OnCue just filed for a $4.75 million building permit for the old Hometown Buffet site just east of the intersection of 63rd & NW Expressway.

They paid $2.9 million for those 2.53 acres in February.


Remember, they also recently opened a location just two miles to the west at NW Expressway & Wilshire. They seem to be getting much more agressive in the OKC market; this will be their 15th location in the Metro.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/oncue63nwex.jpg

Other Metro locations: Edmond, Bethany, Del City, Midwest City & Norman (2).

Current OKC Locations (also under construction at Western & Memorial):

OnCue® Express #100
5900 W. Reno
Oklahoma City OK 73127

OnCue® Express #101
1 NW 23RD St.
Oklahoma City OK 73103

OnCue® Express #103
5920 S. Western
Oklahoma City OK 73109

OnCue® Express #104
1900 E. Memorial
Oklahoma City OK 73131

OnCue® Express #108
6200 N.W. Expressway
Oklahoma City OK 73132

OnCue® Express #109
9000 South Penn
Oklahoma City OK 73159

OnCue® Express #191
4920 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City OK 73118

$4.75 million for JUST construction? Wow.. And most of their gas stations are only around 5,000 SF.
I will be curious to see the plans for this station. Will it have more gas pumps than normal? That's a pretty big lot if they intend on using it all.
Judging by the construction happening on their W. Memorial and Western gas station, it looks like they are tweaking their building design by adding entrances on the side just like the new QuickTrips in Tulsa.

Their Memorial & Western location was a $4.5 million building permit as well.

that seems like a pretty big lot for just a gas station... i wonder if some of the space will be leased out? -M

I wonder if they're planning on having two separate bays of pumps...one facing NW 63rd and one facing NW Expressway. Not to mention they usually have a CNG station in there somewhere. It will be interesting to see the plans come out.

And most of their gas stations are only around 5,000 SF.

This footprint is just a little over 6500 SF.



I wonder if they're planning on having two separate bays of pumps...one facing NW 63rd and one facing NW Expressway. Not to mention they usually have a CNG station in there somewhere.

No they just have one bay that contains 12 pumps (1 will be CNG). The bay does not face 63rd or NW Expressway. The orientation of the building and pumps is the same as the old Hometown building.


that seems like a pretty big lot for just a gas station... i wonder if some of the space will be leased out?

I don't think so. The lot is only 2.5 Acres +/-. There will be a drive-thru and additional 90 degree parking on the backside of the building.

This footprint is just a little over 6500 SF.



No they just have one bay that contains 12 pumps (1 will be CNG). The bay does not face 63rd or NW Expressway. The orientation of the building and pumps is the same as the old Hometown building.



I don't think so. The lot is only 2.5 Acres +/-. There will be a drive-thru and additional 90 degree parking on the backside of the building.

Since your information is so definitive, do you mind telling us how you know all this info? Have you seen the plans?

Since your information is so definitive, do you mind telling us how you know all this info? Have you seen the plans?

Was looking at them as I was typing those answers.

Was looking at them as I was typing those answers.

If you could post the plans, that would be awesome!

If you could post the plans, that would be awesome!

Yes it would be but I'm not at liberty to do that.

Yes it would be but I'm not at liberty to do that.

Yes, we don't want you to lose your job...

This will be an excellent location for them. It will be the last station on NW Expressway all the way to Classen. There is only one small 7-Eleven that is nearly impossible to get in and out of at Independence serving mostly Westbound customers.

It's been driving me crazy. What was the place called before Hometown Buffet. Wasn't "smorgasbord" in the name? It was that older name that had it forever.

It's been driving me crazy. What was the place called before Hometown Buffet. Wasn't "smorgasbord" in the name? It was that older name that had it forever.

Heritage House Smorgasbord.

Heritage House Smorgasbord.

Thank you! I couldn't think of it if my life depended on it.

That's one expensive gas station. They must sell a bunch of taquitos

I'm sure someone here knows the real story (or it's been posted before), but I've heard two stories on On Cue, and they both are based on some old agreement between the QT and 7-11 folks that QT would never come to OKC and 7-11 wouldn't go to Tulsa (boy we got the crap end of that deal...if it's true).

