The other day I was at Cheesecake Factory and the party seated next to us ordered nachos and it reminded me of Shorty Smalls. Most of the menu was mediocre, but the nachos were the best I've ever had. So sad they are closed.

^

Oh my.

Been there forever and was a nice place, although I hadn't been in there in at least a decade.Abuelo’s had been there around 25 years, hadn’t it, Pete? It’s interesting too that they closed right before Thunder basketball starts back up. That place could get pretty crowded on game days.

Abuelo’s in Bricktown is now closed.
19200

wow ... that is in our lunch rotation ..

Abuelo’s had been there around 25 years, hadn’t it, Pete? It’s interesting too that they closed right before Thunder basketball starts back up. That place could get pretty crowded on game days.

Abuelo's opened in Bricktown in 1994, so 30 years.

Dang I waited tables at that Abuelos for about a year in College. It was after I got back from studying abroad & I wanted to keep improving my spanish skills. This would have been 06-07 I think. Ironically that restaurant led to connections elsewhere & some introductions down the road that would eventually change my life.

They’ve had the same GM since day one. In personal conversations Ray has been talking retirement for several years (he has family ranch property in New Mexico). I think he was on a bit of an island from a corporate standpoint and never got a ton of corporate support, including terribly rough pandemic-era years, when he was struggling to get and keep employees including assistant managers. He had to burn the candle at both ends for several years - often working as a line cook or waiting tables - and I know he was smooth worn out.

They didn’t seem to be in any hurry to shore things up or to place someone there to take over for him, and seemed to disinvest, probably due to lackluster numbers. The pandemic truly changed dining habits for downtown businesses. It’s difficult to appreciate unless you live and/or work downtown, but daytime/lunch business is down across the board in all districts due to dramatic changes in office tenancy, office worker habits and demographics.

Going back another decade, the Bricktown Abuelo’s also suffered quite a bit at lunch when Devon Tower and Nebu opened. Abuelo’s lunch business was heavily dependent on Devon employees, who filled it up every day. Once they moved a couple of blocks further and had a wonderful lunch option downstairs it was a big blow. Continental didn’t backfill when they arrived because they have a very different work culture that tends to keep employees close to their desks, from what I understand.

All of this combined with a massive amount of square footage (which is becoming a dated model) conspired to make this happen. It’s been a long time coming. As someone who has continued to eat their out of convenience for the past 30 years, combined with nostalgia in more recent years, this is a total bummer, but at the same time not a total surprise.

It's such beautiful space you have to think another operator will take it over.

But at the same time, it's a very large space for most types of restaurants.

They’ve had the same GM since day one. In personal conversations Ray has been talking retirement for several years (he has family ranch property in New Mexico). I think he was on a bit of an island from a corporate standpoint and never got a ton of corporate support, including terribly rough pandemic-era years, when he was struggling to get and keep employees including assistant managers. He had to burn the candle at both ends for several years - often working as a line cook or waiting tables - and I know he was smooth worn out.

They didn’t seem to be in any hurry to shore things up or to place someone there to take over for him, and seemed to disinvest, probably due to lackluster numbers. The pandemic truly changed dining habits for downtown businesses. It’s difficult to appreciate unless you live and/or work downtown, but daytime/lunch business is down across the board in all districts due to dramatic changes in office tenancy, office worker habits and demographics.

Going back another decade, the Bricktown Abuelo’s also suffered quite a bit at lunch when Devon Tower and Nebu opened. Abuelo’s lunch business was heavily dependent on Devon employees, who filled it up every day. Once they moved a couple of blocks further and had a wonderful lunch option downstairs it was a big blow. Continental didn’t backfill when they arrived because they have a very different work culture that tends to keep employees close to their desks, from what I understand.

All of this combined with a massive amount of square footage (which is becoming a dated model) conspired to make this happen. It’s been a long time coming. As someone who has continued to eat their out of convenience for the past 30 years, combined with nostalgia in more recent years, this is a total bummer, but at the same time not a total surprise.

