While I would probably make my way to Flashback 1-2x a month regardless of location, I want them to be successful in the short and long run, and I have trouble believing it would do well in Film Row in the near term. Foot traffic is low and it's a ghost town after dark. It's a risk I'm not sure I would take. I get the feeling that they're considering it or even further along, and if that's the case, I wish them luck and will certainly be a customer, but I see a Film Row location as a serious struggle in the foreseeable future.

This.

Bars like Flashback Retropub do best when they compliment other nearby establishments. That's why I think it would be a slam dunk in Midtown.

We have not signed a lease in at any specific location as of today. The point I was trying to make was that with the growth of the OKC Downtown area, a good bar can look outside of the Midtown, Auto Alley districts to be successful. The other hurdle we have to jump is getting an ABC3 permit, we have no plans to serve food, so the requirements to get an ABC3 can be hard to overcome when you look at places like Midtown and AA. In regards to my comments about Film Row, I could say the same for Farmers Market. Both cool areas, lots of growth in the near future. And in a year should have a hotel drawing more people to both areas. Now Film Row is currently in a better position then Farmers Market, but as we have all seen with Midtown, Plaza and AA it just takes one great investor to turn the district around.

In defense of Film Row, all that Arts District housing will be coming online soon and that will help Film Row's late night cause.

What I worry about for Flashback, is that while there are almost certain to be super avid regulars, I predict a sizable segment of the drinking public that will actively lobby for other options when they are going out with friends. A lot depends on the way the concept is laid out, but even if a way is found to provide adequate separation of the arcade aspect from the bar aspect, I imagine the sheer amount of noise from the machines will push away the average person looking for the average bar, but if it's located in a bar hopping district, people who otherwise might not come will definitely stop in and take in the experience for a minute. It would be super awesome to have it right next to Dust Bowl.

Film Row does have major potential and excellent building stock (probably among the most intact in the metro next to Auto Alley and Capitol Hill). It is definitely ripe for revitalization and I think it will really take off once the 21c Hotel gets built. Looking back, it's hard to believe Midtown was virtually as dead three years ago. Looking at the long term vision, something like Flashback would be ideal at Film Row.

My only concern would be the near term for reasons Teo9969 laid out above. Something like this seems like it would have the most success in a bar hopping district rather than by itself. Film Row will eventually be that, but can it survive on its own during the transition?

Is any of that 8th St property between Robinson and Broadway available and suitable? I think being situated near the OCU law school would be good for business.

Is any of that 8th St property between Robinson and Broadway available and suitable? I think being situated near the OCU law school would be good for business.

I feel like Auto Alley is not an ideal location with the direction it is going, due to it being steered into a very upscale district as of late. Packards, Broadway 10, Red Prime, The Factory, the new wine bars seem to be driving the district in the opposite direction of Midtown/Plaza/Uptown. Those three would be a great fit, but I bet JRod is aware of this already. Maybe there will be more casual growth with the intro of The Metropolitan, which may change my mind. Just seems AA is more like Classen Curve with some historic structure.

In defense of Film Row, the same could have been said when McNellies opened in Midtown, when Grandad's opened in Uptown or when Saints opened in Plaza. They all faced risky situations of being the first of their concept with no other real nightlife draw to the area. Look at them now, all anchors to those districts. There's something to be said for being the first at the right time.

While i agree that those establishments faced risky situations, it's difficult to really make that comparison as each of the districts you mentioned already had large residential areas in close proximity.

400 N Walnut I would think would be the ideal location; easy access on and off the highway and in the DD area where people can easily walk to and stumble home from. I am not sure how much space is needed, but if FR could open up close to the new 21c museum hotel and help bridge the gap between there and Film Row, they could put themselves in a spot to be really successful.

400 N Walnut I would think would be the ideal location; easy access on and off the highway and in the DD area where people can easily walk to and stumble home from. I am not sure how much space is needed, but if FR could open up close to the new 21c museum hotel and help bridge the gap between there and Film Row, they could put themselves in a spot to be really successful.

