i dont think the issue is necessarily that semis are traveling along 23rd; it is that they are turning. 23rd is the few areas of the city outside of downtown that has incredible density and therefore isn't being built around the vehicle. Companies will need to adopt to this by, as was mentioned - switching to smaller vehicles for deliveries/stocking just like the do in other urban areas.

there is and should be an expectation that 23rd is fully assessable by a full size semi ..

i dont think the issue is necessarily that semis are traveling along 23rd; it is that they are turning. 23rd is the few areas of the city outside of downtown that has incredible density and therefore isn't being built around the vehicle. Companies will need to adopt to this by, as was mentioned - switching to smaller vehicles for deliveries/stocking just like the do in other urban areas.

Are the lanes really even that much more narrow? We're really only talking about four blocks and I've driven a large cargo van down this strip countless times and I don't ever remember thinking it was any different than everything east and west of it. Sure the lights and cross walks slow it down, as they should, but I never felt squeezed driving through it.

Honestly, the sketchiest part of 23rd right now is crossing it on Classen. The striping is almost completely gone. For some reason, people seem to have trouble staying in their lanes on Classen, even where the striping is visible. As of now, there basically aren't any lanes on either side of 23rd.

Are the lanes really even that much more narrow? We're really only talking about four blocks and I've driven a large cargo van down this strip countless times and I don't ever remember thinking it was any different than everything east and west of it. Sure the lights and cross walks slow it down, as they should, but I never felt squeezed driving through it.

Honestly, the sketchiest part of 23rd right now is crossing it on Classen. The striping is almost completely gone. For some reason, people seem to have trouble staying in their lanes on Classen, even where the striping is visible. As of now, there basically aren't any lanes on either side of 23rd.

Agree a thousand percent about Classen. Plus people driving it like it’s a highway.

It would be great if they just got rid of the outside lanes in this area of Classen, the road can’t handle the busses and other heavy vehicles and it makes that lane impassible for any other vehicle, causing people to constantly depart their lane to avoid the holes.

Saw the Dollar General store on the west side of Classen had 3 windows damaged with plywood over them. One was the front door. Again, not good for business.

This morning I noticed that the Family Dollar on 23rd/Harvey had a store closing sign out front. Hopefully we get something better to backfill, which shouldn't be difficult.

I wonder why they are closing. They always seemed busy

I wonder why they are closing. They always seemed busy

Family Dollar/Dollar Tree are slowly closing over 600 stores nationwide. It has nothing to do with how busy a location might be.

Looks like SWIG, west of Penn on 23rd is about ready to open. All the times are painted but the menus aren't up yet. Not sure what else they have to do here.

Looks like SWIG, west of Penn on 23rd is about ready to open. All the times are painted but the menus aren't up yet. Not sure what else they have to do here.

After I posted that, I saw on the website they are supposed to open on 9/26.

Plans have been filed for the 23rd Street redo between Western and Broadway.

They are marked 'preliminary' but I suppose they are looking to get construction bids before they finalize everything.

Looks like all of the median will be removed and lots of trees planted along the roadway.

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Plans have been filed for the 23rd Street redo between Western and Robinson.

They are marked 'preliminary' but I suppose they are looking to get construction bids before they finalize everything.


These look great! Like a lot of people I think turn lanes would have done a world of good on 23rd but absent that the bulb-outs and wider sidewalks and street trees will make a world of difference for pedestrians.

Plans have been filed for the 23rd Street redo between Western and Robinson.

They are marked 'preliminary' but I suppose they are looking to get construction bids before they finalize everything.

Looks like all of the median will be removed and lots of trees planted along the roadway.



It looks like the plans stretch all the way east to Broadway, which is great.

I wonder if any of those trees in the median can be uprooted and relocated into the new tree areas on the sidewalks. Would make a profound difference if they didn't have to start with new trees there!

love it, this should not only be in the Uptown core district but also extend over to Pennsylvania and to I-35, where possible. 23rd should be OKC's truly urban street considering it has OCU/University District, Asian District, Uptown 23rd District, Eastside district, and the entrance to Paseo Arts District along a 4-5 mile path; it all should strive for this level of urban design.

