1/14/20:

Buttermilk Sliders

This is perfect timing, we went Saturday and the food was crap, decided to never go there again, it had been going downhill each time we went. Shame about Maples, though.

We're near saturation because owners find it increasingly difficult to hire good employees. Your two year cash reserve methodology is also incorrect - working capital is never as simple as "X months" or "Y years."

That's a valid point. Lack of good employees can certainly derail an industry.

Think about putting in hundreds of thousands if not millions then relying on staff that can be very hard to recruit and maintain.

One of my restaurant friends says, "We audition every 10 minutes. And it's always done by someone I have to trust to represent me personally".

In the end, the success of any place is probably more on the front of the house than the back (chef/prep/etc).

Think about putting in hundreds of thousands if not millions then relying on staff that can be very hard to recruit and maintain.

One of my restaurant friends says, "We audition every 10 minutes. And it's always done by someone I have to trust to represent me personally".

In the end, the success of any place is probably more on the front of the house than the back (chef/prep/etc).

I'd agree with this. If you have great food and bad service, I probably won't go back, but if your food is just pretty good/decent, but the service is excellent, I'll be back (hoping for improvement of the food next time, of course :)). Of course, great food *and* service is the home run, but there aren't tons of places that get to that level.

I'd agree with this. If you have great food and bad service, I probably won't go back, but if your food is just pretty good/decent, but the service is excellent, I'll be back (hoping for improvement of the food next time, of course :)). Of course, great food *and* service is the home run, but there aren't tons of places that get to that level.

Having had someone move up here in the service industry from the Dallas area it's been eye popping in terms of seeing how some of these people handle personnel. Everything from keeping 3 times as many people as needed on staff and cutting people frequently to promising certain hours to get someone on board and then the reality being starkly different. Granted it's a bit limited but if this is any sort of indicative of the industry as a whole in OKC, it's a wonder any place manages to maintain good service. I swear every time I hear a story about food service staff it makes me wonder why these managers don't all go grab some HR/staffing training because oftentimes it seems they're shooting themselves in the foot.

^^^ Yep, as chuck5815 said, there are folks getting into the restaurant business that don't have the experience and/or training to do it right. Dunno why so many places/people in OKC think they're the first ones to ever do things and can't go outside of their own heads to get training/education/help/knowledge (streets, crosswalk paint, Skydance Bridge planking, P180, restaurant staffing, restaurant cooking, retail sales in almost any sector). Having said that, yes, there are lots that do it right, and those are the places we try to patronize.

I disagree that the metro is not near saturation. The good:OKC continues to introduce a greater number of 3-4 star level culinary options however the number of patrons with the disposable income to frequent them IS NOT keeping up. Job and population growth is OK, but salaries and numbers of patrons is IMO steady state in those two areas.

1/14/20:

Buttermilk Sliders
Maples

Might have a little something to do with....Farmer's Bank. ;)

I disagree that the metro is not near saturation. The good:OKC continues to introduce a greater number of 3-4 star level culinary options however the number of patrons with the disposable income to frequent them IS NOT keeping up. Job and population growth is OK, but salaries and numbers of patrons is IMO steady state in those two areas.

Median earnings are up over the past 8 years in OKC. And people eat out more nowadays. The price points for the various restaurants are a different issue, but OKC has plenty of growth room for more dining options.
Remember when restaurants used to be closed on Sunday and Monday? Nobody has time for that anymore.

Certainly hope you are right because I thoroughly enjoyed the number of quality dining options available in the city during my visit a couple months ago. OKC black eats has done a fabulous job showcasing SOME of the culinary talent in OKC. I hope these and other outstanding Chefs are supported. Having a top quality food scene goes along way in selling a city to visitors.

Simply the maturation of our dining scene, whereby there is lots more competition and only the strong will survive.

It sucks for the people who have to close down, but the quality of dining in OKC has gone up quite a bit in just the last few years, and that's across the board from high-end to fast casual and bars.

All these trends will continue for some time and I've said all the way along that shakeout is coming. And at the same time, there are still a bunch of new places in the queue.

Poke Loco on north Penn has closed

Yeah Poke Loco (sp?) has been closed for several weeks.

Smokey's Midnight Express on Coltrane is closed. They were the ones doing 7pm to 2am delivery or carryout. A marijuana dispensary went in next door to them, which I figured could only help them. Maybe they were too far away from any universities. College students love late night snacking.

