development
|category1=Uptown
|category2=Shopping Centers
|category3=
|category4=
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|project=23rd Street Courts
|address=700 block of NW 23rd Street (http://g.co/maps/twug7) (between Shartel and Lee avenues)
|status=phase 1 and 2 complete, new building under construction
|owner=Mike Tharasena
|cost=$5,000,000
|architect=Brian Fitzsimmons
|start=2008
|finish=2012
|contractor=
|height=single story homes
|sq. feet=8 buildings, 20,000 sf
|acerage=
|other=
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|image=http://www.okctalk.com/images/wikiphotos/23courts1.jpg
|

Information & Latest News
Tenants
Bubba's BBQ
Cuppies & Joe
Links
Fitzsimmons Architects (http://www.fitzsimmons-arch.com/23rd_Street_Courts_1.html)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/23rdstreetcourts)
Gallery

That is quite the transformation. Are these going to be rentals?

No, you should check them out - they're all occupied by mostly retail spaces. Bubba's BBQ took what I think is the last available space directly on 23rd, and there's a little courtyard in the back that Guernsey Avenue opens up into - they're building a new restaurant in that courtyard right now. Metro posted some pics of it a while ago, they will eventually get moved with this article.

Cuppie's and Joe, which if I recall correct takes up the cottage on the immediate east side of Guernsey and 23rd, is probably the most popular cupcake place in town..right now. The rest of the cottages have design businesses and offices.

So instead of taking former residences and converting them into businesses, they are designing businesses to look like homes to start???

Larry, the 23rd Street frontage (slow and leisurely when the homes were built; now a hectic raceway) makes them a tough sell as housing. It is the reason those houses became so run down/derelict before this redevelopment. As storefronts though, they function surprisingly well for the right business type and provide a homey feel that is pretty rare among places in OKC. It's perfectly suited for a cupcake & coffee joint, for instance, where people are lounging, sitting, chatting, reading and working on their laptops. It feels like you are in your own home almost, and it also feels like the place has been there forever when in fact it is only a couple of years old.

I've only been to the BBQ place a couple of times, but again it feels homey and quaint. There are tons of similar and popular adaptive re-uses in many cities. I've seen entire streets and neighborhoods like this in places like Portland, Austin, Kansas City, Austin and even Dallas. The Ginger Man in Dallas is a popular bar in an old two story house, and was the inspiration for TapWerks.

it wasn't meant as a criticism of the reuse, just thought it was interesting...

View from the Guyutes deck last night -- was absolutely gorgeous night to sit up there:

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Bungalow 23 to take inside-out approach to food hall (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=838-Bungalow-23-to-take-inside-out-approach-to-food-hall)

A new project will take the popular food hall concept and turn it inside out.


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Bungalow 23 will unite 9 separate cottages in one unified plan, with common outdoor space between them for seating, games and entertainment.

Truong Le, the operator of Chick n Beer, will coordinate the food and drink concepts. Chick n Beer will move to the former Guernsey Park space (#1) to allow the remaining 8 buildings to receive updates and be filled with 3 additional restaurants and 5 bars, each with its own theme and offerings.

The concept is similar to the popular Rainey Street area of Austin.

The existing patios and porches of the bungalows will be activated as well as the spaces between them. The former small homes were all built circa 1918 and were renovated into a commercial project about 10 years ago, but recently the property has been mostly vacant.

Le and Northline Development have signed a master lease for the entire property as well as the Miriwa restaurant and adjacent lot for parking. The long-vacant Miriwa building will be demolished.

The architect is Ken Fitzsimmons of TASK Design. Work should start by the end of the year.


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Dang.... All these cool new places popping up around town are making it hard for me to want to move away to my farm near the Arbuckles and disconnect from the world.

Amazing concept, I've been to Rainey St a few times and it's such a great spot. Hope this comes to fruition and really kills it.

I have been wanting Chick N Beer to move for the longest time, they have definitely outgrown that spot.

