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

I couldn't find a thread dedicated to the restaurant. But I heard a rumor that Spaghetti Warehouse's days could be numbered. Sparked by an inspection infraction.

https://twitter.com/danahertneky/status/694198220419960833

Their last inspection was in November and there were only minor violations at that time.

Hmm. As unfortunate as it is that a Bricktown pioneer is going out, maybe this will spark redevelopment of the building.

Spaghetti Warehouse will always be remembered for being an early pioneer, but it isn't a very good use of its building in this day and age. Hopefully it gets redeveloped into housing and retail. I think that building would be the holy grail of Bricktown living if developed into housing.

Last time I went in there -- years ago -- it looked pretty tattered around the edges.

Don't think they've done much since they opened in the 80's.

https://twitter.com/danahertneky/status/694198220419960833

Followed be a statement from SW: https://twitter.com/DanaHertneky/status/694201817928851456

Interesting that they note (paraphrased): "we are hopeful that in the near future we can reopen SW within the OKC market." Also mentions a brand reboot is in process.

What a beautiful building.

Would love for it to be redeveloped into loft-style apartments. It would be a home run.

http://cdnmo.coveritlive.com/media/image/201406/thumb900_php9cruocwarehouse.jpg

http://newsok.com/spaghetti-warehouse-in-downtown-oklahoma-city-to-close/article/5476043

So, their last day is today.

Said they may want to reenter the OKC Market but sounds like they are done for good at that location.


Well, this will force some change with that building, if only a new tenant for the ground floor.

What a beautiful building.

Would love for it to be redeveloped into loft-style apartments. It would be a home run.

Eh we should tear it down.

Interesting development on one of the pioneers in the BT district.

That's pretty big. Hopefully someone will buy and renovate the top floors.

Channel 9 is confirming the closure:

Spaghetti Warehouse In Downtown OKC To Close - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/31108181/spaghetti-warehouse-in-downtown-okc-to-close)

Really said - although I admit we stopped frequenting SW many years ago. Not that it was *bad*, but there were so many more options that have emerged, it just became kinda lost in the shuffle. And I must admit the last few times we *did* go there the place was all-but dead.

Are there any "original" Bricktown restaurants around anymore? SW was one of the first that I remember making Bricktown a "destination." Things change, I guess, but it's still kinda sad.

Spaghetti Warehouse in Oklahoma City closing | Oklahoma City - OKC - KOCO.com (http://www.koco.com/news/spaghetti-warehouse-in-oklahoma-city-closing/37751922)

Are there any "original" Bricktown restaurants around anymore? SW was one of the first that I remember making Bricktown a "destination." Things change, I guess, but it's still kinda sad.

Chelino's and Bricktown Brewery although I think Brewery has changed hands since then.

I haven't been to Spaghetti Warehouse since I was a teenager. I just don't think about it with all the other options downtown these days.

Press release is now in the article at the top of the page.

Eh we should tear it down.

Don't even joke about that. Rainey Williams may read it and decide its time to attempt another "world class" development.

Per wikipedia, they have a lot more closed locations than open ones... Seems to be a dying business.

Shifting OKC to the closed list, that gives them 14 open and 32 closed.

Current locations
Akron, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Memphis, Tennessee
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Arlington, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Houston, Texas
Plano, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Syracuse, New York
Tampa, Florida

Past locations
Austin, Texas
Cleveland, Ohio
Rochester, New York
Buffalo, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aurora, Illinois
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Richmond, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Glen Allen, Virginia
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Abilene, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Addison, Texas
Bedford, Texas
Irving, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Stafford, Texas
Willowbrook, Texas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Charlotte, North Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Springfield, Massachusetts
Hartford, Connecticut
South Bend, Indiana
Providence, Rhode Island
Wichita, Kansas
Marietta, Georgia
Northampton, Massachusetts

Now that it is official, I will say that my inside source is saying the sudden closure is sparked by an infraction that was either discovered by inspection or reported by employees. The infraction includes a dangerous "hole" in the kitchen floor that had been attempted to be covered or hidden for a long period of time.