1.) The OnCue concept we see today in OKC was started by a guy who essentially walked into a QT, took notes on everything, and copied it to a T

2.) OnCue is actually partially owned by QT and it's their way of getting into the OKC market without breaking the 7-11 agreement.

Odds are both of these are false, but they are things I heard when I first moved here in 2009, and complained there were no QT's in OKC.

I'm sure someone here knows the real story (or it's been posted before), but I've heard two stories on On Cue, and they both are based on some old agreement between the QT and 7-11 folks that QT would never come to OKC and 7-11 wouldn't go to Tulsa (boy we got the crap end of that deal...if it's true).

1.) The OnCue concept we see today in OKC was started by a guy who essentially walked into a QT, took notes on everything, and copied it to a T

2.) OnCue is actually partially owned by QT and it's their way of getting into the OKC market without breaking the 7-11 agreement.

Odds are both of these are false, but they are things I heard when I first moved here in 2009, and complained there were no QT's in OKC.

Two Stillwater convenience store owners, big competitors, ended up merging and became OnCue. Rusty Shaw and Jack Griffith.

I was always told that the gentlemen's agreement was between quiktrip and Love's

QT and Love's don't even really serve the same market.

Their Memorial & Western location was a $4.5 million building permit as well.

That one has a huge amount of site work to be done. Makes me wonder why they're going to spend even more at this location, unless they intend to raise the site. The same goes for the Eastern & Memorial location - they spent a ton of money on a bridge and other site work.

Most On Cue's do include a ton of sitework. A big part of it is the massive canopy and the drains that come from it.

I was always told that the gentlemen's agreement was between quiktrip and Love's

No. The agreement was between Bill Brown, who bought the 7-Eleven franchise in OKC and QuickTrip founder John Thompson. The Brown family still owns the 7-Eleven stores in Oklahoma City as a completely autonomous entity from corporate 7-Eleven due to a clause Brown insisted on in his franchisee contract back in the early 50's. 7-Eleven is now actually headquarted in Tokyo, with the American division operating out of the old 7-Eleven headquarters in Dallas. They go far out of the way to make people think 7-Eleven is still an American company.

The Oklahoma City stores is a fascinating story really. The 7-Eleven North American page even has on their contact page at the very bottom:
7-Eleven in Oklahoma City:
For comments, inquiries or complaints pertaining to 7-Eleven stores in Oklahoma City, please note that this company is not affiliated with 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven Stores
2021 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73128
Phone: 405-682-5711

Wow, did OKC get the rawest of deals in that "gentlemen's agreement".


The 7/11's in the Metro are generally horrible places while QuickTrips are at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum.

OnCue saw a great opportunity and is obviously thriving...

I hope they drive 7/11 completely out of business. Most their locations are shameful.

Check out this place:

Buc-ee's in New Braunfels, Texas

68,000 sqft
50 Gas Pumps
50 Bathroom Stalls cleaned after every use by restroom staff.


http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=rn_e4aknS0k&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Drn_e4aknS0k

Wow, did OKC get the rawest of deals in that "gentlemen's agreement".


The 7/11's in the Metro are generally horrible places while QuickTrips are at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum.

OnCue saw a great opportunity and is obviously thriving...

I hope they drive 7/11 completely out of business. Most their locations are shameful.

7-11 is getting better. I noticed around the city they are cleaning up and remodeling the stores or replacing them. They just replaced the one on 10th and Air Depot it was little ratty store. Now, it has 12 gas pumps, a large clean bright store with a self serve grill, fresh donuts, lots of choices for drinks, coffees, shakes, snacks and a large checkout counter. It's about twice the size of the old store. They really outdid themselves. It should be noted that if it weren't for OnCue, they would probably still be the dinky little stores.I don't see them going under anytime soon. The construction worker community keeps most stores pretty busy during the work day and their gas prices keep their pumps full of cars around the clock.

The main difference in layout between a QT and an ONCUE is the bathrooms are on the left when walking in on a QT, and on the right at an ONCUE. I still sometimes go to the wrong side at an ONCUE when I have to take a quick leak. On a side note, 711 has lost alot of my "If I have to use your bathroom I will buy something for services rendered" business, because they have no public bathrooms.