I was wondering if Ray was still there, amazing he was the GM there all that time. He's a good guy for sure.

I am very saddened by the closing of Abuelos. We would go there at least every other month. They had dishes that other Mexican restaurants don't have.

That Abuelos spot could likely be 2 restaurants. It is a massive space, and the rent for it must be incredible, as well.

That's sad, Abuelo's is awesome! I may have only been to the one downtime a couple times, but I used to go to the one on Memorial a lot (pre-marriage, wife doesn't like it)... the Memorial location is staying open, right?

This was a staple in Bricktown for years, but let's be honest, the food was actually horrible. People just ate there out of convenience because it was visible and in the middle a Bricktown. However, I am sure with that building being in such a prime location, a new restaurant will soon take its place or it will be turned into a nightclub.

My wife spouse and I would go a lot 15-20ish years ago when we spent a lot of time in Bricktown. Never really found reason to go back and when more and better options kept popping up around town, but a little sad we couldn't do a final visit for nostalgia's sake. We had actually talked this past weekend it might be nice to pop in some time.

Yea, it definitely wasn’t great, and i think the charcoal crust tended to throw a lot of folks off.

I never got the opportunity to give them a try, but I thought the charcoal crust was a really interesting idea - it set them apart from everyone else and looked really interesting! It's a shame that they didn't find their footing, that was an ambitious project for the area.

Maybe the South Park guys will come into town and open a Casa Bonita there?

Only half kidding...

Maybe the South Park guys will come into town and open a Casa Bonita there?

Only half kidding...

I mean, it would be pretty awesome to see Casa Bonita come back to OKC!

Maybe the South Park guys will come into town and open a Casa Bonita there?

Only half kidding...

Or Pappasito's

Or Joe T. Garcias

https://www.joetgarcias.com/about

Abuelo’s in Bricktown is now closed.
19200

Sad but 30 years is a great run!

Is something going on with the Joinery as well or are they just randomly closed at 6:15 on a Wednesday?

Is something going on with the Joinery as well or are they just randomly closed at 6:15 on a Tuesday?

They had previously announced they are remodeling 2 of their floors and won't reopen until after the first of the year.

I believe this is legit.

They had previously announced they are remodeling 2 of their floors and won't reopen until after the first of the year.

I believe this is legit.

Ah. Good deal. Wasn’t on their FB or IG that I could find so I couldn’t see anything on it.

I went to the Joinery on a Friday night a few weeks ago and the place was dead. I am surprised they are renovating anything there.

My family went to Casa Bonita a lot. I worked there for a little over 2 years. I still see a few old Casa employees pretty often. We wonder often if Casa would work now even if somewhat evolved. Or is our memory of it much better than it really was.

I went to the Joinery on a Friday night a few weeks ago and the place was dead. I am surprised they are renovating anything there.

The speakeasy lounge in the basement has been full every time I've gone down there as have the golf bays upstairs.

The problem is the main floor.

Only a small bar and lots of restaurant tables, so it feels strangely dead when you walk in.

I think they are going to install a bigger bar on that level.

Absolutely agree on this.
I like the restaurant but the tiny bar at the end makes it looked weird, overall when you remember Tapwrecks cool set up.
Is the speakeasy closing too ? It has been an awesome and much needed add to brick town.

I believe they are only making changes to the first floor and the event floor.

The problem is the main floor.

Only a small bar and lots of restaurant tables, so it feels strangely dead when you walk in.

I think they are going to install a bigger bar on that level.

Thats a good point. There definitely is something that just feels off about the first floor even when it has been relatively full.

My family went by Grill on the Hill and the sign on the door said they where closed for maintenance. Their Google page says they are closed temporarily. I hope that is true. It's one of our favorite Saturday breakfast spots since we live equidistant from Sunnyside and there, it's a similar menu without the crazy wait times.

