Seriously - 3 sports bars within 50 feet of each other? Sheesh

And I've heard some recently complaining about the lack of good sports bars. LOL

Yes. Absolutely. Let's make this happen.

Wish I had some money and/or business sense - if I did I'd be seriously looking into it!

That's funny. In one thread we have a poster outraged about how restaurant operators always include steak on their menu & in this thread the complaint is about how restaurant operators can't think of anything other than hamburgers.

And in neither thread has anyone pointed out that from 10th to reno and walker to 235, in addition to hamburgers and steaks, you can get Italian, Brazilian, Sushi, Fondue, Tapas, Seafood, Deli and specialty sandwiches, mexican/tex mex, comfort food, gourmet bistro, fish tacos, pizza (both foo-foo and standard), pub food, cajun, chinese, bar-b-que, and more. And that's not to mention two of the most original and trendiest concepts in the city in Ludivine and Kitchen, and now there's also Flint and Packard's. Now, I have not done any formal study, but that's probably one of the densest and best varieties of restaurants in the city. And it is certainly not dominated by steak or burger joints, even though it is home to the best of both ( Red and S&B ). Combine that with the mix of bars in the area that includes pubs, wine bars, dance clubs, burlesque, (semi) ultra lounges, a cigar bar (coming soon), and sports bars and the complaining begins to seem a bit unjustified.

Are there gaps? Sure, but I think as long as we keep the call for national Chain restaurants to a low whisper and support the more local concepts, we will continue to see more originality added to the mix. If you don't mind walking or riding 12-15 blocks or so (which you would certainly do in any major urban city), you can live down there, not have a car, and still have easy access to dozens of places to eat, drink, and entertain yourself. Like everyone else, I hope for more, but people do have to admit, with the emergence of Deep Deuce, AA, and Midtown, downtown is getting pretty strong as an urban destination and as a place to live.

And I've heard some recently complaining about the lack of good sports bars. LOL

operative word there is "good"... i tend to agree... i have yet to find a "good" sports bar in OKC

Too many burger places in Deep Deuce
Too many hotels in Bricktown
Too much core housing
Too many steak places downtown

I remember when central OKC had real problems. :)

operative word there is "good"... i tend to agree... i have yet to find a "good" sports bar in OKC

Have you been to RePUBlic? The food, beer, and viewing situation are all outstanding.

Remember when downtown had no life?

Remember when downtown had no life?

Yes, vividly. It was awful.

Have you been to RePUBlic? The food, beer, and viewing situation are all outstanding.

I prefer Louie's to Republic believe it or not - mostly for the much better veggie options. Do enjoy the "view" at Republic tho haha. Excellent beer selection as well.

I prefer Louie's to Republic believe it or not - mostly for the much better veggie options. Do enjoy the "view" at Republic tho haha. Excellent beer selection as well.

Republic's food is great, and the view is solid, if not "enhanced" at times.

Remember when downtown had no life?
Then again some of us remember when it was a fun and bustling downtown. It wasn't sterile, it had a lot of character, much more dense than the current downtown, actually had lots of retail, foot traffic, lots of restaurants and was a destination for all city residents. While I love the current CBD, it's actually not as great as I remember downtown in the 60's. There's a lot of revisionist history here which seems to say that the Oklahoma City pre-MAPS was just the period of time post-Pei. I'm writing this because I really want some of the younger posters and newer to the city posters to realize this.

Then again some of us remember when it was a fun and bustling downtown. It wasn't sterile, it had a lot of character, much more dense than the current downtown, actually had lots of retail, foot traffic, lots of restaurants and was a destination for all city residents. While I love the current CBD, it's actually not as great as I remember downtown in the 60's. There's a lot of revisionist history here which seems to say that the Oklahoma City pre-MAPS was just the period of time post-Pei. I'm writing this because I really want some of the younger posters and newer to the city posters to realize this.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand exactly what you're trying to say.

Here's what I know to be true:

1. OKC used to have a fabulously urban inner core, with truly mixed used urbanity: retail, office, residential, restaurants & entertainment, streetcar system, et. al.

2. Beginning in the 1960s the decision was made that our inner city downtown was "blighted" and these "old buildings" needed to be dispensed with to make room for "new buildings."

