No more confirmed than the dozens of other tenants mentioned for that area.

I believe betts only suggested it as a tenant she'd like to see.

Besides we all know that actual tenants aren't supposed to go in Classen Curve. That would ruin Rand's ambiance.

I believe betts only suggested it as a tenant she'd like to see.

Besides we all know that actual tenants aren't supposed to go in Classen Curve. That would ruin Rand's ambiance.

I was told that LuLuLemon was moving into the Triangle. It's possible that Barre3 talked to them about not having a store in the Curve, as I believe they carry the line. But, although it's a niche market, it is a VERY popular line of clothing for women who exercise, or who like to look like they exercise.

I'm pretty excited about having the store on AA. I would like to see an American Apparel there too, because an Urban Outfitters wouldn't be far behind, most likely.
i

Now would be the time for the City (c'mon Cathy O'Connor) to figure out a retail incentive package before it's too late, as now might be the perfect time to tip all of those retailers toward downtown.

Automobile Alley was the place for last night's 2nd Annual Mustache Bash, hosted by Shop Good and benefitting Positive Tomorrows.

It was a fun event and appeared to be well attended. Lots of diverse individuals, couples, families, groups and pets! Live entertainment was good (could have done without the rapper). Roxy's Ice Cream Social was there - always a hit with me and my friends.

All-in-all, a really good time. Weather great too from about 8:20pm on.

1984
Wife and I am some friends arrived appropriately accessorized with our staches!

(could have done without the rapper)

I heard both the local rappers, Josh Sallee and Jabee, tore it up.

I heard both the local rappers, Josh Sallee and Jabee, tore it up.

If you're into that sort of thing. I listen to rap some on the radio, but this didn't sound good to me at all. May have been that it was live and had very little instrumental, but several of us decided that was a good time to go inside a venue and not have to listen to it.