I heard that they were closing down or in the process of closing. Really sad as i loved their prices.

I heard that they were closing down or in the process of closing. Really sad as i loved their prices.

I heard the same today of Joinery. Not sure how reliable it was. Heard also for sale for 3.2 million.

I mean, it would be pretty awesome to see Casa Bonita come back to OKC!

$40/person for the basic, average Tex-Mex meal, $13 marg's, 15% auto gratuity, set reservation time (don't be late!), mariachi's and cliff divers. It's NOT the Casa Bonita of the 1970s. I have heard the sopapilla's are still very good.

Chicken Foot at Chisholm Creek was closed last night with a lease sign in the window. They were just open not long ago but noticed last night when we were over there.

Chicken Foot at Chisholm Creek was closed last night with a lease sign in the window. They were just open not long ago but noticed last night when we were over there.

Good riddance.

Good riddance.
What was wrong with it? I went there once or twice and it was okay.Wasn't great

Chicken Foot recently opened at 2nd & I-35 in Edmond.

SAJ Lebanese in auto alley has announced its closing. I really enjoyed the food there, so this is a real bummer. Oh, and the people are really great.

What was wrong with it? I went there once or twice and it was okay.Wasn't great

You nailed it. Mediocre food.

The dearth of housing in Auto Alley hurts it a lot. If more people lived nearby, I truly believe these restaurants there could last longer.

I loved Saj!

SAJ Lebanese in auto alley has announced its closing. I really enjoyed the food there, so this is a real bummer. Oh, and the people are really great.

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?

So many of these restaurants don't even try to promote themselves.

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?

So many of these restaurants don't even try to promote themselves.

True, Pete.
I only have IG, and they didn't seem to post a whole lot.

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?

So many of these restaurants don't even try to promote themselves.I totally agree, Pete. So many places seem to only appeal for business when they are about to close, as if to guilt us into patronizing them before they shut down. If they promoted daily or weekly features and specials on social media or through local internet advertising, they may not have arrived at that point in the first place.

I totally agree, Pete. So many places seem to only appeal for business when they are about to close, as if to guilt us into patronizing them before they shut down. If they promoted daily or weekly features and specials on social media or through local internet advertising, they may not have arrived at that point in the first place.And such promotion has to be done properly. There are a pretty large number of places we've been regulars of that are now gone. Many of them Most of them couldn't understand why their "advertising" wasn't working. "Advertising" meant posting on their Facebook page. So people had to go to the page to see it so you either already knew or had to search.

Another annoying marketing issue for a lot of local restaurants…if you’re going to be closed randomly or have to change your hours…post it on one of your social media sites! It takes 3 seconds and saves headaches when people were planning to eat there. The Joinery being my latest example of a group that couldn’t bother to do this.

Was just at Saj and had a good experience as always. There were a fair number of other people there, too, although it wasn't packed. I imagine all the construction on Broadway certainly didn't help their situation either... we had to walk in the street to access it from where we found parking.

Another annoying marketing issue for a lot of local restaurants…if you’re going to be closed randomly or have to change your hours…post it on one of your social media sites! It takes 3 seconds and saves headaches when people were planning to eat there. The Joinery being my latest example of a group that couldn’t bother to do this.

:iagree::yeahthat::iagree::yeahthat::iagree::yeaht hat::iagree::yeahthat:

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?


When OKC Pete talks, people listen! (Sorry, couldn't resist that old commercial.)

I live in Norman but ate a Saj about 10 times. Fantastic food. And heard about it here from OKCTalk.

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?

So many of these restaurants don't even try to promote themselves.
I’ve been a product development/market development consultant for many, many years. The most common mistake i see in inventors and new businesses is that they allocate the funds they have/raise to the product and very little to marketing. They often have no idea of what or how much it takes to build awareness and preference. They often believe they can rely just on word of mouth. New businesses with physical locations often believe that if they are visible in a preferred location that it will be enough. They don’t understand, don’ t have the skills for, and have no funds for actually driving the business out to the market. Then they don't understand why their good product/service doesn't catch on.

