^

I agree about the strong preference for Sprouts and Aldi over Natural Grocers.

Hope they do well here but I doubt I will shop there much.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216f.jpg

I hope they do end up adding the additional sqft on the south to the marked setback lines.

For me, the most important elements are returning the dome itself to the proper color (rather than the flat, cheap paint used by TEEMCO) and preservation of the ceiling.

The scope of work doesn't mention the ceiling, so I assume and hope it will be left largely in tact.

Will be sad to see all the teller stations and 2nd level demolished, though.

Oh yes, I agree about the dome. I hate what TEEMCO did to it. Looks very bad imo.

Anyone know the architecture firm doing it?

Here is a good shot of the interior and ceiling:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome042216g.jpg

Anyone know the architecture firm doing it?

vega architecture (http://vegaarchitecture.com/)

Why does the second level have to be demolished? None of their fixtures/shelving would seem to overlap/interfere with it, but maybe it does enough to make it necessary. Big shame if that's true and they couldn't just find a way to keep it intact for future use (it's not going to be a Natural Grocers forever).

Well this is awesome if you live in The Classen, I guess.

It's great news for ME! I live in the area, and I drive out to NG on north May at least twice a month. Steve's article has a different take on the second floor: "Likely use of the second floor, a ring under the gold dome roof, will include offices for the grocery and classrooms for cooking lessons." Looks like that dream for the mezzanine level has changed.

I will look forward to seeing what this has to offer. Hopefully it gives Homeland the extra push to finally remodel their store. Homeland tends to be very sensitive to competition when it comes to what stores they invest in. Now it looks like that location will have competition.

I wonder how their other stores are doing in OKC? Natural Grocers is different because it's more of a specialty store than a standard grocery store.

I will look forward to seeing what this has to offer. Hopefully it gives Homeland the extra push to finally remodel their store. Homeland tends to be very sensitive to competition when it comes to what stores they invest in. Now it looks like that location will have competition.

I wonder how their other stores are doing in OKC? Natural Grocers is different because it's more of a specialty store than a standard grocery store.

The one on NW 164th only has about 5-6 (maybe a dozen on a busy Saturday) patrons in it at any given time that we go, but that's usually during a weekday or Sat afternoon. I much prefer Sprouts over them, but we don't have one close enough to us to go often (and we've actually stopped going to NG except for about 2-3 specialty items that only they sell because we get all the other stuff we used to get from them at Uptown now).

How is the produce at NG? Better than, equal to, or less than crest?

How is the produce at NG? Better than, equal to, or less than crest?

Produce is all organic. Most stores have a small section of produce compared to other markets like Crest. I think if you would compare Crest's selection of organic vs NG they would be about the same.

I have a personal fondness for NG being born and raised in Denver and going there when they were still small. I am glad that they are in the OKC market especially with Pratts being long gone. That used to be my store to go to when I lived in East Norman in the late 90s.

great on getting a grocer but too bad it isn't someone NEW to the market and perhaps a little more product mainstream (looking at you Reasor's (http://www.reasors.com/)) since this is such an icon of a building (says the selfish part of me, lol).

anyway - let the development begin. ....

I honestly think the use is very incompatible with the space. No one's going to stop and appreciate the ceiling when they're buying milk and eggs. Also, the radial design makes sense for the space but just seems weird for a grocery store.

Yeah, to be hostest I'm not too excited either...maybe I'll be proven wrong.

Produce is all organic. Most stores have a small section of produce compared to other markets like Crest. I think if you would compare Crest's selection of organic vs NG they would be about the same.

I have a personal fondness for NG being born and raised in Denver and going there when they were still small. I am glad that they are in the OKC market especially with Pratts being long gone. That used to be my store to go to when I lived in East Norman in the late 90s.

Yep, agree about the organic NG vs. organic Crest, but if you compare NG to all of Crest's produce, NG would win on quality, but not selection. And Uptown and Sprouts beat the hell out of NG in produce, period.

And also agree that a "just OK" grocery store is not the best use for this space, wish something else could've been done with it, surprised none of the excellent groups of developers we have figured out something for it.

Wanted to point out that this was part of the Oklahoman article:


Likely use of the second floor, a ring under the gold dome roof, will include offices for the grocery and classrooms for cooking lessons.

But the plans submitted clearly show:

1. Written descriptions indicates entire mezzanine / second floor is to be demolished
2. A place for cooking classes on the lower left of the 1st floor plan
3. Offices in the basement
4. Elevator only to run between basement and 1st floor
5. No plan for 2nd level at all

...No one's going to stop and appreciate the ceiling when they're buying milk and eggs. ...

I sure notice how ugly, unkempt, and broken some grocery stores look, so it seems reasonable that people might respond to being in a beautiful space.