I felt like this was a long time coming. I literally cannot remember the last time I went there.. High school maybe?
As well as I really don't know anyone that goes there. Maybe it was totally tourist driven.

That building is a diamond in the rough though. So much potential on that corner and so much potential in the underutilized upper floors.

Lots of people have approached the owners in the past.

Hopefully this will give them newly found motivation to sell.

No!!!!!!

Who am I kidding? Haven't been there since the 90's

Interesting fact...

The parent company of Spaghetti Warehouse also owns the Cantina Laredo and El Chico brands and one of each has been closed in OKC in just the last month.

Interesting fact...

The parent company of Spaghetti Warehouse also owns the Cantina Laredo and El Chico brands and one of each has been closed in OKC in just the last month.


I didn't know Cantina Laredo in Penn closed. That was actually decent but the parking was horrendous. El Chico was just a tired brand though, never went there.

I didn't know Cantina Laredo in Penn closed. That was actually decent but the parking was horrendous. El Chico was just a tired brand though, never went there.

Laredo is making way for a Texas de Brazil.

Interesting fact...

The parent company of Spaghetti Warehouse also owns the Cantina Laredo and El Chico brands and one of each has been closed in OKC in just the last month.

Competition in this town is really ramping up.

^

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

I hate to see anyone go out of business but I've had a lot of poor meals since being back.

The bar needs to be raised in general.

I went to Spaghetti Warehouse maybe last year. It was just "meh" Italian food. I'm definitely not surprised that they're closing.

^

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

I hate to see anyone go out of business but I've had a lot of poor meals since being back.

The bar needs to be raised in general.

That is definitely happening, and a lot of the older bars/restaurants that have been in business for decades have not responded to the changing market and are struggling. It wouldn't surprise me to see places like Mamasita's close eventually.

I can't believe Mamasita's is still open. Went by there on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and they were closed.

All the new Glimcher stuff around them will either help or kill them off.

All the new Glimcher stuff around them will either help or kill them off.

My guess is it will kill them off, unless they make an effort to update and rebrand the Mamasita's concept. It's a remnant of an era gone by for OKC. Sad to lose places that have been in business for so long and were once considered the coolest spots in town, but such is capitalism and progress. The Varsity is another one of those kind of places, was a cool spot in its time but squeezed out by the competition and the raising of the bar. Ironically, the Varisity in Fort Smith, AR which was nearly identical to the one that was in OKC, was recently purchased and converted to a Bricktown Brewery.

I'm sad to see Spaghetti Warehouse closing, even if their food was fairly mediocre - but this makes me very, very excited about the future prospects for this building. This building definitely seems ripe for residential with some first-floor retail - especially considering it's location in Bricktown and it's proximity to pretty much everything Bricktown has to offer.

I'm sad to see Spaghetti Warehouse closing, even if their food was fairly mediocre - but this makes me very, very excited about the future prospects for this building. This building definitely seems ripe for residential with some first-floor retail - especially considering it's location in Bricktown and it's proximity to pretty much everything Bricktown has to offer.

This.

Spaghetti Warehouse was squandering the potential of that building. It could be a real jewel with the right developer and hopefully it happens.

And with everything happening in Bricktown and particularly along Sheridan, it's the perfect timing for a full rehab.

It's really one of the last remaining buildings -- and certainly the largest -- where the upper floors are still vacant.

I'm a little sad. I haven't been in years, but 12 years ago I went on my first date with my wife at this Spaghetti Warehouse. We had lattes at the coffee shop in the Mideke Building, and then walked over to an un-renovated Myriad Gardens.

Yeah, about 5 years ago I talked my family into going in for old time's sake but it was pretty sad inside.