Has Paladar Cubano closed? It is on sw 29th. Listed today in the Oklahoman for a good place to eat for Hispanic Heritage month but website down and yelp says closed when i went to check out their menu. Surely the Oklahoman did some research when writing their article (sarcasm).

What was wrong with it? I went there once or twice and it was okay.Wasn't great

I think Chicken Foot has one of the best Chicken sandwiches, but they were too expensive for what you get; charged like $6 for bad sides, sandwiches were like $15. I just pulled up the current menu and it looks like they have updated so the sandwiches actually come with fries now, so that's better than when I last went. Still definitely not a big loss for the area. I would not be surprised to see Bibi's follow suite.

After OKCTalk posted about them and we drove hundreds of people there, did you ever hear about them again?

So many of these restaurants don't even try to promote themselves.
Yeah, it’s a very interesting point. I had completely forgotten they even existed. But I specifically want to try them because I read about them on this site and decided to try them. I went back, probably 6 or so times and there’s so much new stuff opening up in OKC, admittedly, I just kind of forgot they were there. Their food was pretty good. I would’ve gone back.

I think Chicken Foot has one of the best Chicken sandwiches, but they were too expensive for what you get; charged like $6 for bad sides, sandwiches were like $15. I just pulled up the current menu and it looks like they have updated so the sandwiches actually come with fries now, so that's better than when I last went. Still definitely not a big loss for the area. I would not be surprised to see Bibi's follow suite.
I mean their food was pretty good. But again for me, it wasn’t memorable or great. I had their chicken and waffles which I enjoyed. The staff were usually pretty friendly. It will be interesting to see how the one in Edmund does.

I think Chicken Foot has one of the best Chicken sandwiches, but they were too expensive for what you get; charged like $6 for bad sides, sandwiches were like $15. I just pulled up the current menu and it looks like they have updated so the sandwiches actually come with fries now, so that's better than when I last went. Still definitely not a big loss for the area. I would not be surprised to see Bibi's follow suite.

unfortunately, a lot of these restaurant groups are trying to sell food (and, especially, drinks) at prices well above the market clearing price. and it's just not a sustainable business practice from what i can tell.

The Abuelo’s near West Memorial Road and North May Avenue has also closed. So, they are done in OKC completely.

https://www.news9.com/story/671163456b0f12d403251c08/abuelos-mexican-restaurant-closes-last-okc-location

The Abuelo’s near West Memorial Road and North May Avenue has also closed. So, they are done in OKC completely.

https://www.news9.com/story/671163456b0f12d403251c08/abuelos-mexican-restaurant-closes-last-okc-locationThis is surprising. We went there fairly often and they were always busy.

From Whipped Bakery and Cafe in Warr Acres

8am Tomorrow, Saturday,
the 19th is our final day as a cafe. Coffee drinks and merchandise is 1/2 all day. We will be fully stocked with all your favorite sweets and sandwiches but when we’re sold out that’s it! ��
Such a neat place. Hate this.

From Whipped Bakery and Cafe in Warr Acres

8am Tomorrow, Saturday,
the 19th is our final day as a cafe. Coffee drinks and merchandise is 1/2 all day. We will be fully stocked with all your favorite sweets and sandwiches but when we’re sold out that’s it! ��
Such a neat place. Hate this.

It is just really heartbreaking to see all the long running restaurants and cafes close these days

Pei Wei at Belle Isle has closed.

Pei Wei at Belle Isle has closed.

Places like this, where you order at the front and then seat yourself, have to have an overall small rate of success in the restaurant world I'd imagine. The workers are not table side servers so they aren't getting tipped. Turnover has to be high, and when turnover is high, quality decreases and your business makes less money. When I ate here earlier this year, there were only two people working. One person taking orders at the front kiosk and one cooking. Not a good business model IMO.