I noticed that the old sign for Bill and Irene's Flower and Gift Shop has been replaced by a new sign of the same name. This is between Drexel and May. Any news about this building?

It sold last year to a private party but no permits have been filed, not even for the sign.

The owner donated the original neon sign to the Billboard Museum

Link (https://www.facebook.com/BillboardMuseum/posts/pfbid02y49UT8nWDSf7vZRuNwzAs6w3JCfwEPHGZ7S9Pkw3P8z roJYwkJwZYjxk1RB9ZLjMl?__cft__[0]=AZUAyJvnLcIS1y0biGMHZA9aacV2pvg2OpPRKO8tTT-t5InGwp-JWrJRpRQ-9HtcbqQq6Unlg2bKjvdgZifU__iUtjQ10pZW0s2X-I5g_0DmvhWaKTg68FdCW-Cdm4IbI4MFdmEkTtFbVlWTWrPgIXnmo7695ZlNhS9_43xQxQxJ V4PupngoBaUBwAs_qAxHjal5y2d5i7Uwt4BJ8jXN5Hju&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R)

I was thinking, wouldn't a Jack In the Box be great for Uptown somewhere. JIB tend to stay open late/24 hours and in my past experience it was nice having them near nightlife areas.

I'd imagine one somewhere on or nearby N 23rd Street near OCU open 24 hours would kill it but in a way also add to the vibrancy of the district. Looking at their locations, while OKC does have 3 of the 5 24-hour locations in the state (the others are Tulsa 1 and Durant of all places), and ALL locations are in the suburb and semi-suburban areas of both OKC and Tulsa, none in the core. https://locations.jackinthebox.com/us/ok

Not saying their food is that good, but I'm so used to them being in urban areas given their hours and that one could easily go there after bar hopping and grab a much needed hangover bite. ...

The lot where the former Sonic was located at 23rd and Penn is being excavated and has construction fencing up. Do we know what is going there?

The lot where the former Sonic was located at 23rd and Penn is being excavated and has construction fencing up. Do we know what is going there?

Salad and Go (https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=46604)

Salad and Go (https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=46604)

Thanks, Pete.

Nice block party happening on 23rd Street at the end of the month: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf42qaIJ1s8/

pete, any idea what's going into the old subway next to starbucks? i saw some (rather unfortunate) wood panelling being added on the building near the entrance.

pete, any idea what's going into the old subway next to starbucks? i saw some (rather unfortunate) wood panelling being added on the building near the entrance.

Mo'Bettahs Hawaiian food.

Fence around the old Goodwill drop off location on 23rd & Penn. Wasn't there a few days ago. 17611

Fence around the old Goodwill drop off location on 23rd & Penn. Wasn't there a few days ago. 17612

Fence around the old Goodwill drop off location on 23rd & Penn. Wasn't there a few days ago. 17612

It will be a drive-thru and carryout only location for Okie Poke.

I noticed that the convenience store/gas station on 23rd and Independence has been razed (for a few weeks now) and there is now the ground skirting (?) present that usually indicates new construction is about to take place. Any known plans for this property?

I noticed that the convenience store/gas station on 23rd and Independence has been razed (for a few weeks now) and there is now the ground skirting (?) present that usually indicates new construction is about to take place. Any known plans for this property?

It was sold to a guy that owns some car lots but thus far there have been no new building permits.

My friend told me he met the owner of Truong Thanh the other day, the lady told him if he wanted to lease the restaurant space, he'd have to buy everything she spent to build the restaurant: equipment, tables, chairs, etc. for $450K, then $7,000/m rent for the ugly restaurant. The humongous space next door is available for $8,000/m. She will never sell those buildings, she doesn't need the money (all she wants is some guys naive enough to come in and fix the beat up buildings for her, smart lady). Good luck Uptown, get ready to live with those eyesores for awhile!

My friend told me he met the owner of Truong Thanh the other day, the lady told him if he wanted to lease the restaurant space, he'd have to buy everything she spent to build the restaurant: equipment, tables, chairs, etc. for $450K, then $7,000/m rent for the ugly restaurant. The humongous space next door is available for $8,000/m. She will never sell those buildings, she doesn't need the money (all she wants is some guys naive enough to come in and fix the beat up buildings for her, smart lady). Good luck Uptown, get ready to live with those eyesores for awhile!