I went graduated from OCU in 2002. Before 2000, the 7-11 on the corner of 23rd and Penn was like the one at 36th and Penn, it was basically a convenience store in a small strip mall. They tore that down and built what you see today. Before everyone had cell phones, there was a thing called "pagers" or "beepers". There was a store connected to the 7-11 before it was remodeled called "Mo-Beeps". It was one of the more ghetto things I have ever seen.

Wow, did OKC get the rawest of deals in that "gentlemen's agreement".


The 7/11's in the Metro are generally horrible places while QuickTrips are at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum.

OnCue saw a great opportunity and is obviously thriving...

I hope they drive 7/11 completely out of business. Most their locations are shameful.

I am curious if the "gentlemen's agreement" was made before QT became as nice as it is today and 7-11 became as bad as it is today.

I noticed around the city they are cleaning up and remodeling the stores

I wish I could say the same.

All the ones I see are still the dumps they've always been.

No. The agreement was between Bill Brown, who bought the 7-Eleven franchise in OKC and QuickTrip founder John Thompson. The Brown family still owns the 7-Eleven stores in Oklahoma City as a completely autonomous entity from corporate 7-Eleven due to a clause Brown insisted on in his franchisee contract back in the early 50's. 7-Eleven is now actually headquarted in Tokyo, with the American division operating out of the old 7-Eleven headquarters in Dallas. They go far out of the way to make people think 7-Eleven is still an American company.

The Oklahoma City stores is a fascinating story really. The 7-Eleven North American page even has on their contact page at the very bottom:
7-Eleven in Oklahoma City:
For comments, inquiries or complaints pertaining to 7-Eleven stores in Oklahoma City, please note that this company is not affiliated with 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven Stores
2021 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73128
Phone: 405-682-5711

Interesting story and similar to what I have heard except for one large detail. Who is John Thompson? QuikTrip was founded by Chester Cadieux and friend Burt Holmes. Chester still owns the private company that is today run by his son Chet. Here’s a good story about the founding of the chain.

Store No. 27 and the Making of QuikTrip | This Land Press (http://thislandpress.com/12/06/2010/store-no-27-and-the-making-of-quiktrip/?read=complete)

Interesting story and similar to what I have heard except for one large detail. Who is John Thompson? QuikTrip was founded by Chester Cadieux and friend Burt Holmes. Chester still owns the private company that is today run by his son Chet. Here’s a good story about the founding of the chain.

Store No. 27 and the Making of QuikTrip | This Land Press (http://thislandpress.com/12/06/2010/store-no-27-and-the-making-of-quiktrip/?read=complete)


Interesting story and similar to what I have heard except for one large detail. Who is John Thompson? QuikTrip was founded by Chester Cadieux and friend Burt Holmes. Chester still owns the private company that is today run by his son Chet. Here’s a good story about the founding of the chain.

Store No. 27 and the Making of QuikTrip | This Land Press (http://thislandpress.com/12/06/2010/store-no-27-and-the-making-of-quiktrip/?read=complete)

This comes from an old photocopy of a newspaper article from a Tulsa weekly back in the nineties. They describe John Thompson as an investor in QT, not the founder, sorry. He recommended Brown grab the OKC territory for 7-Eleven and later became involved financially with both Brown's 7-Eleven and Cadieux's QT. The agreement was made then not to ever introduce new stores on their turf which was OKC (7-Eleven) and Tulsa (QT) proper.

Wow, did OKC get the rawest of deals in that "gentlemen's agreement".


The 7/11's in the Metro are generally horrible places while QuickTrips are at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum.

OnCue saw a great opportunity and is obviously thriving...

I hope they drive 7/11 completely out of business. Most their locations are shameful.amen to that!!!! I really hope they build one in North Edmond

I'm sure someone here knows the real story (or it's been posted before), but I've heard two stories on On Cue, and they both are based on some old agreement between the QT and 7-11 folks that QT would never come to OKC and 7-11 wouldn't go to Tulsa (boy we got the crap end of that deal...if it's true).

1.) The OnCue concept we see today in OKC was started by a guy who essentially walked into a QT, took notes on everything, and copied it to a T

2.) OnCue is actually partially owned by QT and it's their way of getting into the OKC market without breaking the 7-11 agreement.

