I hope the plans become reality.

Lol. Electrical fire is plausible, but not for some paranoid fantasy reason. That building is old and hasn’t been attended to in a very long time. Needs serious updating.
I know this post was last year but I just read it. I did some lighting work in the building in the late 80s. Unless it's been upgraded it's a miracle there hasn't been an electrical fire.

Well this certainly isn’t very encouraging news. Hopefully if it is bought by an investor it isn’t torn down.

https://amp.oklahoman.com/amp/7661461002?__twitter_impression=true

I am guessing some of you read the NewsOK article about this project this morning?

Summary:

Taxes not paid since 2018.
Repairs / renovations have completely stalled
Tenants have no contact with owner
Will go to Sheriffs auction if taxes not paid by end of the year

Worth watching.. It may meet it's inevitable fate.

FYI, the same guy now owns the Gazette.

grrrrrrrr

That is a thoroughly depressing article. If that guy owns the Gazette and is as poor at communication with his staff and readers as he is with his tenants, it would seem that enterprise is doomed.

I would love it if some of our hyper-rich folks would take these projects on instead of this guy, who clearly doesn't have the means to improve the building or save the newspaper.

This really was a cool building at one time, however, to be quite honest it is a terrible eyesore and needs a developer that is serious about renovating it and not being afraid to spend money. If not, it should just be bulldozed as the building is slowing rotting and becoming dilapidated. Also, the Classen Grill building is old and dirty. Needs major renovations too!!

This really was a cool building at one time, however, to be quite honest it is a terrible eyesore and needs a developer that is serious about renovating it and not being afraid to spend money. If not, it should just be bulldozed as the building is slowing rotting and becoming dilapidated. Also, the Classen Grill building is old and dirty. Needs major renovations too!!

Ha, Classen Grill was old and dirty 2 decades ago, it's gotta be disgusting by now if they haven't done anything/much.

I went to Hilo club couple weeks ago and it had a really cool vibe I really hope the building stays and is thoughtfully remodeled


The last proposal is pretty cool shame it didn’t happen

Classen Circle properties back on the market (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=765-Classen-Circle-properties-back-on-the-market)

After saving the prominent buildings along the old Classen Circle from the wrecking ball, the current owners have now put the property back on the market.


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After OKCTalk broke the story (https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=43482) that Braum's was planning to acquire the buildings and demolish them for a new store location in July 2017, several large protests led the ice cream and dairy chain to abandon their plans and soon a new owner, Josh Thomas, made the acquisition.

But after chasing off tenants and failed promises of renovation, the neglected properties have fallen into further disrepair. Photos taken earlier this week reveal broken windows, crumbling walls, graffiti, and other signs of deterioration.

After falling behind for several years, public records show that property taxes are now current.

But the iconic HiLo Club halted patio work to the east, as the owner of the bar did not want to make the additional investment after Thomas stopped communication. Today, the work remains unfinished and the future is unknown.

Thomas bought the historic Donnay Building, the building housing the Classen Grill and a few adjacent lots near NW 50th and Classen in 2018 for $1.3 million.

The property is now listed with a $2 million sales price.


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Great shots! Despite the ruin, decay, and frustrated ambitions.

The state of that property is so incredibly bad that while I was taking these photos I had to quickly clear out because there was a very strong natural gas odor that seemed to be coming from an outside meter.

I immediately called ONG and they sent out a crew to investigate.

Such an incredible shame.

Despicable. I hope to God he doesn’t make $700,000 on this sale!

Demolition through neglect?

well with CFA going in nearby I'm sure KFC is looking for a nearby spot

They won't be able to save it this time unless the city buys it or something.

At least the Braums shakes have tons of sugar AND protein

Damn. The last renderings were so cool. I went to the HiLo Club not long ago and it was such a cool spot with awesome people who I’m sure are regulars. You just can’t recreate the atmosphere of an OG.

Damn. The last renderings were so cool. I went to the HiLo Club not long ago and it was such a cool spot with awesome people who I’m sure are regulars. You just can’t recreate the atmosphere of an OG.