When we drove by on the way to the Steve Earle show at the Tower, we wondered how long they'd be there in that shape, guess we know it's until she dies....

I've met her and have been inside that building.

It's filled with old junky merchandise that has been there for at least 10 years.

The woman is nice enough but doesn't seem all there.

Does any one know what the story is on the old Miriwa Restaurant just east of Western on 23rd. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, it was the Chinese Restaurant to go to and hosted a lot of Asian weddings. Been empty for years

^^
Yes, it's another I'll hang on to it until I die situation.

How are they covering the taxes if those properties are not generating income? Or are taxes not very much $$?

How are they covering the taxes if those properties are not generating income? Or are taxes not very much $$?

the owner has plenty of money

^^
Yes, it's another I'll hang on to it until I die situation.

I can't stand absentee owners who let their properties rot away and won't sell to someone who will renovate/redevelop

I always wonder what's going with the two buildings on 23rd between Michael's Old Books and The Escape OKC. They're listed, under contract, then relisted multiple times, do you know anything about those buildings? Are they impossible to be renovated?

Does any one know what the story is on the old Miriwa Restaurant just east of Western on 23rd. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, it was the Chinese Restaurant to go to and hosted a lot of Asian weddings. Been empty for years

yep, I remember Miriwa being OKC's Chinatown before Asian District (and after the old historic one demolished for the Myriad). I too always wondered what happened and why they haven't reopened despite the tremendous progress of the 3 districts in and nearby.

I noticed that the convenience store/gas station on 23rd and Independence has been razed (for a few weeks now) and there is now the ground skirting (?) present that usually indicates new construction is about to take place. Any known plans for this property?

Following up on this, the ground has been scraped, some work is going on and there are large steel pieces on the property, Any idea what is happening here?

Following up on this, the ground has been scraped, some work is going on and there are large steel pieces on the property, Any idea what is happening here?

Strip center with spec lease space.

Strip center with spec lease space.

Boo....

About 24th and Shartel, something got demolished. Can't remember what was there.

Any new plans for that spot?

About 24th and Shartel, something got demolished. Can't remember what was there.

Any new plans for that spot?

Yeah, there was a fire there about a month ago. I don't think there are current plans, they just demoed the old building.

Gouging people to park on city street.

https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiWWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtvY28uY29tL2FydGljbGUvb2tsYW hvbWEtY2l0eS11cHRvd24tZGlzdHJpY3QtaWxsZWdhbC1wYXJr aW5nLXNpZ25zLzQ1NzcxNjY10gFdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cua29jby 5jb20vYW1wL2FydGljbGUvb2tsYWhvbWEtY2l0eS11cHRvd24t ZGlzdHJpY3QtaWxsZWdhbC1wYXJraW5nLXNpZ25zLzQ1NzcxNj Y1?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

My lord, the woman who owns that building is so bad for that district.

Volunteers even painted her building a neutral color to cover up graffiti and make it less hideous, then the owner painted it bright green.

I've been inside that building and she has all this merchandise that is about 20 years old sitting on shelves. It's one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

That building is a complete eye sore. I love when it gets hit with posters and paint.

Isn’t that the very first location of Hobby Lobby? I admit it’s been over 30 years ago, but I recall John Seward telling me that he was a partner with Mr. And Mrs. Green in a storefront on NE corner 23rd & Walker they named Hobby Lobby.

I saw them putting up these signs when I was leaving the gym a couple days ago but I didn't get a good look at what they said. 23rd has come a long way but there's still so many eyesores, the old Miriwa restaurant always has a tent out in front of it.

I saw them putting up these signs when I was leaving the gym a couple days ago but I didn't get a good look at what they said. 23rd has come a long way but there's still so many eyesores, the old Miriwa restaurant always has a tent out in front of it.

Miriwa will be demolished in the next few months as parking for Bungalow 23.

Suspicious activity by the eyesore building at the NE corner of 23rd and Walker

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-uptown-district-illegal-parking-signs/45771665

Drove by today and one of the houses across the street from dove science academy had a fire.

https://www.yourstrulyokc.com/

This looks new

https://www.yourstrulyokc.com/

This looks new

Next door to Back Door BBQ place, Looks like operated by LaBrasa group. Can't tell if new lounge or a one off event

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yours-truly-nye-party-2024-grand-sneak-peek-night-tickets-768593974267?aff=oddtdtcreator

The house that was directly east of Metro PCS near 23rd and Penn was razed a few months ago, and now there is a new structure going up in its place. Does anyone know if this is a house or a commercial project?

