I'm hearing rumors that the International Photography Hall of Fame may be moving to Rochester New York. I guess Kodak is offering them some incentives to move the museum there. I had heard that they were considering moving to Midtown. Has anyone heard anything about this. I would hate to see a museum leave the city and the state. I think they have been here for 20 years.

They have been at the Omniplex for quite a while, but it's not a very good location for them. Actually, they are a really good museum . . . solid archive permnant collection and able to attract some world class traveling exhibits. They have looked at a couple of locations downtown and one in Midtown. The City and Chamber of Commerce should be working hard to keep them, but that's not happening right now. There is strong pressure from their board to move to Rochester, but no final decision has been made yet.

Any ideas how we can save them and do you know what buildings they are considering? We definitely need to get the chamber and the city behind this project. We are always recruiting but we need to keep what we have.

How cool would it be to relocate them into the Film Exchange area of downtown?? There is plenty of empty buildings in that area of downtown, and it would be very close to the Arts District.

Before anything tourism-related will survive in the film exchange district, the homeless problem will have to be addressed.

You can't walk around down there without being hassled constantly. It's really bad.

I'd like them to be near the OKC Museum of Art not that lot near the memorial.

OKCMOA = Oklahoma City Museum of Art

A bit more information on McNellies

Oklahoma's best pub for Guinness, plus 299 other beers
Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:55 PM IST

By Nick Carey

TULSA, Oklahoma (Reuters Life!) - If you're the type who likes to try every beer a pub has to offer, then you should make a few trips to McNellie's - it have 300 brews.

There are only 60 of them on tap, but that still means a bristling array of taps behind the bar of this popular downtown Tulsa haunt, like regimental standards in a brewers' army.

The other 240 beers come in bottles in this Irish pub. A large digital clock on the wall counts down the days, hours, minutes and even seconds to the Saint Patrick's Day on March 17, 2008. It's still a long way off yet.

To help you keep track of the beers and cross off any you've already had, McNellie's provides a menu of all the beers on offer.

Or if you don't have time or the alcohol tolerance to try that many full beers, there is always the option of a flight or five small samples.

For example, you can try the "Original" selection - consisting of Hoegaarden, Paulaner Lager, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, Guinness Stout and Anchor Steam.

There's food, too, from burgers to salads to help line your stomach if you need it.

Owner Elliot Nelson, 28, said he opened McNellie's three years ago, inspired by the six months he spent in Dublin as a student.

"I fell in love with all the beer there," he said.

Guinness is the top selling beer at McNellie's and "we're the biggest seller of this beer in Oklahoma, so we've been told by our distributor."

Nelson added that in a recent taste test tour of bars in Colorado and Oklahoma by Guinness representatives, McNellie's also tasted best in the state as well.

The No. 2 beer here is Boulevard Wheat, brewed in Kansas City, which Nelson said is seen locally as a big regional beer. Among the local beers on tap is Choc, an unfiltered wheat beer named for the Choctaw American Indians who originally made it, which is in the top 30 beers at McNellie's.

"We sell more beer than anyone in the state, so the Top 30 is still pretty good," Nelson said.

He added that this year he will open a restaurant in downtown Tulsa called El Guapo's. which is named after the villain in the 1986 film "Three Amigos", and a McNellie's pub in Oklahoma City.

"Ultimately, my dream would be to open up an uber-McNellie's in Chicago with 1,000 beers available," Nelson added. "But that is some way off yet."

I noticed that there is a for sale sign in front of the old Red Cross building at 10th and Hudson. That's one of the few remaining eye sores on 10th.

My company is looking to buy office space somewhere in Midtown. Anybody know of anything available? Is Banta selling back or just leasing?

My company is looking to buy office space somewhere in Midtown. Anybody know of anything available? Is Banta selling back or just leasing?


I know he is doing some selling back, or has at least sold some of his properties back.

I think they are selling some of their smaller buildings. How big of a building are you looking for?