Odds are both of these are false, but they are things I heard when I first moved here in 2009, and complained there were no QT's in OKC.

I have never understood what the big obsession is with QT. When they came to Charlotte, everybody went crazy. To me, a gas station is a gas station.

I have never understood what the big obsession is with QT. When they came to Charlotte, everybody went crazy. To me, a gas station is a gas station.

It's a case of wanting what you don't have.

Kinda like In n Out. If they built one in OKC it'd be real popular at first but then everyone would realize it's another burger joint in a city full of burger joints. Everyone longed for a Dave & Busters. Now that we've got one, I wonder how their business is. I'm hoping they're still doing good business. We really don't need another vacant building of a failed business.

Such places are cool because we don't have them. But as soon as we get it, it must not be cool anymore because we have one. A bit like Groucho Marx saying he didn't want to be a member of any club that would have him as a member.

It's a case of wanting what you don't have.

Kinda like In n Out. If they built one in OKC it'd be real popular at first but then everyone would realize it's another burger joint in a city full of burger joints. Everyone longed for a Dave & Busters. Now that we've got one, I wonder how their business is. I'm hoping they're still doing good business. We really don't need another vacant building of a failed business.

Such places are cool because we don't have them. But as soon as we get it, it must not be cool anymore because we have one. A bit like Groucho Marx saying he didn't want to be a member of any club that would have him as a member.

I agree with you on In-N-Out. I too wonder why people get so excited about a fast food chain. When I lived in Charlotte people talked about In-N-Out like it was the holy grail.

About 4-6 months ago, the local 7-11 group was interviewing architects to design a new prototype store.

I agree with you on In-N-Out. I too wonder why people get so excited about a fast food chain. When I lived in Charlotte people talked about In-N-Out like it was the holy grail.

not much different than the way people around here talk about Quick Trip... at the end of the day, it's still just a convient store

not much different than the way people around here talk about Quick Trip... at the end of the day, it's still just a convient store

Do they have a nice selection of habits at the convent store?

Bingo on the 63rd street location, nice to see one's sources pan out with accurate info. See the OnCue expansion thread where we talked about this location as well as the battle vs shameful 7-11 back in February or thereabouts.

BTW, 7-11 selected an out-of-state architect and PR firm to assist with new designs and rebranding to prep for battle with OnCue, but I heard the hiring of those firms has since possibly gone south for reasons unknown. 7-11 probably is too cheap to pay for design services, or, they saw the price tag to actually do something better than their norm. They will soon build a rival to OnCue on the corner of NWH and McArthur, which OnCue originally wanted before building the Wilshire location. I thought it would be started by now......not sure why its not. My guess is the delay is due to uncertainly in the prototype design direction. I think it was planned to be one the first new designs, but if that's gone south, my guess is it just look like a larger version of their other locations. Hopefully they end up improving their stores since they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

They will soon build a rival to OnCue on the corner of NWH and McArthur, which OnCue originally wanted before building the Wilshire location.

Must be on the SW corner, where the closed Arby's and Mazzio's buildings are currently standing. That location is kind of hard to get to except from EB NWH, probably why those two businesses closed.

Must be on the SW corner, where the closed Arby's and Mazzio's buildings are currently standing. That location is kind of hard to get to except from EB NWH, probably why those two businesses closed. The reason why Arby's and Mazzios closed those locations is because 7 Eleven bought those lots for their future store. It had nothing to do with the access as that Arby's and Mazzios had been their since the 80"s.

That 63rd & MacArthur location does have poor ingress and egress.

You can only access it going south on NW Expressway and can only turn south coming out.

There is no direct access from MacArthur, as you have to turn down a side street, pass behind a couple other of businesses, then come out the other side. And, you can't even make that turn going north on MacA; only south.

I imagine they will petition Warr Acres to provide a curb cut on MacArthur.

That 63rd & MacArthur location does have poor ingress and egress.

You can only access it going south on NW Expressway and can only turn south coming out.

There is no direct access from MacArthur, as you have to turn down a side street, pass behind a couple other of businesses, then come out the other side. And, you can't even make that turn going north on MacA; only south.

I imagine they will petition Warr Acres to provide a curb cut on MacArthur.