Smokey's Midnight Express on Coltrane is closed. They were the ones doing 7pm to 2am delivery or carryout. A marijuana dispensary went in next door to them, which I figured could only help them. Maybe they were too far away from any universities. College students love late night snacking.

This was an interesting concept, and the reviews seemed good, but just what an absolutely baffling location for what they were offering.

Ur/bun has been closed for a few weeks.

Hunny Bunny is expanding into their space.

Republic in Chisholm Creek closed last night it appears.

^

Yes, I can confirm this.

Republic in Chisholm Creek closed last night it appears.

Republic Gastropub, the same guys at Classen Curve?

https://i.imgur.com/WbEjekh.jpg

Ur/bun has been closed for a few weeks.

Hunny Bunny is expanding into their space.

Sorry, out of towner question....the one on 23rd St.?

Correct.

Sandwich Club's last day will be Jan. 31st.

Planet Sub in downtown OKC (200 N. Harvey) is permanently closed.

That's a shame. I'd get a sandwich there regularly during trial weeks.

Feb. 1: Anatomy Wine Club

Hearing of Scottie’s Deli closing in about 2 weeks from people that work there.

Hearing of Scottie’s Deli closing in about 2 weeks from people that work there.

Shame if it's true. Started out great, but the last couple of times they kinda sucked, so honestly I won't be surprised if they do go...

Doesn't surprise me. That place was extremely empty the last few times I walked down to a show at Tower or Ponyboy, which you'd think would be prime time for them.

Hearing of Scottie’s Deli closing in about 2 weeks from people that work there.

I better use up my Gift Certificates!

I had really mixed experiences there at Scottie's; it was expensive for what it was worth. I will say that OKC needs more deli type restaurants across the board. I've found a good one in the office buildings at the Central Park office buildings off Lincoln between I-44 and NW 50th (Ten Arrows).

Terrible news about Scotties if true. I absolutely love this place. This and Maples were top 5 for me in town.

I enjoyed my sandwiches here more than katz back when they baked their own bread/cured their meat. Sacrilege, I know.

I enjoyed my sandwiches here more than katz back when they baked their own bread/cured their meat. Sacrilege, I know.

+1. Not sacrilege.
Good heads up on Ten Arrows, but looks to be more of a coffee house cafe as opposed to a deli. Their coffees look nice however.

Ten Arrows has coffee and lattes, but they have a full food menu, including panini sandwiches (or cold if you'd like) and hamburgers, too. Very reasonably priced and hidden gem. I still consider them to be a "deli" because they have turkey, ham, etc., available with their sandwiches.

Snow Pea on Western has a sign posted on the door that they’re closed due to unpaid taxes.

Snow Pea on Western has a sign posted on the door that they’re closed due to unpaid taxes.

THAT explains why my calls to them today didn't go through. (But the Beef Broccoli from Great Wall was GREAT!)

THAT explains why my calls to them today didn't go through. (But the Beef Broccoli from Great Wall was GREAT!)

Yeah they didn’t answer me last night, figured something was up. One of those places I feel like I’ve gone my whole life. Very sad to see it go.

Yeah they didn’t answer me last night, figured something was up. One of those places I feel like I’ve gone my whole life. Very sad to see it go.

Same. I've gone there for as long as I can remember, but I'm not surprised that they haven't paid their taxes. Curious if they'll close for good or get the tax situation figured out and keep the lights on.

Snow Pea on Western has a sign posted on the door that they’re closed due to unpaid taxes.

Are these the same people who owned the Snow Pea restaurant that was at 178th & Kelly, in Edmond?

Snow Pea was never a bargain, but it was convenient, and I guess you pay a little more for that. Oops - PAID.

Are these the same people who owned the Snow Pea restaurant that was at 178th & Kelly, in Edmond?

I think that each store is owned by different families now, but I could be wrong.

There's a Snow Pea in "the pit" downtown, can't remember what the building just south of Leadership Square is called.

There's a Snow Pea in "the pit" downtown, can't remember what the building just south of Leadership Square is called.

Are you referring to the Robinson Renaissance building that has restaurants in the basement?

I think that each store is owned by different families now, but I could be wrong.

I looked on Google maps and what was Snow Pea is now Pho Ben & Snowpea. I hadn't noticed the snowpea part of the sign before.

My wife and I enjoy their food, which probably means their days are numbered. It seems that every time we find a good Asian restaurant in the area, it goes out of business. The only one I don't worry about is Eggroll Express, since it seems like an institution for the UCO international students.

