Trying to say Oklahoman's weren't 'ready,' 'sophisticated' or 'cool' enough for it though is pretty laughable.

Never said that. A very large % of people chose their restaurant by cuisine type first. Pachinko was adventuresome and people who were looking for traditional sushi where kind of taken back. The fact is that adventuresome isn't something that the average Joe blow wants to spend $60 for lunch on. The average diner wants to know that they are going to like everything they get if they spend a decent amount of money on it. The average diner is who you attract when you cross market to a burger customer or on The Sports Animal. They should have focused on people who aren't heart broke when they spend a decent amount of money on adventuresome food and it's not something that they love but they appreciate the creativity, atmosphere etc. and keep trying other items because there are other things that they'll like. The average Sports Animal listener is going to walk away pissed because they're not the type of person that appreciates a "Dining Experience".

I'm a born and bread Okie from a very small town so I'm the last to be a food snob. What I'm saying is that while there are very astute diners in OKC, there aren't enough. Especially when there is also a lot of bad word of mouth created by advertising to the less adventuresome diner. I apologize for over analyzing this particular situation but it is what I do for a living and I do think this particular case is interesting to me. For all I know their closing had nothing to do with sales but I always felt like this restaurant wasn't being marketed correctly.

I consider myself a fairly adventuresome diner and the problem with Pachinko Parlor wasn't what was on the menu, but the fact that the food wasn't that great. I will miss the Doodle, their vegetarian roll that was very consistently good. Everything else was spotty, and spotty isn't good enough when there are as many restaurant options around as there are now. I think there are plenty of astute diners in Oklahoma City, and they were astute enough to realize that Pachinko Parlor wasn't a great restaurant. Good sometimes, but rarely great. I also think their beer selection wasn't very good compared to some of the other restaurants in the area, which didn't help. If they'd had a great chef, I believe they would be packed, however, without a menu or beer selection change.

Never said that. A very large % of people chose their restaurant by cuisine type first. Pachinko was adventuresome and people who were looking for traditional sushi where kind of taken back. The fact is that adventuresome isn't something that the average Joe blow wants to spend $60 for lunch on. The average diner wants to know that they are going to like everything they get if they spend a decent amount of money on it. The average diner is who you attract when you cross market to a burger customer or on The Sports Animal. They should have focused on people who aren't heart broke when they spend a decent amount of money on adventuresome food and it's not something that they love but they appreciate the creativity, atmosphere etc. and keep trying other items because there are other things that they'll like. The average Sports Animal listener is going to walk away pissed because they're not the type of person that appreciates a "Dining Experience".

I'm a born and bread Okie from a very small town so I'm the last to be a food snob. What I'm saying is that while there are very astute diners in OKC, there aren't enough. Especially when there is also a lot of bad word of mouth created by advertising to the less adventuresome diner. I apologize for over analyzing this particular situation but it is what I do for a living and I do think this particular case is interesting to me. For all I know their closing had nothing to do with sales but I always felt like this restaurant wasn't being marketed correctly.

Eaten there many times - never spent $60 for lunch - is that a requirement to 'get them'?

I also never listen to the Sports Animal. I am however an adventuresome diner and make it a point to try new places with new concepts.

What I liked was the fact they offered non-traditional sushi dishes. The problem wasn't my palette, it was there food. More often than not it was 'okay' - but on a few occasions is was down right bad. And the odd thing is the bad dishes were often ones I'd had before that were okay on that visit. Consistency is key. If you can't offer it, then people will go elsewhere.

Creativity and atmosphere are great, but you better back it up with consistently good to very good food. We have plenty of dinning options in OKC and if you don't have your A Game on then you're out.

Like to know who the people are who wouldn't be heartbroken if they spent $60 on lunch that was not any good. $60 for lunch is a very far stretch I think as well. As Brian said I think the inconsistency of the same item is as big a problem as anything. People too often try to turn a $5 bill into a $10 bill and think the paying public isn't going to notice. Once the hook is set they think no one will notice. Surprise!!! They do!

Eaten there many times - never spent $60 for lunch - is that a requirement to 'get them'?

I also never listen to the Sports Animal. I am however an adventuresome diner and make it a point to try new places with new concepts.

What I liked was the fact they offered non-traditional sushi dishes. The problem wasn't my palette, it was there food. More often than not it was 'okay' - but on a few occasions is was down right bad. And the odd thing is the bad dishes were often ones I'd had before that were okay on that visit. Consistency is key. If you can't offer it, then people will go elsewhere.

