You can't stay on the highways!

LHP and JKT don't connect in many directions, you have to exit onto Memorial to make the connection. Going north, you can go east but not west. You can't go either direction going south. Going west, you can go south, but not north. You can't go either direction going east.

North to West ramp and the East to South ramp are part of the access Oklahoma program ..

My parents live literally within sight of that interchange and I agree that it is very poorly designed for the present day.

You have to remember though that when it was built there was no turnpike west of there and Portland was basically a country road north of there. It was basically the outer NW edge of the loop around town at the time. That's not an excuse, there still should have been better planning, but there was a method to their madness in 1990.

North to West ramp and the East to South ramp are part of the access Oklahoma program ..

That will be a start, but the current "new" configuration is terrible. I wish they would complete the entire exchange, though... especially with all the new things coming within a couple miles of it.

My parents live literally within sight of that interchange and I agree that it is very poorly designed for the present day.

You have to remember though that when it was built there was no turnpike west of there and Portland was basically a country road north of there. It was basically the outer NW edge of the loop around town at the time. That's not an excuse, there still should have been better planning, but there was a method to their madness in 1990.

I live a couple miles from it (and live a few miles from in it the other direction) and my kids go to school right by it. I realize that Mercy was the only thing to the west when it was built (and nothing to the north), but they should have left adequate room for expansion. Now it seems like there would have to be a bridge over Sonic (exaggerated, I know)... but the planning was horrible to non-existent. Portland is booming! So is west of LHP.

I marvel at how bad the design is for many of the interchanges on the turnpikes. They never seem to plan for any increase in traffic. The NB Broadway Extension to Kilpatrick is just a joke. SB to EB is terrible too. I know that one was added recently, but they made no plans for it when they built the original. That's just inexcusable.

What is this thread about again? :wink:

What is this thread about again? :wink:

Parking

This would do well in The Half or UNP in Norman.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/business/columns/steve-lackmeyer/2025/01/24/pappadeaux-pulled-out-of-downtown-okc-development-now-we-know-why/77690661007/?tbref=hp

"Jonathan Dodson, CEO of Pivot Project, said representatives of Pappadeaux objected to plans to narrow Broadway at NW 13 from four to three lanes as part of making the area safer for pedestrians. 'They couldn’t understand why we would want that,' Dodson said."

There are plans to road diet that stretch of Broadway?

I would say that with that response it really does sound like Pappadeaux would be better situated out in the suburbs.

Would their objection (Pappadeux or Pivot's) obstruct the change?

What's silly is Pappadeux would still be build there if we turned it into a pedestrian corridor because there would still be 3 streets worth of access points.

The unwillingness of corporations to yield to anything less than perfect for them so that the greater whole can be positively affected (and many times themselves as well if they'd just have 5-10 years of patience) is creating a culture war that will have heavy handed consequences for large corporations 15-30 years from now.

That stretch from 13th north to the park at 21st-ish is kind of an odd duck. With all the neighborhood streets from 22nd to 16th being south (right) turn only, and little in the way of mid-block curb cuts on the east side. South of 13th becomes very urban quickly. I think 13th to 21st is an okay place for a road diet. I can't think of anything to reflexively object to.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/business/columns/steve-lackmeyer/2025/01/24/pappadeaux-pulled-out-of-downtown-okc-development-now-we-know-why/77690661007/?tbref=hp

"Jonathan Dodson, CEO of Pivot Project, said representatives of Pappadeaux objected to plans to narrow Broadway at NW 13 from four to three lanes as part of making the area safer for pedestrians. 'They couldn’t understand why we would want that,' Dodson said."

Glad they pulled out then. Sounds like there was going to be no willingness to change any part of their cookie cutter design plan. If they are so rigid about this stuff why aren't they building on the Memorial lot again? Makes zero sense.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/business/columns/steve-lackmeyer/2025/01/24/pappadeaux-pulled-out-of-downtown-okc-development-now-we-know-why/77690661007/?tbref=hp

"Jonathan Dodson, CEO of Pivot Project, said representatives of Pappadeaux objected to plans to narrow Broadway at NW 13 from four to three lanes as part of making the area safer for pedestrians. 'They couldn’t understand why we would want that,' Dodson said."

I don't understand why we would narrow the roads either. Make the pedestrians use the crosswalks and such for safety.

There's also nothing there north of 13th...there's absolutely zero demand to spend all that money on this. When one side is literally a field, why would anyone cross????

So far the changes haven't been too bad with the addition of the angled parking, but only because they figured out how to mostly leave 4 lanes intact by taking out that turn lane. I don't really see how any of that helped pedestrians, which was part of the reason they claimed to do it. Feels like that was really just to get curbside parking (which im not against i guess).

This location has always felt weird as a place to put it as a first in the state. Bricktown or Western, something with more regular traffic would make so much more sense. Broadway isn't exactly the hotbed after 5pm. I'm not saying it's dead, but Plaza District (as an example) it is not.

I don't understand why we would narrow the roads either. Make the pedestrians use the crosswalks and such for safety.