400 Walnut likely does not have an ABC3 permit and with the amount of residents that live within 600ft of the property it would likely be difficult to obtain one. Unless we just completely changed our business plan to serve food, there are many properties that we are not able to consider. I'll be honest and say that the process has taken longer then we imagined and looking back on it we should have left The Rise several months earlier then we did. But I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and at the end of the day we will end up where we were meant to be. Might sound foolish to some, but for anyone that has their own business if you don't believe in what you are doing, no one else will.

400 Walnut likely does not have an ABC3 permit and with the amount of residents that live within 600ft of the property it would likely be difficult to obtain one. Unless we just completely changed our business plan to serve food, there are many properties that we are not able to consider. I'll be honest and say that the process has taken longer then we imagined and looking back on it we should have left The Rise several months earlier then we did. But I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and at the end of the day we will end up where we were meant to be. Might sound foolish to some, but for anyone that has their own business if you don't believe in what you are doing, no one else will.

Good luck to you Jrod. Have you had any contact with Allison Bailey regarding a location? She would be a good consultant if you aren't talking to her already.

While i agree that those establishments faced risky situations, it's difficult to really make that comparison as each of the districts you mentioned already had large residential areas in close proximity.

Are we forgetting about SOSA and The amount of Apartment living there is just a few blocks from Film Row? I know most of the living is considered Midtown, but those people still like variety. If you get into an area like Film Row early, you will build a following. In a few years, you will see the living population downtown grow.

In other news, we will be selling "User" memberships once we announce the new location. As a "User" you get free game play for an entire year, as well as a free "User" t-shirt. The memberships are limited to 80 people per year and you have first right of refusal for renewals. Being a "User" also allows you to get a discount on the Team Fee for Arcade League Night.

Wherever it ends up, I can't wait.

Are we forgetting about SOSA and The amount of Apartment living there is just a few blocks from Film Row? I know most of the living is considered Midtown, but those people still like variety. If you get into an area like Film Row early, you will build a following. In a few years, you will see the living population downtown grow.

SOSA isn't really that close. I did forget how close legacy is, but it just doesn't seem like it is.

I don't disagree with you, but if I were looking at putting this concept on film row right now, I would be hesitant to do so. 2-3 years is a long time to wait when so many bars fail in their first year or two (though it does seem like new bars fair better here than elsewhere). Also, similar to The Max in Tulsa, this concept will greatly benefit from being close to other bars.

Being a "User" also allows you to get a discount on the Team Fee for Arcade League Night.

League Night sounds intriguing. Do you have some ideas on how that would work?

I like the "user" idea!!!.. sign me up!

League Night sounds intriguing. Do you have some ideas on how that would work?

League Nights will likely be on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. It will be 4 vs 4 and players would rotate playing 3 different games every week. The team with the highest combined scores from all 4 games would win. The season will be 8-10 weeks long, with a trophy for the winning team at the end of the season.

League Nights will likely be on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. It will be 4 vs 4 and players would rotate playing 3 different games every week. The team with the highest combined scores from all 4 games would win. The season will be 8-10 weeks long, with a trophy for the winning team at the end of the season.

Very cool!

How realistic is Bricktown for the new Flashback location?
I think Bricktown would make the most sense for this type of development.

Ok so take everything I said about film row and burn it in a dumpster somewhere:

Hall Capital - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Hall+Capital)

If you could attract enough of a crowd until this is completed, you could have a serious first mover advantage.

Ok so take everything I said about film row and burn it in a dumpster somewhere:

Hall Capital - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Hall+Capital)

If you could attract enough of a crowd until this is completed, you could have a serious first mover advantage.

Well that completely changes everything for this district. That backs what I was trying to say that OKC is growing so quickly that places like Film Row and Farmers Market aren't as big of a risk as they might have been 2-3 years ago.

Well that completely changes everything for this district. That backs what I was trying to say that OKC is growing so quickly that places like Film Row and Farmers Market aren't as big of a risk as they might have been 2-3 years ago.