That would make the most sense. Every time I went there I had to travel north on MacArthur and then left on NW Expressway before making a turnaround and taking the next available place to go back the other way.

not much different than the way people around here talk about Quick Trip... at the end of the day, it's still just a convient store

Well, obviously, but QTs offer such a better overall experience that you never want to go to other convenience stores. I've had a lot of bad experiences at 7/11s with dirty products/bathrooms and poor service while having the exact opposite experience at QTs. If there's a QT in the market I won't go to any other store. Have you been to one of their new model stores? They're ridiculously nice for a gas station. Saying a convenience store is a convenience store is akin to saying a hamburger place is a hamburger place, but I'll take Nic's, Tucker's, or Republic burgers over McDonald's everyday. In the end, OnCue is still an inferior imitation. OKC really got screwed by that gentleman's agreement.

Well, obviously, but QTs offer such a better overall experience that you never want to go to other convenience stores. I've had a lot of bad experiences at 7/11s with dirty products/bathrooms and poor service while having the exact opposite experience at QTs. If there's a QT in the market I won't go to any other store. Have you been to one of their new model stores? They're ridiculously nice for a gas station. Saying a convenience store is a convenience store is akin to saying a hamburger place is a hamburger place, but I'll take Nic's, Tucker's, or Republic burgers over McDonald's everyday. In the end, OnCue is still an inferior imitation. OKC really got screwed by that gentleman's agreement.

Good way of putting it.

It's kind of like grocery stores. Wal-Mart Supercenter gets the job done, but it would sure be nice to have a Publix or Harris Teeter/Kroger. At this point, I would even settle for an OnCue-level imitation of a nice grocery store chain in OKC if they would expand with enough locations to be convenient.

Things may have changed, but when I lived back in Florida (80s), Publix were dumps. Roughly equivalent to most of the Homelands today. Same for most of the chain grocery stores. Piggly Wiggly, Kroger, Safeway, Winn-Dixie, A&P, and a score of others.

Things may have changed, but when I lived back in Florida (80s), Publix were dumps. Roughly equivalent to most of the Homelands today. Same for most of the chain grocery stores. Piggly Wiggly, Kroger, Safeway, Winn-Dixie, A&P, and a score of others.

They have changed -- it's been 30 years, after all.

All of those are nice chains that have invested a lot in upgrading and adding nice finishes to their new stores.

Homeland looks now like those places did 3 decades ago.

Drove by yesterday and it looks like the old Hometown Buffet was leveled. Shouldn't be too long before they start putting in tanks and running lines.

Unless I am mistaken, I think it takes about 4-6 months depending weather conditions to build an Oncue. The stores I have seen built are not built up quickly like 7-11 builds their stores. I predict they will be open for business sometime in December or January provided we don't see an early winter.

Oncue's are fine, but it seems like a lot of people on okctalk don't want competitors for any type of business.

...and their gas prices keep their pumps full of cars around the clock.

No matter the price, I absolutely refuse to use their gas. Any vehicle I've ever had has acted weird when I've used it and the MPG was horrible.

No matter the price, I absolutely refuse to use their gas. Any vehicle I've ever had has acted weird when I've used it and the MPG was horrible.I think Shell has the best gas. BP is not bad either.

No matter the price, I absolutely refuse to use their gas. Any vehicle I've ever had has acted weird when I've used it and the MPG was horrible.

To each their own... I only buy gas from clean gas stations. By clean, I mean clean parking lot clean store and presentable employees. If they appear to be slacking on any area chances are more than likely the fuel tanks are probably not in the best shape either. I buy most of my fuel from Oncue, Valero and occasionally 7-11 because they are the only clean places in OKC that offer Ethanol Free Fuel. I know most people say there is no difference between Ethanol and No Ethanol but, I see it. My truck on standard fuel gets 370 (2 weeks of commuting) to a a tank before the fuel light comes on. On Ethanol it turns on after 300 miles (9 or 10 days). Gas is too expensive to miss out on on a 4-5 more days of fuel.

I don't buy from Shell, Phillips 66, Conoco because they don't sell Ethanol Free Fuel. I don't buy from the stores that have beer and tobacco signs posted all over the front. Many sell beer and tobacco to minors and they are havens for food stamp fraud.