There's also nothing there north of 13th...there's absolutely zero demand to spend all that money on this. When one side is literally a field, why would anyone cross????

Three lanes versus four will slow down cars and shorten the width of the crosswalk when they need to cross. Also, Oklahoma law is that any intersection with a public road is a legal place to cross--crosswalk or not.

Isn't that big empty field supposed to become a big mixed used development? and isn't there also supposed to be an commuter rail stop here eventually? Is there also a reason why this needs to stay four lanes when an expressway is one block over?

That stretch of Broadway between 23rd & 13th is a big raceway with that wide street and no stoplights.

The speed limit is also only 30 MPH making it a favorite speed trap for police as nobody drives that slow on such a wide-open road.

That stretch of Broadway between 23rd & 13th is a big raceway with that wide street and no stoplights.

The speed limit is also only 30 MPH making it a favorite speed trap for police as nobody drives that slow on such a wide-open road.

because of this it wouldn't surprise me to see OKC PD protest against a street narrowing ... .... ..kidding ..


kind of

I'm guessing they could just do like Broadway between 14th and 13th and make the east lane parallel parking, one lane SB, one lane NB and the remaining lane center turn.

That stretch of Broadway between 23rd & 13th is a big raceway with that wide street and no stoplights.

The speed limit is also only 30 MPH making it a favorite speed trap for police as nobody drives that slow on such a wide-open road. easy to get away from the 50 run through that light on the 23rd

…Broadway isn't exactly the hotbed after 5pm. I'm not saying it's dead, but Plaza District (as an example) it is not.
Huh? Have you actually BEEN to Bricktown after 5 PM? Bricktown sees more visitors per year than any district in OKC, by a lot. Last year’s Downtown OKC Partnership Placer.ai report showed 2.6 million unique visitors and 7.8 million total visits to the district. 65% of all unique visitors to ALL of downtown came through Bricktown.

Placer.ai data uses anonymous phone data to register any phone-carrying visitor with at least a seven minute dwell time.

I personally have some frustrations with the current tenant mix and offerings in Bricktown, and criticisms there are totally fair. But this narrative that it lacks customer count is dead wrong, and damaging to the district.

This is not a knock on any other districts. I frequent and support them all, and I happily have investments and many business relationships outside of Bricktown. But throughout the year, week, and all day parts no other district comes anywhere close to the Bricktown customer count and economic impact. This is empirical data with studies to back it up.

Huh? Have you actually BEEN to Bricktown after 5 PM? Bricktown sees more visitors per year than any district in OKC, by a lot. Last year’s Downtown OKC Partnership Placer.ai report showed 2.6 million unique visitors and 7.8 million total visits to the district. 65% of all unique visitors to ALL of downtown came through Bricktown.

Placer.ai data uses anonymous phone data to register any phone-carrying visitor with at least a seven minute dwell time.

I personally have some frustrations with the current tenant mix and offerings in Bricktown, and criticisms there are totally fair. But this narrative that it lacks customer count is dead wrong, and damaging to the district.

This is not a knock on any other districts. I frequent and support them all, and I happily have investments and many business relationships outside of Bricktown. But throughout the year, week, and all day parts no other district comes anywhere close to the Bricktown customer count and economic impact. This is empirical data with studies to back it up.

What does Bricktown have to do with Broadway north of 10th street?

What does Bricktown have to do with Broadway north of 10th street?
Haha my bad I misread that as “Bricktown” in place of “Broadway” for some reason and clearly went off undeservedly. Well, hopefully everyone enjoys my error and the resultant data. I’ll blame brain fig; I’m home sick with COVID.

Haha my bad I misread that as “Bricktown” in place of “Broadway” for some reason and clearly went off undeservedly. Well, hopefully everyone enjoys my error and the resultant data. I’ll blame brain fig; I’m home sick with COVID.

No worries, I was just trying to make sure I wasn't missing some long connection!

No that was clearly me LOL

A new Pappadeaux's would do well in The Half.

A new Pappadeaux's would do well in The Half.

I'm sure they are working hard to land them.

But Pappadeaux still owns that lot at Memorial & Portland.

Wherever they go, they will just kill it here.

It’s really funny that pappadeaux couldn’t understand why we don’t want to turn downtown into a suburban parking lot. There should have been a stipulation to reinforce density and walkability as the priority. Force them to have add a parking garage behind the store and to the restaurant right on the street. Honestly I would have been thrilled about pappadeux 15-20 years ago. If we’re being enough for a NBA then surely we qualify to have a a pappadeux’s but now I kind of feel that okc has surpassed pappadeux’s. There are better options downtown. I might go if the location was in say Edmond or yukon

It’s really funny that pappadeaux couldn’t understand why we don’t want to turn downtown into a suburban parking lot. There should have been a stipulation to reinforce density and walkability as the priority. Force them to have add a parking garage behind the store and to the restaurant right on the street. Honestly I would have been thrilled about pappadeux 15-20 years ago. If we’re being enough for a NBA then surely we qualify to have a a pappadeux’s but now I kind of feel that okc has surpassed pappadeux’s. There are better options downtown. I might go if the location was in say Edmond or yukon

in general, sure. but not in the context of Cajun food. there's nothing all that close at the moment.