Yep. And between this, and the huge renovations either completed or ongoing at Red Rooster, Sauced, and Blue Note, this area of town is quickly running out of true dives (I believe that Cock-o-the-Walk is still going strong, though)

^

And Sipango.

^^^ there’s one in the Plaza IIRC

^^^ there’s one in the Plaza IIRC

Scorecards.

There are plenty of dive bars in OKC, most of them filled with heavy smokers. I'll never mourn the loss of any of them.

^

And Sipango.

the sip has been non smoking since nov of 2015

https://nondoc.com/2015/10/08/survey-results-in-sipango-lounge-going-smoke-free/

the sip has been non smoking since nov of 2015

https://nondoc.com/2015/10/08/survey-results-in-sipango-lounge-going-smoke-free/

Right, I've been in there but most the others still allow smoking.

too bad this couldn't be moved to the 39th Street district or recreated there.

The property is now under contract to local developers (which I won't name at this time) who hope to preserve and renovate the Donnay Building but will take their time with inspections before they close.

If they determine there is no economically feasible way to renovate, they will walk away.

Should know more in 30-60 days.

The property is now under contract to local developers (which I won't name at this time) who hope to preserve and renovate the Donnay Building but will take their time with inspections before they close.

If they determine there is no economically feasible way to renovate, they will walk away.

Should know more in 30-60 days.
Fingers crossed!

The Classen Circle property (the historic Donnay Building and the structure housing Classen Grill and related land) sold on Friday to local developers Nick Preftakes and Caleb Hill for $1.5 million.

After decades of neglect, the plan is to completely renovate the buildings.

Classen Grill will likely stay during the work but the HiLo Club will have to be out by the end of April so the Donnay can get a lot of needed attention. The HiLo may come back at the same location but will definitely carry forward regardless.

That's great news!

Fantastic. I hope it will work out for the HiLo to return to that spot; hard to imagine that local institution anywhere else.

I know nothing of Caleb Hill. Is he a positive for this?

As a long-time Hilo enthusiast, this whole thing has me worried. Glad the building isn't going to be razed I guess.

I know nothing of Caleb Hill. Is he a positive for this?

I believe Caleb Hill is with Precor Ruffin

New owner to redevelop unique Donnay Building in OKC, but where does that leave tenants?
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/03/09/new-owner-plans-restore-donnay-oklahoma-city-without-current-tenants/6973146001/

I've seen much talk from Hi-lo patrons about fear they will not return or not able to afford rent to return. I understand it but the alternative was for the building to decay around it and still they would be out of a home. I hope to see this building be done and be something to be proud of and see new life and tenants and perhaps the Hi-lo will make a return.

^

The owner of the HiLo told me they hope to return but if they don't, the bar will continue on at another location.

It's not just the prospect of higher rent... It's that they would be completely out of business during the renovation and that is likely not to be a short process given the current state of things.

IMO they should setup shop in the Gold Dome. Nothing else going on there. There's still the bar/kitchen from the old Prohibition Room. Building is still usable (Momentum art show took place there in 2018), probably wouldn't take that much to get it going there at least temporarily.

I have no idea what HKH is doing with the Sauced renovations or why they’re taking so long but pre-fire Sauced had a lot of extra space that was rarely used. Wonder if that’s a possibility if HKH isn’t planning on using the entire building.

^

Sauced and Sauced on the Side (the bar to the north) are both being completely remodeled and won't be ready until June or so.

Both were long overdue for ungrades.

Is Lost highway bar also owned by same owner as Hi-lo? I had heard at one point but don't recall. Totally makes sense that if you were to open at a new location you wouldn't move again after remodel especially if it takes a good while to get back into that space.

^

Yes, also owns Lost Highway.

He also recently purchased the Blue Note, which is under a major renovation.

The Classen Grill has closed and after a sprucing up, the Happy Plate group (Sunnyside Diner) will be the new operator.

They told me it will still be Classen Grill but they'll update some of the menu items and add others.