Creativity and atmosphere are great, but you better back it up with consistently good to very good food. We have plenty of dinning options in OKC and if you don't have your A Game on then you're out.


Eaten there many times - never spent $60 for lunch - is that a requirement to 'get them'?

I also never listen to the Sports Animal. I am however an adventuresome diner and make it a point to try new places with new concepts.

What I liked was the fact they offered non-traditional sushi dishes. The problem wasn't my palette, it was there food. More often than not it was 'okay' - but on a few occasions is was down right bad. And the odd thing is the bad dishes were often ones I'd had before that were okay on that visit. Consistency is key. If you can't offer it, then people will go elsewhere.

Creativity and atmosphere are great, but you better back it up with consistently good to very good food. We have plenty of dinning options in OKC and if you don't have your A Game on then you're out.

Can't say that I disagree with anything you said. Don't understand the dig about a $60 lunch. That's not hard to do with 2 or 3 grown men at lunch who are sampling things. I stand by my point that OKC has lost a great dining option and that their marketing was flawed. That's the only point I tried to make.

I'm pretty new to this board but I'm already getting the feeling that I'm going to have to apologize for having an opinion. A very qualified opinion but still just an opinion. I'm here to contribute.

I didn't care for Pachinko and ate there many times when invited by others. Loved the patio and location but the food just wasn't that good. I am a foodie and the concept was not a problem. there are many sushi places I have been to with a similar concept ( not in OKC but other cities) and they did it well. but I was never a fan of the food here. I found that eating the noodle bowls was a better choice than any of the sushi and learned to stay with those. But that wasn't good enough to make it on our regular rotation of places to eat. I am hopeful someone will move in to the space that will make that rotation. I love the location and frequent everything around it so would be nice to have another destination..

Heard that pachinko is reopening in level.

Interesting if true. Well, they have one roll that I like better than almost any other roll in town, so I'll be happy if it happens. I was hoping for Old School Bagels, but they'll be just down the street regardless.

Old School Bagel is opening at Leadership Square. There will not be a return of the Pachinko Parlor at Level, though the restaurant that is planned for that spot may involve some of the same parties.

heard the other day that the new restaurant for this location has a target date of May 1st to open

it is a po-boy/ Cajun concept ..

heard the other day that the new restaurant for this location has a target date of May 1st to open

it is a po-boy/ Cajun concept ..

Interesting! Thanks for the info. -- you always have great sources.

Oh, I love cajun food. I hope it's awesome (assuming you're right).

Interesting concept for 9th street. I wonder how it will do, although it's got a great location.

Might even be nicer if they sort of lose that entire "Pachinko" idea when it comes down to fair-t'-middlin' cuisine . . . =)
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Had friends that were servers there, got basically no notice, kinda uncool. Demand and want one thing and deliver another.

Had friends that were servers there, got basically no notice, kinda uncool. Demand and want one thing and deliver another.

Sadly, not all that uncommon in food places that go down. They be like tanning places in that particular regard. Many, not all, but many, want to bring in every last dollar before chaining the door. Tougher for them to do if the staffers are headed out to new gigs earlier than when the chaining is planned.

Sadly, not all that uncommon in food places that go down. They be like tanning places in that particular regard. Many, not all, but many, want to bring in every last dollar before chaining the door. Tougher for them to do if the staffers are headed out to new gigs earlier than when the chaining is planned.

Yeah. I recall in high school I came back from a family vacation early to work at a pizza place; showed up for lunch shift and all the furniture was gone and kitchen equipment mostly as well. Received a random personal check in the mail from the owner a week later and that was it. Food biz is tough.

heard the other day that the new restaurant for this location has a target date of May 1st to open

it is a po-boy/ Cajun concept ..

from the AA thread good to know we have a name .... and like pretty much all restaurants it will open late


According to this Journal Record article (http://journalrecord.com/2013/05/14/mf-pachinko-parlor-real-estate/), Hillbilly's Po'boys and Oyster Bar is coming to the building that used to house Pachinko Parlor.

Does anyone have access to post the full text for us here?

Hillbilly's Po Boys sounds like an odd fit for that particular stretch of road. Hope they can make it work all the same.

Hillbilly's Po Boys sounds like an odd fit for that particular stretch of road. Hope they can make it work all the same.

I really like the idea and hope it's successful. I love po boys.

Hillbilly's Po Boys sounds like an odd fit for that particular stretch of road. Hope they can make it work all the same.

If it becomes something similar to 'The Shack' it will do well there IMO.