development
|category1=office buildings
|category2=Midtown
|category3=
|category4=
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|project=
|address=1116 N. Robinson
|status=Proposed renovation
|owner=Gary Homsey (attorney)
|cost=
|architect=
|start=
|finish=
|contractor=
|height=
|sq. feet=2,876
|acreage=.207
|other=
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|image=http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/1116nrobwiki1.jpg
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Information & Latest News
8/13/14: Plans submitted for renovation
5/22/14: Purchased for $600,000

Formerly home to LaFuente Prosthetics Center which is relocating to the old Merkel X-ray Building after it's purchase and renovation.
Links
County Assessor Record (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R040040270)
Gallery

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/1116nrob1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/1116nrob.jpg

This building was recently sold to a local attorney and there are now plans to remove the ugly blue mansard and reveal/restore the historic facade.

This was the former home of LaFuente Prosthetics which bought the old Merkel X-Ray building which they are in the process of renovating.

The location is directly north of Frontline Church and directly across Robinson from the Guardian / Garage Burgers.

Should be a massive improvement to the area.

Excellent news! I've long hated that blue mansard.

This building was recently sold to a local attorney and there are now plans to remove the ugly blue mansard and reveal/restore the historic facade.

This was the former home of LaFuente Prosthetics which bought the old Merkel X-Ray building which they are in the process of renovating.

The location is directly north of Frontline Church and directly across Robinson from the Guardian / Garage Burgers.

Should be a massive improvement to the area.

Went to the Garage yesterday and was hoping to hear something about this soon. It looks awful over there.

What's the story on the building to the North of it?

The flat-iron-ish building? I've wondered that as well. I presume you don't mean the one a little further to the north, which is the original first church of christ scientist...

The flat-iron-ish building? I've wondered that as well. I presume you don't mean the one a little further to the north, which is the original first church of christ scientist...

That is, perhaps, the most astute observation, encountered, to date, in connection with why and how in reality real progress occurs.
Thank You.

Had lunch at Nic's today and he was telling everyone that a friend of his is the one renovating this building and they will be opening a restaurant and lounge at this location.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, & dinner and the lounge will be in the basement and will be open until 2 AM.

He was also training a guy today that will be running his food truck.

They took down the blue ugliness today. This is what was revealed.

9323932493259326

Much improved.

So do we know what will be here "officially"? Would love another place to eat if the restaurant/lounge is true!

How anyone ever that "modernizing" buildings like that was a good idea is beyond me. Great improvement.

Thanks so much! Wow, what a difference.

They will be replacing all the windows / storefront as well.

Hopefully the missing pilaster will be restored.

Based on the plans it appears that they will be relocating the front entry doors to that location.

Yes, and they'll be a metal canopy above the door.

How anyone ever that "modernizing" buildings like that was a good idea is beyond me. Great improvement.

I agree, but such was "stylish" and "trendy" in the 1970s and 80s. It will be interesting to see if one day those dated architectural fads now considered to be hideous become retro and cool again.

Cuatro is more qualified to say, but honestly after looking closely I think that MIGHT have actually been the historic configuration. It makes sense to the eye, anyway.

I agree, but such was "stylish" and "trendy" in the 1970s and 80s. It will be interesting to see if one day those dated architectural fads now considered to be hideous become retro and cool again.

It was really the 50's and 60's where everything was made to look 'modern'; the post WW II boom in the U.S. that was all about new. At that time, the historic buildings were still too recent (but already looking dated) to be appreciated.

There is now a big push to save mid-century buildings that have until recently gone pretty unloved. Not these horrible updates but those structures built mainly in the 50's which are now old enough to have cycled back into appreciation. Same with homes.

They took down the blue ugliness today. This is what was revealed.

9323932493259326

Much improved.

So do we know what will be here "officially"? Would love another place to eat if the restaurant/lounge is true!

That's remarkable, always hated this bldg before.

Cuatro is more qualified to say, but honestly after looking closely I think that MIGHT have actually been the historic configuration. It makes sense to the eye, anyway.
Upon further examination, I believe you're right. I didn't look at the elevations above before I posted. That feature is wider than the others and probably indicates an entrance.

Looks like whoever said the basement of this building would be a bar and that the main floor would be a restaurant was spot on:

Cool Renovation Underway at 1116 N Robinson Avenue | News OK (http://newsok.com/cool-renovation-underway-at-1116-n-robinson-avenue/article/5363117?custom_click=rss)

Anyone know additional details on what's being planned here?

