I saw they took down the awning at the former Joe's Pawn at 23rd and Lee
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Went to Hugo's Taquizas for Taco Tuesday and stopped by the old Grand Village soon to be the Sam's Southern Eatery and snapped a couple of pics of progress there.

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Is Sam's a popular joint to go eat at on the Southside?

Is Sam's a popular joint to go eat at on the Southside?

The one on 23rd will be the only/first location in OKC.

The one on 23rd will be the only/first location in OKC.

Have you eaten at one before? If so, what did you think of it?

Have you eaten at one before? If so, what did you think of it?

No. Had never even heard of it until someone posted about Grand Village closing up thread.... I ate at Grand Village occasionally and I'm sad to see it gone.

The Daebak K lot sold for $350k - anyone know the buyer/plans?

https://www.redfin.com/OK/Oklahoma-City/312-NW-23rd-St-73103/home/107343254

The Daebak K lot sold for $350k - anyone know the buyer/plans?

That's really disappointing. I was really looking forward to having a Korean option there...... At least I have Chae now instead of having to drive to Del City for a long lunch.

That's really disappointing. I was really looking forward to having a Korean option there...... At least I have Chae now instead of having to drive to Del City for a long lunch.

The restaurant is still going to happen, just at another location.

The restaurant is still going to happen, just at another location.

In the same area?

In the same area?

No.

I'll have more on this soon.

Not sure the best place to post this, but this is the Pivot presentation from the recent Rotary luncheon. They start around the 17 minute mark.

https://vimeo.com/184598731

Great find Sooner88! This is the first I've heard about the Korean takeout concept in the Tower and the cocktail bar by Barrios. I have so much admiration for these guys. As one of them jokingly said of Sunshine, "as you can see, its pretty risk averse". Their willingness to take on these difficult projects cannot be recognized enough.

Great find Sooner88! This is the first I've heard about the Korean takeout concept in the Tower and the cocktail bar by Barrios. I have so much admiration for these guys. As one of them jokingly said of Sunshine, "as you can see, its pretty risk averse". Their willingness to take on these difficult projects cannot be recognized enough.

Well they did get, what, half a million in TIF money, so yes, much of the risk was probably taken out.

6.6 million invested in tower...you're talking big bank Monopoly money at this point, bro. Risk is people like Velvet Monkey, Power House, or The Pump investing into shambles for 0 tif to make a mom & pop business.

Not sure why the comment was made then. With the above mentioned comments about Pivot's lack of risk in these projects, were they assured TIF prior to the closing of their bigger ticket purchases?

Harbinger, have you ever heard the term "Armchair Quarterback?"

It depends on what perspective you want to view it from. From a developers perspective they are risk nightmares. Historic. Renovations. Urban design overlay. But there's that TIF at least. Bankers and developers love that TIF.

From a business perspective: It's relatively low risk. build that mother out, stay out the budget red zone, lease it to %100 before the bank takes it back, and your golden. Hopefully it skims a little profit and someday the bank note expires and you will actually own it!

Edit: all things said. Commercial development is not "easy." Not even close.

Wsucougz, I'm well aware of the term, but not what you could be implying. Have I insinuated that I have expertise on development or banking? Nope. How is merely asking about how a process works (timing and implementation of TIF) indicative of me being an "armchair quarterback"? I asked a question to learn more about a process-something that should be encouraged in this forum, not shamed. And thank you Uptowner for the clarity of your answer. That makes more sense.

That wasn't directed at you.

According to their FB page. The Sam's Southern Eatery, that went in where Grand Village was, opened for business yesterday.... Sure didn't look close to being open when I drove by it Tuesday but I saw a lot of comments from people saying they had gone and tried it.

Byrons to get a bit of a makeover:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/byrons101916.jpg

Byrons to get a bit of a makeover:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/byrons101916.jpg

Uh...

Isn't that what it looks like now?

No, that metal structure is all new.

I mean its not earth shattering but it looks a bit better than it does now.

waste of money

waste of money

Agreed.

I'm sure the primary purpose is to block some of the west sun that comes in those big windows.

From Chick n Beer's FB page:

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I'm aware of the Korean restaurant going into the Tower Theater, but I noticed the storefront between the Tower and the Vietnamese grocery store is being renovated. There was a permit notice stating that it is to be a restaurant. Any details on this?

I'm aware of the Korean restaurant going into the Tower Theater, but I noticed the storefront between the Tower and the Vietnamese grocery store is being renovated. There was a permit notice stating that it is to be a restaurant. Any details on this?

Do you mean the space directly west of what will be the Bunker Club?

If so, the owner has had a building permit for a restaurant there for some time. Has work actually started?

Do you mean the space directly west of what will be the Bunker Club?

If so, the owner has had a building permit for a restaurant there for some time. Has work actually started?

Yes, it's west of the Bunkr Club. The door was open and there was visible work being done. Do you know what it's going to be?

Yes, it's west of the Bunkr Club. The door was open and there was visible work being done. Do you know what it's going to be?

She told me she had a partner to help run the place but wouldn't say who.

Noticed this art last night on the building on the north side of NW 23rd, just to the west of The Rise. Not sure when it went up, but I'm in this area several days a week and this was the first night I noticed it!

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Noticed this art last night on the building on the north side of NW 23rd, just to the west of The Rise. Not sure when it went up, but I'm in this area several days a week and this was the first night I noticed it!