Classen north of 23rd will be closed starting around 9am Friday for the Asian Night Market Festival running both Friday and Saturday from 5pm - 10pm.

wishing the best for the Annual Night Market.

I'm hoping they can start to have it more than just one weekend, and perhaps longer hours, and include Sunday. Actually Th-Sun, for a several weekends around the Harvest Moon would be great.

Drove by and there were lots of trucks and the sign was down in the SWIG parking lot just west of Penn on NW 23rd.

When does this road construction start for the street improvements?

Thai House has been getting a nice exterior refresh the last few days. Brighter colors and some added wood elements.

A couple of updates: the Churches chicken near the bungalow development has a banner that states that this location is temporarily closed. Also, the former tire shop on the corner of 23rd and Robinson is getting dismantled after fire damage.

A couple of updates: the Churches chicken near the bungalow development has a banner that states that this location is temporarily closed. Also, the former tire shop on the corner of 23rd and Robinson is getting dismantled after fire damage.

For some reason I seem to recall that the tire building was in really bad shape. I think we looked at it 20 years ago for a purchase and wasn't interested as it was really a tear down. My memory on this is hazy so could be wrong. Has anyone else been in this building?

For some reason I seem to recall that the tire building was in really bad shape. I think we looked at it 20 years ago for a purchase and wasn't interested as it was really a tear down. My memory on this is hazy so could be wrong. Has anyone else been in this building?

Oh, it was definitely in rough shape. It had been for sale since Covid started and then I think there was a fire, but I don't recall when. Probably 2023 or so. I went to OCU from 1999-2002 and the Blue Note was our spot. Even back then it was an eye sore.

A couple of updates: the Churches chicken near the bungalow development has a banner that states that this location is temporarily closed. Also, the former tire shop on the corner of 23rd and Robinson is getting dismantled after fire damage.

Regarding Churches, they have not filed any permits for work, so I suspect they me done at that location.

There is another Churches just a couple miles west at Portland.

That Church’s has really struggled with staffing and management for a very, VERY long time.

Been an eyesore on that corner for a long time and the land has never been more valuable. Bungalow23 right there, Uptown23rd. Hope something nice can come from it

I drove by the Bungalow 23 development last night and the whole area looked dead. I looked up Muckers online and according to Google, it is permanently closed. I don't know about Downtime, but I was not able to access their website at the time.

I drove by the Bungalow 23 development last night and the whole area looked dead. I looked up Muckers online and according to Google, it is permanently closed. I don't know about Downtime, but I was not able to access their website at the time.

I went to muckers with a buddy last month and we were the only two guys in there for at least 90 minutes. And it was a friday! Sure it was like 7-8pm but still.

Is it maybe that there are too many bars in a small area and the rent is too high so they are all kinda cannibalizing each other? (At least when its not 11pm on a saturday)

I’m sure the cold weather for a largely outdoor development is doing no favors. Thunder watch parties during the playoffs had hundreds of people out there. Friday nights over the summer with live music drew nice crowds. I hope for the best with Bungalow23. The whole thing has been tastefully done

I went to muckers with a buddy last month and we were the only two guys in there for at least 90 minutes. And it was a friday! Sure it was like 7-8pm but still.

Is it maybe that there are too many bars in a small area and the rent is too high so they are all kinda cannibalizing each other? (At least when its not 11pm on a saturday)

Weren't Muckers and Downtime operated by the same person? Both concepts seemed not very unique and cheaply done if you ask me (outside of the great job of renovating the buildings). Neither had draft beer which I also kind of found strange. Wonder how much of the issue at that location is parking?

Bar Next Door, The Pump, The Drake and Syrup have all announced their closures recently. All on NW 23rd.