OK Runner has moved their OKC location from Auto Alley to NW23rd as part of the complex housing The Drake between Walker and Dewey.

https://www.myokrunner.com/okc-uptown-23rd.html

CVS at 23rd and Classen is closing on May 16th. I'll now have to get my scripts from either NW 50th and Shartel or the one at NW 50th and May.

CVS at 23rd and Classen is closing on May 16th. I'll now have to get my scripts from either NW 50th and Shartel or the one at NW 50th and May.

Interesting. I don't want to rag on the store, but I have had pretty consistently terrible experiences there. Messy store, store systems not working, things out of stock, an extremely chaotic vaccine booster experience... so I'm not totally surprised. It's such a big plot of land, with the CVS building set back, so I'm curious what will ultimately become of such a visible corner at a major intersection like that (especially in the context of the possible future Classen TIF District).

I know they had someone come in and assault one of their cashiers several months ago. CVS has also been closing several locations nationwide.

The CVS at main and berry in Norman closed a few years ago and still sits empty, except for annually becoming a spirit halloween. Their purpose-built locations seem to be hard to turn into anything else because you can always just tell it's an old CVS.

There is now a fence around the old Goodwill donation center where Swig will be going in, so that's good to see. I also noticed that the business that sold scrubs and uniforms next to the Valvoline oli change service center is no longer there.

The CVS at main and berry in Norman closed a few years ago and still sits empty, except for annually becoming a spirit halloween. Their purpose-built locations seem to be hard to turn into anything else because you can always just tell it's an old CVS.

I believe the one at NW 23 & Classen was originally an Eckerd Drug.

There is now a fence around the old Goodwill donation center where Swig will be going in, so that's good to see.

Are you referring to the Goodwill donation center on the corner of 23rd and Walker? Or another location?

Are you referring to the Goodwill donation center on the corner of 23rd and Walker? Or another location?

It's the former Goodwill location just west of Penn on the south side of 23rd:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/okiepoke050322c.jpg

From Uptown 23 Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/C8J-0AkAzST/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link):

After years of planning, preparation, stakeholder discussions and advocacy, we’re finally getting to see the future of NW 23rd St.

In 2017 OKC voters approved a GO Bond that would enhance and make safer the corridor on NW 23rd from Broadway to Western Ave’s. We worked closely with the @cityofokc and realized that to make this passage truly safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and other multi-modal users we would need more funding. Through @acogok we received a grant from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to make this project come to life.

Now we are at the 90% design phase and expect construction to start later this year, after Uptown Outside. We are so excited for this corridor to better reflect the intersectional offerings of 23rd St, by making the area safer and more accessible for all.

Pete - Do you know if the city decided to keep the medians with trees on 23rd for the new design? Or did they go with bigger sidewalks?

Pete - Do you know if the city decided to keep the medians with trees on 23rd for the new design? Or did they go with bigger sidewalks?

I haven't seen any recent plans.

I'll be keeping an eye out.

^^^^^^^^^
The medians will be removed to make room for larger sidewalks.

^^^^^^^^^
The medians will be removed to make room for larger sidewalks.

Much needed, but bummer to lose the trees. They’re something OKC could use a lot more of.

^^^^^^^^^
There will be street trees and other considerations in the sidewalks themselves.

^^^^^^^^^
The medians will be removed to make room for larger sidewalks.

Will the final design involve one lane of traffic in each direction with a center turn lane, or something different?

Will the final design involve one lane of traffic in each direction with a center turn lane, or something different?

Jesus hopefully not. Im usually all for reducing lanes but absolutely not on 23rd. Way too much traffic for that.

Here’s a screenshot that was on Ch 5 news this afternoon. They got the rendering from a city council meeting. 18917

It's the former Goodwill location just west of Penn on the south side of 23rd:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/okiepoke050322c.jpg

I drove by yesterday and today and there is a lot of work going on there. I assumed it would be torn down and a new structure built in its place, but it looks like they are trying to utilize the old building. Now, if 7-11 could come in, buy the dispensary next to it, bulldoze it and the old 7-11 to build a new, more modern store, I would be happy with that.