Not huge. We currently have 7 people in the office. The idea is to have room to grow, and lease for now what we don't need.

You should call Greg Banta or Chad Elmore to see what they are selling.

Well I'm not the man in charge, but I'll pass that along. Thanks.

I know I have stated this before, but Mid Town is really on track to be the most impressive new areas of Okc.

It is one area that is almost changing daily with new construction going on everywhere. Not to mention St. Anthony's hospital building the new MOB.

If anyone hasn't been through the area at NW10th around Walker, I would recommend a drive around Midtown. You will be impressed and surprised at how quickly this area has changed from an eyesore to a unique part of Okc.

This area just needs more residents.
Does anyone have a list of the available residentials in Midtown??

I have talked to Rick Dowell of Dowell Properties about leasing in Midtown. He owns most of the property around 4th and 5th on and around Walker. He is really doing a nice job and the rents are pretty reasonable for office space. We looked at one of the finished spaces and it had a lot of character with exposed brick but had the modern amenities you need in office space. Very classy looking.
His web site is pretty good if you just want to look.

What's the site?

Dowell Properties, Inc. (http://dowellproperties.com)

They apparently have a 200 sq ft office somewhere in MidTown. Is that big enough?

10X20 sounds more like a jail cell to me.

No, I think we need much more than that.

At Irma's new Plaza Court location, the neon beer signs are all shining and a note chalked on a small blackboard near the bar appears to be a reminder to the staff that "WE OPEN MONDAY".

I drove by Irma's last night and it looked good to go and the signs posted on the wall stated we open Thursday July 5th. I drove by again today in regards to the rumors that they were opening today as part of a "soft opening". No such thing. They did have their staff there and it appeared they were doing training. But the doors were locked. Looks like they will be opening on Thursday. Too bad they can't open before July 4th with all the huge crowds downtown for fireworks, concerts, ballgame, etc.

Also, I spoke with the owners of the Prarie Thunder Bakery as they were there on site last evening. Their oven has arrived from France and it is at a port in Florida. They have to go down and get it and truck it up. They recently sheetrocked the place, but he said due to the humidity, the mud and tape isn't sticking, etc. He's estimating they will be open late summer or early fall. He did mentioned they plain on having a deli/lunch menu cookies, coffee and that sort of thing. Should be a smaller, more localized and specialized version of Panera Bread from the sound of it.

FYI Irma's opened up today. I didn't go at lunch, I figured I'd wait a week or so and let them get some kinks out. If anyone goes, please do a review in the Food Court section.

FYI Irma's opened up today. I didn't go at lunch, I figured I'd wait a week or so and let them get some kinks out. If anyone goes, please do a review in the Food Court section.

If they did, they weren't open long. I drove by about 1:00 and the signs on the doors had Thursday scratched out. Friday looks like their Plaza Court coming out.

the guy that runs the bicycle shop downtown told me that a "deep fork" and iguana lounge are opening on Broadway around 10th-ish

remember iguana lounge on western, i always loved that joint.

this would be the beginning of restaurant row in downtown, anyone heard of this, it'll be great alternate options to Prime.

Hmmm.

Iguana Lounge resurrected?

I heard that these were going on 10th Street....possibly at 10th and Robinson.

That would be very cool indeed

Iguana's margaritas and different salsas were well worth the drive up north

Would be extremely happy if they do reopen

I heard that these were going on 10th Street....possibly at 10th and Robinson.

I know that Banta has plans (or hopes) to have a restaurant to anchor the corner of the Packard building.

the guy that runs the bicycle shop downtown told me that a "deep fork" and iguana lounge are opening on Broadway around 10th-ish

remember iguana lounge on western, i always loved that joint.

this would be the beginning of restaurant row in downtown, anyone heard of this, it'll be great alternate options to Prime.