3. To a large extent, after the removal of as many as 1000 "old buildings," the "new buildings" never came, leaving a scabrous urban wasteland, destroying a former retail hotbed, and rendering our city core a hollow ghost town of what it once was.

Is this what you were trying to say? I'm not sure if I qualify as one of the "younger" posters (I'm in my early to mid-40s), but I totally understand OKC's history. You may be surprised to find out that most of the people who post here are quite familiar with it also.

Wow, talk about revisionist history. Late 60s and the 70s were depressing downtown, and scary. I guess prostitution and drunks are now "mixed use". Lol

Wow, talk about revisionist history. Late 60s and the 70s were depressing downtown, and scary. I guess prostitution and drunks are now "mixed use". Lol

It may have been "scary," but it was also where a ton of shopping was. It was mixed use: retail, restaurant, office. Am I missing anything?

I didn't realize prostitutes and drunks were so "scary." If so, maybe we shouldn't build a city.

I prefer Louie's to Republic believe it or not - mostly for the much better veggie options. Do enjoy the "view" at Republic tho haha. Excellent beer selection as well.

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown ;)

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown ;)

I have to agree with you. Louie's food is utter garbage, while Republic's is as good as Good Egg gets. Louie's may be a cozier sports bar, however, which may be what no1cub17 was trying to say.

It may have been "scary," but it was also where a ton of shopping was. It was mixed use: retail, restaurant, office. Am I missing anything?

I didn't realize prostitutes and drunks were so "scary." If so, maybe we shouldn't build a city.

Prostitutes en mass and drunks lurking around run down and vacant buildings was scary. Downtown was a dump.

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown ;)

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want :)

I like Louie's. Their Margherita pizza reminds me of a quiche or pie of some sort more than pizza, but it's delicious. I like several things on their menu actually. I don't feel like I'm eating something special but I think their food is generally tasty.

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want :)

False...Black Bean Tostado Stack, all salads without protein as well as 6 side options. Adding a red lentil burger in a few weeks.

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want :)

I've ordered fruits and vegetables by just asking for them before.

And I don't hate Louie's. It's fine, but Republic food is exceptional in every way. But whatever satisfies you is all that matters.

Now back to the LEVEL restaurant...they have NOT started the build out yet.

False...Black Bean Tostado Stack, all salads without protein as well as 6 side options. Adding a red lentil burger in a few weeks.As a vegan because of medical issues I have stopped going to The Good Egg group restaurants. They have a very poor selection and Republic's black bean tostato stack and the quinoa dish at Cheever's is tasteless. Not worth spending money on. I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

As a vegan because of medical issues I have stopped going to The Good Egg group restaurants. They have a very poor selection and Republic's black bean tostato stack and the quinoa dish at Cheever's is tasteless. Not worth spending money on. I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

Please check PM...thanks.

I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

I agree completely. I'm not even vegetarian, I just try to limit my meat consumption - so in general I enjoy restaurants with veg options more. To each their own though. I am freaking ADDICTED to S&B. Good thing they're not moving into Aloft - I'd be there every other day (at least!).

I quite love the bar district in my backyard (Bricktown). I think Deep Deuce has a chance to be less focused on one niche and more well-rounded with amenities. Nothing concrete right now I can share but there are lots of plans for Deep Deuce and they will really elevate the whole area. I'm convinced that Deep Deuce will be a model community in a few years not just for Oklahoma City, but for this part of the country. I'm crossing my fingers anyway.

I hope you're right...I love spending time in Deep Deuce...I wish I could afford to live there! (the plight of a college student..) btw, I enjoyed your talk at the IQC conference a couple weeks ago!

LEVEL Apartments (June 03 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157633961640558/)

Dang! It's a photo extravaganza today. I'm going into corneal overload... but I love it! :)

When I get the videos edited, it will be a video extravaganza. All the stuff I posted has footage to go with it.

When I get the videos edited, it will be a video extravaganza. All the stuff I posted has footage to go with it.

Awesome. Can't wait to see it.

Any Level residents care to share their approximate electric bills? The leasing office was touting the energy efficiency as a selling point.

They are finally getting busy inside the restaurant space at Level for the Urban Johnnies.

Note the ultra-high ceilings.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/urbanj81313a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/urbanj81313b.jpg

Man...those dirt floors are gonna be something new in downtown ;-)

...Note the ultra-high ceilings.