in general, sure. but not in the context of Cajun food. there's nothing all that close at the moment.
I disagree. Wholeheartedly. I've eaten at several pappadeux's in the Dallas area and I think Georgia as well. It's on parr with Brent's or Razoos. I mean square footage doesn't mean bet It's a chain and the quality is that of a chain restaurant. It's not Disneyland. I've had far superior home made Boudain at gas station in Lafayette(no joke) I wouldnt think twice opting for Cajun corner or Cajun King over pappadeux. Honestly I probably wouldn't eat there now. Maybe ten years ago I would have for the novelty. I kind of hope they don't come here. Who knows maybe something more genuine and less "olive garden"

I've had far superior home made Boudain at gas station in Lafayette(no joke)

Lot of truth to this! My first taste of Boudin was at a small gas station just south of Shreveport some 35 years ago. BTW...we have been getting the prepackaged boudin at Bucees and it is excellent.

We haven't had good experience with Cajun Corner down on I44 but Brents and Cajun King are definitely on par with a lot of places we eat in LA. Brent's will start back Crawfish second week of february.

Looking at menu for Pappadeaux....this is similar to a capital grill of cajun seafood. The pricing is high end with cups of gumbo starting at $11 and fried seafood platters in the $33-$44 range. Not saying it isn't worth it but spotlighting that it is a higher end restaurant versus Brents or any other cajun place in town. I think it will be more competition for pearls than Brents. Will be more of a special night out versus just a weekend going out to dinner place for us.

https://pappadeaux.com/locations/oak-lawn/menu/

Pearls and Bourbon St Cafe are as close as you currently get for the bigger name places in OKC. They're all OK, but none of them, including Papadeaux's, are a true substitute for the real thing. Don't get me wrong, i do try to go there when im at DFW because there aren't a lot of places to get Cajun/Creole. But making it at home is still better. As someone said, it's sort of the Olive Garden version of Cajun/Creole. It's not bad, but it's not great. But it is a little unique in the restaurant scene. And in OKC, the other places like Pearls, just aren't really super popular. As far as I know, they're doing fine, but they closed the one on Meridian years ago and it was actually pretty busy (must have been too affordable). Pearls/Crabtown, is still pretty good. One of the few places to get something like a boil and it actually tastes good.

Papa's tends to be a little more pricey because they sell you on the whole "experience" in the place too. The ones in Dallas feel a bit dated to me, but they also dont renovate very often. So maybe a new one in OKC would have a newer "feel" to it?

It'll do very well here. It is what it is, but I think people like it....like they like Olive Garden even though people love to hate on it for some reason.

It’s really funny that pappadeaux couldn’t understand why we don’t want to turn downtown into a suburban parking lot. There should have been a stipulation to reinforce density and walkability as the priority. Force them to have add a parking garage behind the store and to the restaurant right on the street. Honestly I would have been thrilled about pappadeux 15-20 years ago. If we’re being enough for a NBA then surely we qualify to have a a pappadeux’s but now I kind of feel that okc has surpassed pappadeux’s. There are better options downtown. I might go if the location was in say Edmond or yukon

If you force bad business decisions on restaurants, they won't open in those locations (slightly different reasons here for Pappadeux's here, but your general comment). It's simple economics (parking garages are expensive and you have to allow people to get to your site somehow).

Please keep in mind, the reason for changing their mind about that location came from the developer, not the restaurant itself.

There is always a certain amount of spin in these situations.

I'm sure they are working hard to land them.

But Pappadeaux still owns that lot at Memorial & Portland.

Wherever they go, they will just kill it here.

What sucks is they have no immediate intent of building anything on that lot at Memorial/Portland. Further, they won't even engage in a discussion to purchase said land from them--even if offered well over MP.

Source: me

Strictly my opinion, but I love Pearls! One of my favorite restaurants in okc. It might not be what some of you think as true Cajun but I still really enjoy it. Will frequent Pearls whether Pappadeaux’s open here or not.

Yeah I like Pappadeaux and will frequent it when it finally comes but i honestly prefer Pearls, Cajun Corner, and even Brent’s. Bourbon street and Razoos aren’t that far off. I grew up with a stepdad/family from Louisiana and worked for a company based in Lafayette for 5 years so I’ve been exposed to some very good Cajun food both home cooking and restaurants.

Anyone been to The Big Easy on Rt. 66 in Yukon? Any thoughts on this restaurant?

Anyone been to The Big Easy on Rt. 66 in Yukon? Any thoughts on this restaurant?

It’s delicious.

Yeah I like Pappadeaux and will frequent it when it finally comes but i honestly prefer Pearls, Cajun Corner, and even Brent’s. Bourbon street and Razoos aren’t that far off. I grew up with a stepdad/family from Louisiana and worked for a company based in Lafayette for 5 years so I’ve been exposed to some very good Cajun food both home cooking and restaurants.

It is not the best Cajun food, but it delivers enough value to compete with Pappadeaux.

Brents and Pearl's are both good alternatives.