Looked exactly like a place that hadn't been updated in 30 years.

Will always have a fond place in my heart as really the first big thing in that area.

Doesn't seem like USRP is the type of company that wants to mess with a massive rehab like we're talking about. Five floors that are 14,000sq. ft. each. I wonder if we could see the building up for sale?

Doesn't seem like USRP is the type of company that wants to mess with a massive rehab like we're talking about. Five floors that are 14,000sq. ft. each. I wonder if we could see the building up for sale?

The restaurant group sold the building back in 2001 to a big REIT out of Arizona.

Several local developers have tried to buy it... Maybe now with zero income they'll be much more motivated.

I'm pretty sad to hear about El Chico's doing poorly. That chain was one of the places I waited tables in college and I have a lot of nostalgia for it.

I can't believe Mamasita's is still open. Went by there on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and they were closed.



Sadly, I think they did you a favor being closed when you went by. That place is not even comparable to the fun spot it was 20 years ago. Food is mediocre at best, and the waitstaff is slow and disinterested. I went in about 4 years ago for lunch on a Saturday and the place was dead. Service was slow, food was bland. Won't go back again.

^

Just goes to show you the advancements in restaurants in the last 20 years.

El Chico was basically frozen in time and couldn't hold a candle to the new places.

El Chico was basically frozen in time and couldn't hold a candle to the new places.

This. The only reason to go to El Chico's was the nostalgia. The food wasn't that great (never has been) and neither was the atmosphere. Too many other options that were much, much better.

Sadly, I think they did you a favor being closed when you went by. That place is not even comparable to the fun spot it was 20 years ago. Food is mediocre at best, and the waitstaff is slow and disinterested. I went in about 4 years ago for lunch on a Saturday and the place was dead. Service was slow, food was bland. Won't go back again.

I tried them once a few years ago right after moving back to OKC and won't be back.

Mamasita's will either get new energy when all the Glimcher stuff happens or will finally give way to an operation deserving of that great location and patio.

I frequent Bricktown as much as the next person and I've never seen Mamasita's open. I just assumed it was closed for good and no one painted over the sign yet.

Well they will be PACKED tonight. I have a groupon that expires on the 8th. I was planning on using it today anyway if I can get in.

I frequent Bricktown as much as the next person and I've never seen Mamasita's open. I just assumed it was closed for good and no one painted over the sign yet.

Mamasita's is on 63rd by western not in bricktown

I literally ate there once in my lifetime, and I was to young to remember if it was any good or not.

The restaurant group sold the building back in 2001 to a big REIT out of Arizona.

Several local developers have tried to buy it... Maybe now with zero income they'll be much more motivated.

Article says it is owned by a REIT out of New York. Anyone know which one?

I've gotta say, I'm only surprised that it has taken this long for SW to close. The last time I went in there was 2-3 years ago with my family and we only went there out of nostalgia and because our kids had never been. The place was like a sad, eerie ghost town and the service and food were mediocre at best. Here's to hoping something cool and exciting takes its place.

Not really that surprising with Zio's nearby. Not that Zio's is much better...it just appears fresher and more modern.

Haha... Not a good sign when everyone says they hadn't been there for years and/or are surprised they have remained open.

They had a great run and were pioneers that helped that district get a foothold, not time to step aside and let the next generation of business take over that spot.

Anytime I've been out with friends, I've never had anybody mention Spaghetti Warehouse as a possible option.

What happened to the one in Brockton?
Mamasita's is on 63rd by western not in bricktown

Was just there at 5:14 to us Groupon. Before thunder game it was 45-hour wait
Then they said they were no longer going to put names on the list cause food was going to run out

He said everyone would get seated but service maybe slow at which point I left

What happened to the one in Brockton?

To my knowledge there never has been one in bricktown

To my knowledge there never has been one in bricktownNever mind. I was thinking of another place that closed. I think it was called Nona's. But I know the one we're talking about now.