To each their own... I only buy gas from clean gas stations. By clean, I mean clean parking lot clean store and presentable employees. If they appear to be slacking on any area chances are more than likely the fuel tanks are probably not in the best shape either. I buy most of my fuel from Oncue, Valero and occasionally 7-11 because they are the only clean places in OKC that offer Ethanol Free Fuel. I know most people say there is no difference between Ethanol and No Ethanol but, I see it. My truck on standard fuel gets 370 (2 weeks of commuting) to a a tank before the fuel light comes on. On Ethanol it turns on after 300 miles (9 or 10 days). Gas is too expensive to miss out on on a 4-5 more days of fuel.

I don't buy from Shell, Phillips 66, Conoco because they don't sell Ethanol Free Fuel. I don't buy from the stores that have beer and tobacco signs posted all over the front. Many sell beer and tobacco to minors and they are havens for food stamp fraud.

Ahh good old Ethanol.....one of the biggest scams ever put on the American people. That and high fructose corn syrup.

To each their own... I only buy gas from clean gas stations. By clean, I mean clean parking lot clean store and presentable employees. If they appear to be slacking on any area chances are more than likely the fuel tanks are probably not in the best shape either. I buy most of my fuel from Oncue, Valero and occasionally 7-11 because they are the only clean places in OKC that offer Ethanol Free Fuel. I know most people say there is no difference between Ethanol and No Ethanol but, I see it. My truck on standard fuel gets 370 (2 weeks of commuting) to a a tank before the fuel light comes on. On Ethanol it turns on after 300 miles (9 or 10 days). Gas is too expensive to miss out on on a 4-5 more days of fuel.

I don't buy from Shell, Phillips 66, Conoco because they don't sell Ethanol Free Fuel. I don't buy from the stores that have beer and tobacco signs posted all over the front. Many sell beer and tobacco to minors and they are havens for food stamp fraud.That is not true at all, in fact, every Shell and Conoco here in Edmond I've seen sells Ethanol free gas. Ethanol is horrible for cars, and I will not fill up unless I absolutely have to.

I'll snap some pics for you at the gas stations to prove it too. I'm not lying.

Ethanol is horrible for cars, and I will not fill up unless I absolutely have to.

I keep hearing this but I drive a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. The only major repair I've ever had to make to it was when the CPU went out, a few days after the warranty expired, and took my transmission with it. I don't think the ethanol caused that problem because no one sold it here in 1999 that I'm aware of.

I am very meticulous about keeping it maintained. So maybe my mechanic, who is very good by the way, is offsetting all these terrible effects of ethanol.

Drove by the other day and the entire parking lot was torn out. Looks like they are moving right along.

Drove by the other day and the entire parking lot was torn out. Looks like they are moving right along.

The old building there is completely gone now.

The old building there is completely gone now.

It's strange isn't it? It's amazing how a simple restaurant building becomes a part of the scenery. Back in the late 80's and early 90's I lived at Pheasant Run near 63rd and Meridian and used to take 63rd street east to work and passed the old Heritage House every day, and then Hometown Buffet. I went by there for the first time in a few weeks just yesterday and it looked so strange.

It's strange isn't it? It's amazing how a simple restaurant building becomes a part of the scenery. Back in the late 80's and early 90's I lived at Pheasant Run near 63rd and Meridian and used to take 63rd street east to work and passed the old Heritage House every day, and then Hometown Buffet. I went by there for the first time in a few weeks just yesterday and it looked so strange.

Yes, it's funny how you get used to seeing things a certain way and how even a small change can be a bit disorienting.

I know it's going to be very weird for me next week when I'm in town and I see the old West Park Mall demolished at 63rd & MacArthur. I've never known OKC where that structure wasn't there and I have very strong associations with it from my youth.

I've seen photos of the demo, know the old place was in horrific shape, yet I know when I actually see it in person I will be very weirded out.


BTW, the first time I came into OKC after Devon Tower was largely finished was extremely shocking. I had seen thousands of photos (and video) from every possible angle but as soon as I hit the airport and actually saw it dominating the skyline, it was incredibly strange. Again, the skyline had not changed much for decades and it took quite a while for me to get used to seeing it. It kept surprising me every time I saw it.