Nic of Nic's is going to be in on this.

I'm a bit hazy on the details, but as I understood there will be a downstairs restaurant and an upstairs restaurant and maybe a store front on the ground level? Upstairs they'll serve a medium price point $10 - $20/person, and downstairs will be a little bit more upscale (I'm guessing like $20 to $35). They'll serve breakfast until 2:30 PM close and reopen at 5…The menu will be things that you can imagine Nic cooking.

They're aiming to be open in March.

I heard Nic of Nic's was going to be doing a breakfast/diner type concept in Midtown, is that not the case anymore, or is that a separate project?

That will be part of this development.

Looks like whoever said the basement of this building would be a bar and that the main floor would be a restaurant was spot on:

Cool Renovation Underway at 1116 N Robinson Avenue | News OK (http://newsok.com/cool-renovation-underway-at-1116-n-robinson-avenue/article/5363117?custom_click=rss)

Anyone know additional details on what's being planned here?

Well when I mentioned it back in early October I was repeating what Justin Nicholas was telling everyone that came in Nic's that day and he's usually a pretty reliable source about his restaurant. So I can't really take credit for it. :)

I was also in Nic's one day and a grill chef from Red Prime was sitting next to me. Justin was asking him a lot of questions and got his number. So I think his intention is for this place to be more upscale. Probably not Red Prime upscale but it's not going to be a diner.

Another comment I heard from Justin was that they would be serving higher end liquor in the lounge because they aren't trying to attract drunks. They are trying to attract people that appreciate a well made drink.

From Will. Can't wait to see the new storefront go in:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/1116nrobinson110514.jpg

I heard Nic of Nic's was going to be doing a breakfast/diner type concept in Midtown, is that not the case anymore, or is that a separate project?

Since Nic's has done away with their breakfast, which was amazing, albeit about 3000 calories, I hope he does do some type of breakfast concept.

Breakfast will be part of this concept, and if I remember correctly, it will be served until 2 PM…

!!!!!!!!!

Nic of Nic's would be a good restaurant name...

Breakfast will be part of this concept, and if I remember correctly, it will be served until 2 PM…

!!!!!!!!!

It'd be soooooooooooooo nice to have good breakfast served by someone *PAST* 2 PM, and by qualifying it as "good", I'm leaving out IHOP. :p

It'd be soooooooooooooo nice to have good breakfast served by someone *PAST* 2 PM, and by qualifying it as "good", I'm leaving out IHOP. :p

I think you will be in luck come spring with Waffle Champion extending their hours.

Well when I mentioned it back in early October I was repeating what Justin Nicholas was telling everyone that came in Nic's that day and he's usually a pretty reliable source about his restaurant. So I can't really take credit for it. :)

I was also in Nic's one day and a grill chef from Red Prime was sitting next to me. Justin was asking him a lot of questions and got his number. So I think his intention is for this place to be more upscale. Probably not Red Prime upscale but it's not going to be a diner.

Another comment I heard from Justin was that they would be serving higher end liquor in the lounge because they aren't trying to attract drunks. They are trying to attract people that appreciate a well made drink.
I've heard Justin and Nic also toy with the idea of a food truck too!

I've heard Justin and Nic also toy with the idea of a food truck too!

Yes..... The truck has been parked behind Justin's house for a couple of years now and the day he was telling everyone about this restaurant he was training a guy to work the truck.

Just for the record Justin is Nic..... Justin "Nic" Nicholas.

^

Does he go by Justin or Nic?

I've only ever heard people call him Nic in person... Justin Nicholas in articles about Nic's Grill or The Ice House and I think Guy Fieri called him Justin "Nic" Nicolas when he opened the segment on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

December 24 2014

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/16097880875_12d751df00_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15910596850_9dbe8e36f2_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7568/15475572054_491917df3a_b.jpg

Oooh... Starting to look really good.

Thanks Will.

From today. Thanks, Will.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCBExC4W4AQhSRn.jpg:large

Interior shot where you can see the steps down to the basement.

This place is going to be badass.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCBFkMgW4AAVWzP.jpg:large

Talked to Nic about this yesterday when I was in his place.

The restaurant will be breakfast, lunch and dinner. Basic diner menu on the ground level.

Nic will also be operating the basement bar, which I understand will be a purple velvety retro lounge.

They haven't even filed for their liquor license or interior building permit yet, so while they said 4-5 months, I suspect it may take longer than that.