This building has been in bad shape for a while. This should be a big step forward.

They are still working up the plans for the renovation of the Donnay Building but are committed to a proper restoration after decades of complete neglect.

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Just weeks after the iconic First Christian Church was demolished, full restoration of another Oklahoma City landmark has commenced.


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The buildings at what was Classen Circle, the historic Donnay Building and the structure that has housed Classen Grill, are receiving a much-needed renovation.

Developers Nick Preftakes and Caleb Hill bought the property that was once planned to be demolished to make room for a Braum's. Preservationists voiced angry protests and after one owner failed to deliver on a planned makeover, the new owners started construction in earnest.

Braum's still owns the small house along 50th but the new owners plan to convert an adjacent vacant lot to parking.

The first phase will see the reopening of Classen Grill to be operated by Happy Plate Concepts, the group that also recently reopened Grill on the Hill and the proprietors of Sunnyside Diner.

Then, the Donnay Building will reopen to tenants. The previous businesses, including the popular HiLo Club, had to vacate due to the derelict nature of the structure after decades of atrophy.



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Apologies if I’ve just missed them, but are there renderings of what to expect for the final product?

Apologies if I’ve just missed them, but are there renderings of what to expect for the final product?

Not yet but the plan is to restore the Donnay Building so it should up ending a lot like that photo from 1975.

Will the HiLo be opening back up in its original location or is it permanently closed?

Can't wait to see it...I didn't realize it was in such horrible shape!

Will the HiLo be opening back up in its original location or is it permanently closed?

I talked to the owner today.

They originally planned to find a new location but are going to talk to the new owners of the Donnay and see if they can work something out.

I would eat at the Classen Grill on a regular basis when I lived in OKC. When I left OKC in 1999, a group of friends took me there for a going away dinner. It was great. The owner at the time, Tupper Patnode is a great guy too! This building will need a lot of love and it is sad to see how decayed they let this get, including the Donnay building. This will need deep pockets to restore it in a good way!

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They've had to pull down the southwest section (2nd & 3rd photos) of the Donnay Building because it was such an incredible mess. That entire building was beyond neglected for decades.

I talked to the developer a couple of days ago and he said they will rebuild it and should have renderings soon.

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They've had to pull down the southwest section (2nd & 3rd photos) of the Donnay Building because it was such an incredible mess. That entire building was beyond neglected for decades.

I talked to the developer a couple of days ago and he said they will rebuild it and should have renderings soon.

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Sucks, because that's what we were all afraid of, but at least we have people that will rebuild it correctly (we hope). Any idea if it will be identical to the original design, just similar, or something completely new?

I believe they will try and replicate the original design.

It's shocking the shape this building was in... I don't know how HiLo even operated there.

I believe they will try and replicate the original design.

It's shocking the shape this building was in... I don't know how HiLo even operated there.

It sounds like we were fortunate that the HiLo never caught fire. I'm sure that old building would have gone up like a candle.

^

One of the times I went by there before the property was sold to the current owners, there was a very strong smell of natural gas all around that building.

So bad, I quickly cleared out of there and called ONG to report the leak and let the owner of HiLo know as well. This was while the old Classen Grill and HiLo were still operating.

That is a small indication of how terrible the situation had become.

Pete, does Braum's still own the grass lot towards to rear? There are now stakes and an excavator on it.

Pete, does Braum's still own the grass lot towards to rear? There are now stakes and an excavator on it.

Braum's owns the house in the middle of the property.

The two vacant lots to the east are part of the redevelopment; it will be surface parking.

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Braum's owns the house in the middle of the property.

The two vacant lots to the east are part of the redevelopment; it will be surface parking.

As much as I love Braum's, I'm so darn glad this is not going to be one. What a waste of an iconic spot THAT would have been.

Unless Braums is a partner in this development why are they keeping that parcel (house) in the middle?

Unless Braums is a partner in this development why are they keeping that parcel (house) in the middle?

Cash flows on rent and they haven't gotten an offer they like