Is this just the result of a broader trend of less people going out in general? I don't have any data on it, but it definitely seems like bars and restaurants across the board close way early these days. I was at Flamingo awhile ago on a Friday night and last call was at midnight. It really surprised me. A lot of full service restaurants seem to close early during the week, too. I'll go to dinner at 8:30 and they're prepping to close before I have even started eating.

I assume there's just not enough business to be had at bars and restaurants after, say, 10pm these days. I'm not sure how a place that is primarily a bar can operate without late night businesses.

Just imagine how Uptown will be once they start tearing up the streets and sidewalks. Places like Bungalow are going to be hurting.

Bars need to stand out now with so many options. It is good for the city to have so much competition in the service industry.

TruckYard will be opening soon for Spring in Bricktown which I'm sure will be siphoning patio people away from places like Bungalow and [whatever comes next for] The Pump.

What’s coming next for The Pump is almost certainly a new and improved Pump. They’re currently working hard on putting the pieces together to be back better than ever.

Is this just the result of a broader trend of less people going out in general? …

The answer to this is 100% yes:


https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/health-essentials/a-generational-change-in-drinking-habits-with-akhil-anand
https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/alcohol-industry-panics-healthier-habits-cut-sales
https://news.gallup.com/poll/648413/alcohol-consumption-increasingly-viewed-unhealthy.aspx

There is also a trend - especially in weed-friendly places like Oklahoma - for folks to replace their booze with THC, including people who actually go to bars, but simply to sit on patios with friends while high. This is especially prevalent in the demos that frequent places like Uptown.

On top of that you had people dial it down leading up to the election (and possibly even some post-election changes in habits), and people having a tough time justifying the expense associated with eating/drinking out. TONS of bars in the central part of OKC are struggling. It’s industry-wide right now.

Suburban places are generally doing much better, and again that’s probably a demographic thing. It’s also possible that people who were driving to the center of the city to party have found new places closer to home.

^

Those are all really great observations.

Also, I think we may have to come to terms with the fact that the core was somewhat overbuilt with bars and restaurants. So, so many were added in a relatively short time. As a customer, it's an embarrassment of choices. Tons of good places and there are plenty I haven't even tried yet.

^

Those are all really great observations.

Also, I think we may have to come to terms with the fact that the core was somewhat overbuilt with bars and restaurants. So, so many were added in a relatively short time. As a customer, it's an embarrassment of choices. Tons of good places and there are plenty I haven't even tried yet.

i think while the core was being "overbuilt" lots of the burbs were way underserved ... and that has changed .. meaning more and more are staying closer to home (in the burbs) and not going to the core as much ..

I also don't think we've significantly increased the headcount in the Core either.

Yes, there is a lot more expendable income per capita in the Core but 1) You only eat so many times a day/week 2) There need to be a lot more bodies to be able to support so many businesses close by, particularly in relation to what Boulder pointed out with the suburbs getting better options as well.

If all of the restaurant spaces in the Core were occupied, I think it's reasonable to say the Core would need an injection of tens of thousands of people (of similar means) for an "average" restaurant/bar to thrive.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
It worked REALLY well for inner OKC when:


The downtown workforce was largely not only white collar; it was mostly professional and upper-income
Most downtown workers worked - IN THE OFFICE - roughly 9-5, M-F
There were few dining/entertainment options outside of the core, maybe none near you, depending upon where you live

All three of these things have changed fundamentally during the past five years, and will only continue to morph

More rooftops will definitely help inner OKC, especially from a retail standpoint. The jury’s out on how much it helps F&B. For instance, lunch. If you live downtown and work at home, how often will you leave your house/apt/whatever for lunch? If you reverse commute to the ‘burbs, aren’t you going to be lunching in the ‘burbs, too?

It’s going to be a tricky few years for inner OKC F&B until the arena and stadium bring evening buzz and more weekend day trips back to the inner city. OKANA will help, but that’s a visitor demo, probably not from the metro. Inner city OKC F&B needs suburban and metro OKC.