I sure notice how ugly, unkempt, and broken some grocery stores look, so it seems reasonable that people might respond to being in a beautiful space.

This. I enjoy shopping at beatified grocery stores a lot more than run down, unkept stores.

Wanted to point out that this was part of the Oklahoman article:


Likely use of the second floor, a ring under the gold dome roof, will include offices for the grocery and classrooms for cooking lessons.


But the plans submitted clearly show:

1. Written descriptions indicates entire mezzanine / second floor is to be demolished
2. A place for cooking classes on the lower left of the 1st floor plan
3. Offices in the basement
4. Elevator only to run between basement and 1st floor
5. No plan for 2nd level at all

You mean a developer is misleading the public to duck criticism, and the Oklahoman is helping their cause? Shocking.

^

I agree about the strong preference for Sprouts and Aldi over Natural Grocers.

Hope they do well here but I doubt I will shop there much.

Yeah, Natural Grocers is probably my least favorite of the recent additions to the city's grocery landscape. We have a few things we get there, but I just really don't like going in, and it doesn't have any outstanding personality. It may be given a boost by the fact that it's in the Gold Dome, but it really needs to work on atmosphere, or at least prices.

Honestly I'm surprised their N. May location can stay open; every time I go there, it's just a handful of people. I think once or twice we've been the only customers in the store.

Look, it may not be your first choice of grocery stores, but hopefully it will lead to more stores coming to the downtown/uptown area. Its a step in the right direction. I live in Edmond and welcome more grocery shopping choices.

I think the picture on top of the wiki with teemco needs to be changed.

Pete can you change the top of the wiki?

I changed it.

For me, the most important elements are returning the dome itself to the proper color (rather than the flat, cheap paint used by TEEMCO) and preservation of the ceiling.

The scope of work doesn't mention the ceiling, so I assume and hope it will be left largely in tact.

You can't tell from old pictures, but you can tell from the current state of the ceiling: I don't believe it was ever originally painted, rather a gold anodized stainless that was then sealed with something translucent. Leaving the current (painted) state of the exterior in the ****er.

You can see from the interior photos the breaks in the metal to make it the shape that fits into the geodesic framework. Which In my opinion: makes it so special. That you can see the painstaking labor it took to form those panels.

New rendering now shows Natural Grocers sign:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dome051716.jpg

Notice Of Public Hearing
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u427/d-hawk/IMG_20160518_200141155_zpsjzr6z0by.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/d-hawk/media/IMG_20160518_200141155_zpsjzr6z0by.jpg.html)

Natural Grocers filed a $2.5 million building permit application for this site today.

Fantastic news.

Construction drawings show where a future building may be added on the site of the to-be-demolished driven thru lanes.

Hopefully a building isn't constructed too close to the dome and obstruct sight lines.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/golddome080316a.jpg

Also, looks like they plan to keep the 2nd level after all, although most is show as "attic space".

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/golddome080316b.jpg

Great news! Fingers crossed for a tower over 20 stories. That would look awesome here.

Great news! Fingers crossed for a tower over 20 stories. That would look awesome here.

Will be 1-story retail of some sort.

Will be 1-story retail of some sort.

Oh. :( Well any density increase is a good thing as long as its built right.

Would be cool to have a garage mixed use development on the larger parking lot on the east side of the development.

Great news! Fingers crossed for a tower over 20 stories. That would look awesome here.

It would make zero sense to build anything 20 story that far out and on that size of land, especially in the area that it is.

Also, looks like they plan to keep the 2nd level after all, although most is show as "attic space".



Good to hear, it would've been horrible to destroy the 2nd level, just wish something besides a Natural Grocers would've gone in there, not quite the best use of it, but it's better than nothing.

any new news on this??

I was worried after hearing they were having problems making the layout work...


Natural Grocers says no to the dome
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record January 4, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – Johnathan Russell isn’t giving up on the Gold Dome.

But the historic building won’t house a Natural Grocers. That company’s public relations and customer service director, Krystal Covington, said the company is not moving forward with the dome right now. Natural Grocers had filed for a building permit with the city of Oklahoma City for the renovation last year.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t keep looking in Oklahoma City,” she said.

Russell, president and CEO of Land Run Commercial Real Estate Advisors, said Natural Grocers’ main developer couldn’t feasibly make the building into a grocery store. He said Land Run is now doing its own due diligence on the dome. Natural Grocers’ development company is Leadership Circle.

“It’s been about a year on setback,” he said. “We were waiting on (the development company) to buy it, and that didn’t work out.”

He said he did not have a contract with the developer before he purchased the historic building in May 2015. He announced he was going to redevelop the building at the 2015 Mayor’s Development Roundtable, and everyone in the room thought it was a joke.