With this announcement, I certainly agree. I don't know that the hotel by itself would've been enough but all of this together is really a game changer for that area. Can't wait to see the preliminary designs.

Now that we know there will be significant housing and other development around 21c, you can pretty much guarantee that a lot of the area between there and the CBD will start to fill in.

And considering a good chunk is owned by the City or police, there will be added pressure for them to do something with their surface lots.

Are you going to have Narc? That would be cool. I put a ton of quarters in that game in my youth.

Are you going to have Narc? That would be cool. I put a ton of quarters in that game in my youth.

Don't have plans currently to get Narc, there's only 4-5 games left on my wish list that I want to get. But plan is to rotate games in and out every so often to keep the line up fresh. So send me all request for games and we will keep an eye out for them. Next game we are picking up next week is Ivan Stewart's Off Road...

Next game we are picking up next week is Ivan Stewart's Off Road...

Oh hell freaking yes...I dumped so much coin into that back in the day, freaking love that game!

Question...are you guys sticking with traditional cabinets for all the games, or for some games like Sega Outrun (if you have it) did you find the game with the moving car you sit in?

Oh hell freaking yes...I dumped so much coin into that back in the day, freaking love that game!

Question...are you guys sticking with traditional cabinets for all the games, or for some games like Sega Outrun (if you have it) did you find the game with the moving car you sit in?

All the games will be in their original dedicated cabinets. I've come across a couple of games that have the sit in cabinet, but in the interest of maximizing space we have stuck with the upright games. We do plan on adding several cocktail cabinets once we open up.

Maybe it is time for someone to dump the graphic at the top of the page that shows this outfit still going in off 23rd and Walker?

Maybe it is time for someone to dump the graphic at the top of the page that shows this outfit still going in off 23rd and Walker?

Yeah, we won't be opening an establishment in Uptown or Plaza District.

Quick Update, we hope to make an announcement on our new location by the end of the week.

Great news!

Great news!

Well out with it! I think we are all to excited to see you all succeed! So we want to know where we will be spending our hard earned coin!

Well out with it! I think we are all to excited to see you all succeed! So we want to know where we will be spending our hard earned coin!

All in due time, it's not 100% done yet, just 99%. Through all of this I've learned not the count my chickens before they hatch.

All in due time, it's not 100% done yet, just 99%. Through all of this I've learned not the count my chickens before they hatch.

Understood! I hope this one sticks. I hope I was right about the location too.

Understood! I hope this one sticks. I hope I was right about the location too.

Which location was that?

Which location was that?

I was hoping for two different locations. 8th st. and Film Row, preferably the Main St. Arcade building owned by Mr. Wanzer.

Main Street Arcade would be awesome.... I'd walk down there and play at lunch.

I was hoping for two different locations. 8th st. and Film Row, preferably the Main St. Arcade building owned by Mr. Wanzer.

Well the location will be announced soon enough…

OKCTalk - FlashBack RetroPub coming to Film Row (http://www.okctalk.com/content/81-flashback-retropub-coming-film-row.html)

Interesting. They're charting new territory to make this an entertainment district, but things should fill in around it before long.

This area is going to develop fast.

Not only with 21c but the Music Hall as part of the Hall Capital development will be very close and of course all the Hall lots will be developed in a very dense manner. This is all going to start to happen early next year.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/westdowntown2.jpg


I personally love this because it will greatly help Joey's and the Paramount; especially because FB won't serve food. Will be a great compliment and bring some late-night activity.

You'll have 21c with their restaurant and bar, the Music Hall, more likely in the Hall development plus Flashback and everything else that is already there.

One of the great things about the area -- and one of the reasons FB chose it -- is because it's pretty straight forward to get an ABC-3 permit (no food required; full bar). Plus, there is plenty of space and even building stock with reasonable rent.

I bet we'll see at least one other bar in the area within a year.

The irony is that I was last on the OKC bar scene in the 80's... Graduated college in '82 and moved away in '89.

So, this place will be like OKC frozen in time for me.

I was a one-time Donkey Kong champ... Have to see if I still have it!