The Western & Robinson Renaissance stores had different ownership.

Driving down Western yesterday and noticed that Bella Vista has closed and is now Tacos N Ganas.

On a positive note, Snow Pea on Western has reopened.

this thread is going to become really long

and that is very very sad

Everyone is focusing on restaurants and hotels, but virtually every small- and medium-sized business is going to be screwed if this goes for more than 2 months.

The best hope is for longer term SBA loans. I'm already in the queue. They are talking about up to $2 million amortized out up to 30 years at a low interest rate. That will be the key for many businesses being able to come out of this.

Everyone is focusing on restaurants and hotels, but virtually every small- and medium-sized business is going to be screwed if this goes for more than 2 months.

The best hope is for longer term SBA loans. I'm already in the queue. They are talking about up to $2 million amortized out up to 30 years at a low interest rate. That will be the key for many businesses being able to come out of this.

So true. I really dont think people have fully grasp the reality of this yet. A lot of people are probably thinking this ends at the end of the month because that's the date a lot of places set. They are in for a rude awakening.

this thread is going to become really long

and that is very very sad

Maybe we need a places that are still open thread?

Maybe we need a places that are still open thread?

in 2 month we will

I'd say it's kind of good in that I've maybe started to believe all the bullet points I've laughed at about how OKC has become a foodie destination. Stuff is just going to get weeded out. However with current events, it's going to get very very sad.

Driving down Western yesterday and noticed that Bella Vista has closed and is now Tacos N Ganas.

Bella Vista closed a long time ago.

This seems like as good a place as any to ask...what happens at the end of this, when there are going to be hundreds of closed restaurants in every city that are basically going to be turnkey operations for someone else to take over? My Twitter feed has been 24/7 COVID-19 for three weeks now, I've seen discussions about nearly every imaginable aspect of this crisis, but I haven't found anything on this. Can't help but feel like we are going to lose a lot of unique spots and gain a lot more corporate concepts that have the $$$ to ride this out, which would suck, but wanting to see if anyone has a more optimistic viewpoint.

Feel free to move this to a separate thread as necessary.

Bella Vista closed a long time ago.

Why didn't you tell us sooner?

This seems like as good a place as any to ask...what happens at the end of this, when there are going to be hundreds of closed restaurants in every city that are basically going to be turnkey operations for someone else to take over? My Twitter feed has been 24/7 COVID-19 for three weeks now, I've seen discussions about nearly every imaginable aspect of this crisis, but I haven't found anything on this. Can't help but feel like we are going to lose a lot of unique spots and gain a lot more corporate concepts that have the $$$ to ride this out, which would suck, but wanting to see if anyone has a more optimistic viewpoint.

Feel free to move this to a separate thread as necessary.

I believe we are soon just going to have to resume normalcy (with caution), because this goes far, far beyond restaurants.

Virtually every small and medium sized business faces the same specter and that would ruin our economy and way of life, perhaps beyond repair.

I believe we are soon just going to have to resume normalcy (with caution), because this goes far, far beyond restaurants.

Virtually every small and medium sized business faces the same specter and that would ruin our economy and way of life, perhaps beyond repair.

Some reason for at least hopeful optimism that I think stokes the 15-day "campaign" here - some reports out of Italy are suggesting that in the peak areas they are *finally* starting to see a statistically relevant slowdown in cases. I've read so much stuff the last few days I can't remember particulars, but this actually listed a city. If I can find it I'll post a link.

I think the biggest concern right now are spring breakers seemingly detached from all of it. Glad the universities have largely shut down for at least a couple weeks afterward - wouldn't surprise me if OU went full online for the rest of the semester.

The slowdown in cases is because of the isolation they are forcing. If there is no vaccine produced and everyone goes back to normal life, it will return.

This seems to be the big thing everyone here is forgetting. The critical cases in the US being so low is BECAUSE we've reacted so quickly and forcefully. If we return to 'normalcy' this thing will come with a vengeance. Thank god the professionals are the advisors on this.

^

As the testing has gone up dramatically, the number of severe cases has not. Severe cases are not going undetected and unreported because those people are in hospitals.

There is a huge difference between those who test positive and those who need serious medical attention.

I keep saying this, but if we don't see a big spike in serious cases over the next few weeks, we really just have to get back to relative normalcy with extra caution.