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I love the art. It's been featured in HuffPo, among other places. I believe it is temporary since it is made frmo wheat paste, though.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tatyana-fazlalizadeh-street-art_us_583c9912e4b04b66c01b53ea?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black%2BVoices&section=black-voices&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000047

This is great!

little coffee shop with a drive thru
https://www.instagram.com/classencoffeeco/

directly behind hole in wall banh mi sandwich bakery Quoc Bao https://www.yelp.com/biz/quoc-bao-bakery-oklahoma-city

Has anyone heard any plans for the recently closed Buy-4-Less at 23rd & Penn? I heard a rumor that Uptown Grocery was going in there, but also heard it was not. I would love to see ANY of the major "natural" grocery stores occupy that space.

Has anyone heard any plans for the recently closed Buy-4-Less at 23rd & Penn? I heard a rumor that Uptown Grocery was going in there, but also heard it was not. I would love to see ANY of the major "natural" grocery stores occupy that space.

IMO, I feel like Uptown would struggle a little bit there. I've gone to the May location a few times now, and I feel like their prices are quite high. Not sure if the demographics fit their model. I understand the density is there, but how many people would be able to afford it?

I wish there wasn't a Crest at 23rd/Meridian. I think they would kill it in this location.

I don't think we'll see any more Uptown Markets any time soon, if ever.

Plenty of folks around 23rd and Penn would shop there. Residents of Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, Gatewood, Linwood, Shepherd, Las Vegas (Where I live), Etc. would shop there, as it would be the closest "natural" grocery store to them. I would also suspect plenty of folks living downtown would venture up there instead of the Nichols Hills stores or Urban Roots, which has it's inconveniences. Alternatively, I could be blinded by the fact that I simply want one 1/4 mile from my home.

I live in Crestwood and would love for it to be an uptown but I don't know that it would do that well with Walmart neighborhood market across the street.. I don't shop at Walmart so I wish but just don't see it happening.. I would be even happier if a crest went in there. at this point I am happy with anything that looks better than it does now in that space.

I am almost forced to use that WM NH Market on 23rd and have grown to dread going in there.

Still, they are crazy busy.

I predict that entire property (B4L) will be razed to make room for more fast food chicken places at that intersection...

(only kinda joking)

I am almost forced to use that WM NH Market on 23rd and have grown to dread going in there.

Still, they are crazy busy.

I'm sorry Pete.. it is so close to my house but I just can't. everytime I think OK FINE! I realize why I hate it so. I end up going to Crest on 23rd or Aldi or Sam's.

I predict that entire property (B4L) will be razed to make room for more fast food chicken places at that intersection...

(only kinda joking)

Well I thought I read a long time ago that there's supposed to be a Zaxby's built in there somewhere but I'm not sure when.

Well I thought I read a long time ago that there's supposed to be a Zaxby's built in there somewhere but I'm not sure when.
I believe that was denied

Love Crestwood. However, I do think there are way more people who would shop there than people might realize.

I predict that entire property (B4L) will be razed to make room for more fast food chicken places at that intersection...

(only kinda joking)

I know Zaxby's had planned to build where that apartment complex and pizza place is just to the north of it.... So it could happen!

Speaking of that Walmart, a friend of mine recently told me that they are no longer open 24hrs due to the increase in business as result of B4L closing. They now close at Midnight. That is mind boggling to me.

It's true. Last week, a cashier at the Neighborhood Market told me the same thing. I asked if it was just a temporary thing, and she stated that it would be permanent unless they decide otherwise in the future.

It still shows open 24 hours on their website.

However, about a year ago Walmart started a pilot program for some Super Centers and NH Markets where rather than 24/7, they close at midnight and reopen at 6AM.

Yes, the supercenter on I-240 and Santa Fe was the first location in this market that I'm aware of to be a part of the pilot program; I was told that their reasoning for that location was due to overnight shrinkage/loss.

IMO, I feel like Uptown would struggle a little bit there. I've gone to the May location a few times now, and I feel like their prices are quite high. Not sure if the demographics fit their model. I understand the density is there, but how many people would be able to afford it?

I wish there wasn't a Crest at 23rd/Meridian. I think they would kill it in this location.

Uptown's prices at their Village location are quite comparable to Crest's at NW 164th/Santa Fe (can't speak to the 23rd/Meridian Crest - only been in there once, and don't really want to go through that again), we were going to both Uptown and Crest for a while and checked prices on about 20-30 items and some were a quarter higher, some were 50 cents lower, and it all pretty much evened out in the end.

A first class grocery store experience is probably worth more in OKC than it is almost anywhere else.

Uptown's prices at their Village location are quite comparable to Crest's at NW 164th/Santa Fe (can't speak to the 23rd/Meridian Crest - only been in there once, and don't really want to go through that again), we were going to both Uptown and Crest for a while and checked prices on about 20-30 items and some were a quarter higher, some were 50 cents lower, and it all pretty much evened out in the end.

Hmm, I'll have to look into this. Honestly, I just kind of took my wife's word for it when she told me they were high. If prices are comparable to Crest, I think it's a beautiful store and would go there more often myself.

Uptown is good value but nothing like Crest.

With wine and beer coming to grocery stores, is there a chance Kroger, Tom Thumb, or HEB going in that spot?

Crest is just a bottom of the barrel experience in every way. Cinder block walls, white linoleum, and signage from the early 90's. I think something a step up from that and Walmart NM would better capture a wider demographic of shoppers in that area.

Crest stores CAN be really nice - you need look no further than their location at SW 104th & May Ave for a worthy example. I know Crest is very conservative when it comes to expansion and renovation, but they could do a lot with their existing stores if they were willing to make them as nice as the 104th & May location.