I think this could be successful, but I think if they leave the existing parking it will take away from the connectivity of the entire establishment.

I think this could be successful, but I think if they leave the existing parking it will take away from the connectivity of the entire establishment.

The parking in the center will be removed.

This is fantastic! Those are such great spaces that have been underutilized and I'm excited to see the develop on NW 23rd continue to expand westward. And I hope whatever streetscape finally gets approved for Uptown makes sidewalk life and congregation along that stretch a bit safer and more comfortable than it is now.

Is the Miriwa building going to be demolished entirely for parking?

Is the Miriwa building going to be demolished entirely for parking?

Yes. It's in terrible shape with grafitti all over it.

Yes. It's in terrible shape with grafitti all over it.

Oh for sure. Normally I'm not in favor of a) demolishing existing buildings and b) building more surface parking, but it is one of if not the worst eyesore along that stretch of 23rd.

Exciting! The Miriwa building, as Pete said, is in horrible shape.

What's the status/ownership of the small buildings right on Shartel on both sides? Seems like those buildings - both on the east and west sides of Shartel - are pretty run down (and maybe not in use) based on my recollection - has there been any attempt to incorporate those properties?

I never thought I'd see any proposal where I would be happy to see a building get torn down for more surface parking but here we are.

What's the status/ownership of the small buildings right on Shartel on both sides? Seems like those buildings - both on the east and west sides of Shartel - are pretty run down (and maybe not in use) based on my recollection - has there been any attempt to incorporate those properties?

Those are all owned by the same people and they have done some renovations but nothing major and they can't seem to keep tenants.

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It looks like 4 and 6 still have operators in the tattoo parlor and the spotlight lounge. Are those tenants going to remain or get kicked out and new ones brought in?

It looks like 4 and 6 still have operators in the tattoo parlor and the spotlight lounge. Are those tenants going to remain or get kicked out and new ones brought in?

If they are still there, they won't be for long.

COOL! Those bungalows have been underutilized for years. What an awesome plan.

Wow, so glad the ugly Miriwa building will be demolished soon. The plot next to O'Reilly will be developed into a shopping center as well. Exciting time for Uptown for sure.

we ate at Chick-n-Beer last week and i was saying how i love those bungalows and wish they could be better utilized. dreams do come true. chick-n-beer has definitely out grown the space and the patio was looking a little neglected. glad to see them all getting a spruce up and a great concept. removing the parking in there will make a huge difference and as everyone has stated the Miriwa building needed to go.

Wow, so glad the ugly Miriwa building will be demolished soon. The plot next to O'Reilly will be developed into a shopping center as well. Exciting time for Uptown for sure.

Is there a link to this?

^^
I saw these on the Vietnamese in OKC Facebook page:

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Great concept.

same developer as the collective i bet this is a home run ..

They have already painted the cottages with bright colors vs. the previous gray:

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Is that set of bungalows where a vintage store was located, with maybe interconnects between a couple of them, decades ago? Went there quite a few times, but never really paid attention to where exactly it was, wife got an army jacket there that is still in great shape and she still wears.

Is that set of bungalows where a vintage store was located, with maybe interconnects between a couple of them, decades ago? Went there quite a few times, but never really paid attention to where exactly it was, wife got an army jacket there that is still in great shape and she still wears.

It was called Vintage Plus

They are moving along with their grand plan.

New filing to add a pizza stand and a stand-alone restroom building.


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I love that this is happening. Can't wait to eat my Church's Chicken in the pedestrian plaza!

I love that this is happening. Can't wait to eat my Church's Chicken in the pedestrian plaza!

:banned2:

Eventually there will be signs saying no Church's Customers haha

That back garden area next to the old Guernsey Park building is such a great spot and I look forward to that entire area finally being activated.

This should turn out to be really cool.

Looks like the first bar's permits have been filed for this project. The old hair salon is going to be called Downtime

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Another name on the board, Whiskey Dicks is going to be the bar where Cuppies and Joe was

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Classy

Classy

Similar thought. My actual first thought was the urban dictionary definition.