Great news, glad you found a location :)



I was a one-time Donkey Kong champ... Have to see if I still have it!

Nice, Pete. What was your high score back then?

This is awesome news. I believe this is a better fit for the business. Can't wait til the residential is built and this becomes more of a neighborhood.

This is great news! That spot is prime! Congrats!

yes, congrats and best wishes!

OKC is really coming together, nicely.

Really excited for this! With the hall capital developments and 21c coming, it would be hard to beat the first mover advantage. Congrats!!!

The irony is that I was last on the OKC bar scene in the 80's... Graduated college in '82 and moved away in '89.

So, this place will be like OKC frozen in time for me.

I was a one-time Donkey Kong champ... Have to see if I still have it!

Pete could have been the untold story in this documentary...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI

I was a one-time Donkey Kong champ... Have to see if I still have it!

Nice!

I had my picture up on a wall in an arcade for awhile for rolling a Track & Field machine around 1985. Played it for over 4 hours and it had advanced from using Alpha-Numeric characters for levels to using colored blocks.

This is great news. I cannot wait for this place to open. Film Row also has a ton of potential to be a great entertainment district and as the 21c Hotel comes online and the Hall development takes off, Flashback will really benefit from having been the pioneer.

The owner's of Joey's have got to love this.

Jrod...any plans to get Punchout?

Pete could have been the untold story in this documentary...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI

This is a great documentary, once we get established we hope to be able to hold regional tournaments.

^

That is a great documentary.

Honestly, I don't remember my high score on DK -- it's been twenty years since I last played.

It would be awesome fun to play the arcade game again, as other versions just don't do it for me.

Nice!

I had my picture up on a wall in an arcade for awhile for rolling a Track & Field machine around 1985. Played it for over 4 hours and it had advanced from using Alpha-Numeric characters for levels to using colored blocks.

Gotta love the games that didn't account for 3 digit numbers and switched to colored blocks once you passed 99. Nintendo did the same thing with Mario Bros., once you passed 99 extra lives it went to different colored blocks, but even if you lost lives it would never go back to the numerical count. Anyway, neither here nor there, but its one of those things you remember as a kid from playing these games. The one thing I have never accomplished is the "Kill Screen"

JRod,

Who repairs these older games when they stop working? I have been to The Max in Tulsa several times and seems there are always games that are out of operation.

I am merely just curious since I have no idea.

The owner's of Joey's have got to love this.

Jrod...any plans to get Punchout?

We would like to get it, but its a hard game to find. Last time I came across one was February 2013 and it was in bad shape. I plan on going to some auctions to try and pick a couple of other games up soon.

JRod,

Who repairs these older games when they stop working? I have been to The Max in Tulsa several times and seems there are always games that are out of operation.

I am merely just curious since I have no idea.

We would have to find someone local until I can get more up to date on fixing the games myself. There are several people locally that fix games, but it's not cheap. We have several games that we bought knowing they need some work done, but we bought them because they are hard to find and we wanted to have all original cabinets. I'm not a big fan of the Multicade Cabinets.

I do want to make sure that we give credit to Motahareh Nickel with Wiggin Property, she invested a lot of her time in helping us get this deal done. We had worked with several other brokers and I felt like we were an after thought and that they only reached out to us when they didn't have anything else to do. She made the initial contact when we made a post on Facebook what finding a location and she made it her goal to find us a home. I plan on solely working with her for future projects.

USER Memberships will be up for grabs later this week. Purchase information will be listed soon, but here's what you get:

1. Free Arcade Play for One (1) Year
2. Individual Fees for League Nights waived
3. Free USER t-shirt

Cost of a USER Membership will be $275, that's an average of under $23 per month of game play.

Limited number of memberships available.

I plan on going to some auctions to try and pick a couple of other games up soon.
Going to the Mad Dogs' one in Ponca City on Friday? Could be a good one - I'd go myself but I'll be stuck at work and don't have space for more anyway. Vapor TRX, Suzuka 8 Hours, and Area 51 Site 4 are newer but would appeal to the late twenty-something crowd and they supposedly have a Gorf too.