“It was just really good real estate,” he said. “Based on the things happening on 23rd Street, I thought it was time.”

The Gold Dome was built in 1958 and originally housed Citizens Bank. Other banks came and went in the building and by the 1990s, the dome’s life span was almost over. It was going to be demolished, but developer David Box purchased the building. He leased it to Teemco, which was closed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission in May 2015.

Russell said his team is working with people familiar with geodesic domes and the Gold Dome in particular. There are not many examples nationwide of domes being successfully redeveloped.

He said he’d still like to get Natural Grocers in the building. Otherwise, he’s looking for a long-term tenant. If an office tenant wanted to move in, he would be open to that option as well.

“The building is far too difficult to pigeonhole myself,” he said. “It has to be something that has long-term viability. I don’t want to put a hodgepodge of uses in there either. It has to be something that makes that building flourish.”

I'm actually glad - NG wasn't a great fit for the Gold Dome, and what they wanted to do to the inside was almost criminal (although they backed off that a bit as time went on). NG is best suited for generic Aldi-type buildings (and TBH, I'm not sure how they stay in business with Sprouts, Whole Foods, Uptown, TJ's, etc. as their competition, their parking lots are fairly empty compared to those every time I drive by an NG), and the Gold Dome deserves better than that.

Just me personally, I am not big fan of Natural Grocers. I have tried it several times. I like sprouts better. Whole Foods is a little too pricey for me. I live near the gold dome and would actually rather see Sprouts go in there.

Just me personally, I am not big fan of Natural Grocers. I have tried it several times. I like sprouts better. Whole Foods is a little too pricey for me. I live near the gold dome and would actually rather see Sprouts go in there.

We used to go to Natural Grocers when we lived around NW 164th/May, since Sprouts was too far away to go to on a regular basis. Now that we're on NW 36th/May, NG only carries one thing we can't live without - Silver Star Flame-Roasted Medium salsa (used to get the Red Ape Cinnamon Coffee, but the NG on 70-whatever-th/May doesn't carry it, even though the store on 164th/Western does, so we just do without it). Everything else we used to get from there, we can get at other stores.

I'd rather *not* see Sprouts go in there, the Gold Dome deserves more respect than a grocery store (even though attempts have failed, I still believe *something* cooler/nicer than a grocery store can go in there and be successful - give me a million bucks and I'll figure something out :) ).

Is bringing the Prohibition Room back completely out of the realm of possibilities?

Considering the people that owned it moved to California (I believe) and the current building owner stated that he doesn't want to break the building up?

Plus they didn't pay their rent...

Considering the people that owned it moved to California (I believe) and the current building owner stated that he doesn't want to break the building up?

I didn't know they moved or that Russell wasn't willing to compromise now that deals are hard to come by.

Plus they didn't pay their rent...
I didn't know this either. My apologies.

I think someone previously posted that they moved to CA.

Also I probably misinterpreted this statement to mean he didn't want to break up the building, but on re-reading the whole article just above I was probably wrong about that.


“The building is far too difficult to pigeonhole myself,” he said. “It has to be something that has long-term viability. I don’t want to put a hodgepodge of uses in there either. It has to be something that makes that building flourish.”

We used to go to Natural Grocers when we lived around NW 164th/May, since Sprouts was too far away to go to on a regular basis. Now that we're on NW 36th/May, NG only carries one thing we can't live without - Silver Star Flame-Roasted Medium salsa (used to get the Red Ape Cinnamon Coffee, but the NG on 70-whatever-th/May doesn't carry it, even though the store on 164th/Western does, so we just do without it). Everything else we used to get from there, we can get at other stores.

I'd rather *not* see Sprouts go in there, the Gold Dome deserves more respect than a grocery store (even though attempts have failed, I still believe *something* cooler/nicer than a grocery store can go in there and be successful - give me a million bucks and I'll figure something out :) ).

Yes, I agree. I would rather see something other than a grocery store in there. I guess they have an agreement that another bank wont go in there. I would like to see that. It would also make an awesome restaurant.

Yes, I agree. I would rather see something other than a grocery store in there. I guess they have an agreement that another bank wont go in there. I would like to see that. It would also make an awesome restaurant.

i think it would be a great place for a restaurant (maybe a little big)!

i think it would be a great place for a restaurant (maybe a little big)!

It might be cool as an upscale food court.

this always felt like a weird fit.

It might be cool as an upscale food court.

That is a great idea.

I know one will soon be going into a Midtown project; perhaps there is room for another.

That is a great idea.

I know one will soon be going into a Midtown project; perhaps there is room for another.

Where is the Midtown one going to be?

Where is the Midtown one going to be?

Can't say at this point.

Mystery Midtown upscale food court thread?

Okay, maybe not.

^^^

Food court that will make Dallas jealous.