Man, no kidding! Wow. That must be a 30 foot tall room. You could put a trapeeze act in there (dinner time entertainment? :wink:)

Reminds me of a building at the Kansas State Fair when I was a kid. It was a fully-functional KFC (back then it was called Kentucky Fried Chicken, of course). Painted cinderblock walls, counters, registers, corporate signage, the works...and a dirt floor.

But I digress. Glad to see the restaurant underway.

Photo from the Urban Johnnie (now the official name) FB page:

https://sphotos-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1150247_207017669464598_1023320639_n.jpg

Urban Johnnie progressing with a 2nd level:

https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1374192_225557584277273_1832540749_n.jpg

From the Urban Johnnie Facebook page:


JOIN US TONIGHT! Preview Party @ The Level Apartments! We will be sampling some of our menu items and our signature drink! BORN IN NOVEMBER FEATURING C-PLUS will be playing! Party is from 6-9!

From the Urban Johnnie Facebook page:

This was actually held last night, according to a co-worker of mine.

An update from the Urban Johnnie (http://www.facebook.com/urbanjohnnie) FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=242694729230225&set=a.162231300609902.1073741826.161649707334728&type=1&theater

Sign for Urban Johnnies:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/urbanjohnnie.JPG

That's... Something.

Ugly and confusing as to what it is. Is that supposed to be a person in a suit vest sitting down with a drink?

huh.

More positive than my reaction. I like neither the name nor the logo. Actually, I went to both of their preview parties and the food was blah, but probably not representative of what it will actually be like. Or so I hope.

Well, it's a sign.

I think it's trying too hard. They're going for the Mad Men look, but I give it a 3/10.


http://socialsolutionscollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mad-men-logo.jpg

I don't mind the sign so much, but that name is flat out stupid. Urban Johnnie. WTF?

I don't mind the sign so much, but that name is flat out stupid. Urban Johnnie. WTF?


It's an urban Johnnies... I guess the name is more "straight to the point" then people were envisioning.

Not hipster enough. LOL.

For the people who know and like Johnnies it is good marketing to leverage their existing brand identity and still identify its differences. It isn't a bad name for what they are trying to do. Everything doesn't have to be hipster strange and oblique.

Not hipster enough. LOL.

For the people who know and like Johnnies it is good marketing to leverage their existing brand identity and still identify its differences. It isn't a bad name for what they are trying to do. Everything doesn't have to be hipster strange and oblique.

AND........ It has a bar, making it 100x cooler then normal Johnnie's.

There will also be a loft area in the UJ space... I bet it turns out to be really cool.

Very excited to see it open and along with the bars and restaurants in Aloft, WSKY and Deep Duece Grill, that small area is going to have quite a concentration of places to eat and drink.

Not hipster enough. LOL.

For the people who know and like Johnnies it is good marketing to leverage their existing brand identity and still identify its differences. It isn't a bad name for what they are trying to do. Everything doesn't have to be hipster strange and oblique.

I'm not sure if you were replying to my comment, but if you were, it's a stupid name and it has nothing to do with how hipster it is. It seems like the people that came up with it put forth a lazy effort and it resulted in a lame name.

I don't think the name and logo are that bad, but I'm definitely not a fan of the sign. If they have a good product they'll be fine.

I don't love the name Waffle Champion either but I like their food. If Urban Johnnie has food that appeals, it won't matter what the name is. The market will decide.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6089d1389803876-level-level11314a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6090d1389803877-level-level11314b.jpg

I notice that the side of one balcony on the second floor is painted red. How did that ever happen on that building? LOL

I can't tell if your question is rhetorical or not, but if you look at image #9 at the top you'll also see yellow and light blue. There's hints of color in the design...

I can't tell if your question is rhetorical or not, but if you look at image #9 at the top you'll also see yellow and light blue. There's hints of color in the design...

That color is on the interior area. I'm not saying there is no color but just seems a little strange to just have it in an isolated area like that. Not bad, just unusual.

Urban Johnnie will be opening very soon. Not sure of the exact day that it is open to the public, but soft openings are this weekend.

Urban Johnnie will be opening very soon. Not sure of the exact day that it is open to the public, but soft openings are this weekend.

Soft openings are starting today, if the traffic and moron blocking the entry to the building are any indication. Also the mgmt sent emails to level residents to invite them to he soft launch. I'm going Friday.