I know Steve Mason (owner of Earl's) owns a building at Broadway & 9th; he was in the old Iquana deal at some time, so I do think it is a possiblity. I have not heard of the Deep Fork Group doing anything on Automobile Alley, but it wouldn't surprise me. I say "The more the Merrrier" on Broadway.

I ate at the new Irma's today for lunch and I wrote a food review in the food court for those interested.

Also, I took pictures of 1492 tonight. Go to my gallery to check out pictures. I don't know what is the holdup here, the place has seemed ready to go for weeks besides the fact there are no tables and chairs, other than that I don't see a hold-up. As you can kind of tell in my picture, they have recently installed LED lighting outside. I've noticed more and more places downtown going with the LEd lighting that can change colors. I'm glad to see the upgraded improvements. Stay tuned for more updates later this week.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=204

They are waiting for the street repairs to be completed.

Makes sense. You figure they would have all their chairs, tables, and fixtures good to go though. The inside is essentially finished other than that. Heck, they could even do some training to be up and ready. The street repairs are close to wrapping up.

Why did the old Iquana close on Western?

Why hasn't anyone taken up that space?

I did some more investigative journalism today. The space I mentioned a week or two ago that I noticed was being renovated (i.e. the former Sign Guy) on Classen between NW 7-8th is going to be Ace Bookbinding. They already have a location in the area and are rehabbing this building and moving into it. Either way, it sure helps clean up this part of Classen.

Why did the old Iquana close on Western?

Why hasn't anyone taken up that space?

The old Iguana space on Western is in horrible disrepair. It really needs to be scraped!!!

Jerry Marshall owns that Iguana property as well as the Hideaway and Earl's Ribs along with some parking behind all of them.

However, Chesapeake has been acquiring property all along there... I bet they are in negotiations with Marshall.

Irma's Burger Shack opens second location

By Trisha Evans
Business Writer
The signs are not yet up at the new Irma's Burger Shack in Plaza Court, but the smell of flame-kissed burgers welcome patrons just the same.
Irma's opened in a second location, 1120 Classen Drive, last week and business is already steady, said co-owner Linda Lee.





"For me this is the mark of success. For independent restaurants like us, not a lot of us open (restaurant) No. 2,” she said.

But besides the larger size and openness of the restaurant, not much will change, Lee said. Customers still can count on the hand-cut French fries, home-made onion rings, freshly-made gravy — and of course, the famous burgers.

The first Irma's opened in 2003, and having another footprint in Oklahoma City has been on the owners' minds the last two years. But it was the customers' influence coupled with a good opportunity that led them to Midtown.

"Really and truly, I guess we kind of found the place before we knew we were going to expand,” she said.

Lee said they were approached about opening a second restaurant in Plaza Court, and the demographics really fit.

"We already had a lot of customers at the first Irma's who live down here and in Heritage Hills,” she said. "They kept asking us, when are you going to open a restaurant closer to us?”

So far, customers seem to be excited, Lee said. The lunch crowd is fantastic, but the dinner and weekend business leaves a lot to be desired, she said. The adjacent Boulevard Cafeteria is closed on Saturdays, and the nearby Subway restaurant is closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Still, neighbors are dropping by to welcome the restaurant to Midtown.

Sister Veronica Higgins, principal at Villa Teresa School, tried the restaurant the first time Friday. She said she thinks the restaurant will be a hit with the employees of St. Anthony Hospital down the street.

Oklahoma City residents Marla McBryde and son Patrick McBryde are frequent Irma's customers and said Irma's in Plaza Court is more convenient for them.

"We like the ambiance and the casual atmosphere. It's family friendly,” Marla McBryde said. "I really like the burgers. They're lean and have a lot of flavor.”

"They also have really good fries and fired okra. I haven't had their desserts, but the fried okra is usually my dessert,” she added.

Patrick McBryde said he likes to order the NoName burger because it's chemical free. The meat is from the NoName Ranch near Wynnewood.