Is there another definition? Not everything needs to be family friendly, but I'd rather not have to explain that to my kid while visiting.

Is there another definition? Not everything needs to be family friendly, but I'd rather not have to explain that to my kid while visiting.

Just tell em it's short for Whiskey Richard's

Just tell em it's short for Whiskey Richard's

Yep, Richard's the owner and he used to be known for drinking/selling whiskey. :)

They don't have a problem in Kansas. The easily offended and those with kids might want to choose from a bevy of other places.
https://www.whiskeydicksict.com/menus/

There’s a difference between being easily offended and rolling your eyes at the name of a bar sounding like something that a 19 year old frat bro would think is the funniest thing in the world.

And let's be honest, the ones who are offended by a name like this are the ones who are least likely to visit this type of establishment anyways. Those types are people aren't really the target audience for this type of development.

There’s a difference between being easily offended and rolling your eyes at the name of a bar sounding like something that a 19 year old frat bro would think is the funniest thing in the world.

Every other taco outfit seems to go with a name that is similarly juvenile and it doesn't appear to affect their businesses too much.

And let's be honest, the ones who are offended by a name like this are the ones who are least likely to visit this type of establishment anyways. Those types are people aren't really the target audience for this type of development.

Hardly (pun intended). I am the target audience - I live close and eat out a lot. I'm still excited about the development, but I'm not taking my little girl to a place called Whisky Dicks. I'm not offended, but it's a dumb name that will impact how often I'm there.

Hardly (pun intended). I am the target audience - I live close and eat out a lot. I'm still excited about the development, but I'm not taking my little girl to a place called Whisky Dicks. I'm not offended, but it's a dumb name that will impact how often I'm there.

Yep, this last part is right on. We generally don't go to places like The Fuzzy (or Pink) Taco, Whiskey Dick's, Chico Blanco, etc. There are plenty of places around that have food as good as, if not better than restaurants have names that would have Beavis and Butthead huh-huh-huh-ing... But I'm sure all those places will do just fine without my patronage. :)

From my understanding, this project is going to be a mini version of the old Rainey Street in Austin which was full of bars and street food in old Victorian style houses. Rainey Street did not target families and people who eat out, it targeted a younger group of people who go out to party and drink.

From my understanding, this project is going to be a mini version of the old Rainey Street in Austin which was full of bars and street food in old Victorian style houses. Rainey Street did not target families and people who eat out, it targeted a younger group of people who go out to party and drink.

Is that where the original Trudy's was?

Is that where the original Trudy's was?

Not sure of names of establishments. I just know the type of scene Rainey street was when I went down a few years ago before all the high rises started going up. It was full of bars and clubs. Basically a safer/less trashy version of 6th street.

Here is a somewhat more recent look at what Rainey Street is like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcGuGEhPPsg

Is that where the original Trudy's was?

No. Rainey St. is south/southeast of downtown on the north side of Lady Bird. Original Trudys is just north of UT just east of Guad.

Thanks.

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There’s a difference between being easily offended and rolling your eyes at the name of a bar sounding like something that a 19 year old frat bro would think is the funniest thing in the world.

I guess you're not a fan of Little Dicks Halfway Inn out by i-240 and Eastern lol

I wish they will succeed, but I question the sustainability of similar models in OKC. I don't think places like City Garden, The Collective, and Sunset Patio are doing well these days.

I wish they will succeed, but I question the sustainability of similar models in OKC. I don't think places like City Garden, The Collective, and Sunset Patio are doing well these days.

What did I just read? The Collective is always packed, even if the outside isn't swamped right now. And these buildings have indoor areas, as well.

I was at The Collective on Saturday, and they seem to be doing just fine. I'm looking forward to having this up on 23rd.

I think this project is very well positioned to succeed. The entire Uptown 23rd area always seems to be bustling these days, and this seems perfectly-placed to expand that liveliness a bit to the west. Not to mention, Chick N Beer already gets good crowds as is.