"There are no hormones and no pesticides. It's healthier,” he said.

Irma's has quite a following for the NoName burger, Lee said. It's all-natural meat with no fillers and is seasoned in the restaurant with Irma's secret recipe.

Lee said the new restaurant will also continue to use a number of made-in-Oklahoma products including Field's Pecan Pies, Schwab's meat and Choc beer.

And much like the flagship restaurant, Irma's in Plaza Court will be a place to cure the day's ills.

"It's kind of our slogan. We feel like, if you have a bad day — a good burger and a cold beer will change things,” Lee said


http://static.newsok.biz/article/3088350/biz-jy21irmas_07-21-2007_GS4161U.jpg

Owner Linda Lee in Irma's Burger Shack's new location at 1120 Classen Drive. BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, the oklahoman

Quick update, I ate at Irma's Burger Shack II again last night. They got their official sign hung up outside yesterday. It looks nice. I took pics and will post later today.

how was the food?

Check out my review in the Food Court section of the site.

I ate at Irmas today. Chicken Fried sandwich and fries were wonderful. I was told that they just got all of their licensing and will be serving beer and wine starting tonight!!!!!

Maybe that "licensing" will help them with the night crowd. I know they were complaining that they didn't have many customers at night. Just some advertising would help them a ton, especially to local residents in the area to let them know they are open at night, every time I drive by they look like they are closed. I told them that and they said they were open, but they knew it kind of looked like they were closed. They mentioned they're still working kinks out, etc.

If you haven't driven by Midtown area along Walker in awhile you need to. St. Anthony's has started going vertical (at least 3 stories so far) recently on their new Physicians building. The first level parking garage looks done and 2 stories of steel have gone up on top of it. I believe the building is supposed to be 5 stories if my memory is correct.

If anyone is interested KOCO recently ran a nice little story on midtown. You can view it here:

Midtown Oklahoma City Growing - Video - KOCO Oklahoma City (http://www.koco.com/video/13924298/index.html)

Its good to see OKC has enough momentum that development is now starting to spread outside Bricktown.

nice

Drive Around, 8/18/2007


Irma's:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture002-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture001-8.jpg

Walker Shop's / 1492:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture005-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture004-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture003-5.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture011-5.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture014-8.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture010-8.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture009-4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture008-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture007-4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture006-5.jpg

Roundabout: New landscaping, St. Anthony's buildout

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture021-7.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture022-4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture020-7.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture023-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture024-7.jpg

Sieber Renovation(notice new windows)

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture015-4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture016-7.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture017-5.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture018-6.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture019-4.jpg

Attorneys office renovation(behind Walker Shop's)

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture012-4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture013-7.jpg

Another new modern home: NW 7th

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/wsucougz/City%2020070818/Picture025-4.jpg

thanks for the pics wsucougz, saves me a bikeride or trip with my camera. I've been meaning to post on the roundabout re-landscaping. I'm not sure how I feel about it. To me, it doesn't look much different than it was before. The only real improvement was that they added a sprinkler system. I'm wondering if that center median in the roundabout will become a nuisance as all those trees start to mature. I could have swore St. Anthony's and Banta announced not to long ago they had purchased a statue that was going to go in the center. I don't see where it will fit now.

Yeah I was wondering where they were going to put that statue as well.

Thanks for those photos! Us out-of-staters are especially appreciative.

Actually the round-a-bout landscaping is way different than the original version. The first try also had irrigation built in, but the dumb-asses driving through rather than around rendered it inoperative within a couple of months. Mostly shrubs and other green stuff and no small flowers in this scheme . . . much better IMO.

There has been talk of raising money for an art piece, but nothing firm on that front.

Thanks for the photo spread wuz.

If anyone is interested KOCO recently ran a nice little story on midtown. You can view it here:

Midtown Oklahoma City Growing - Video - KOCO Oklahoma City (http://www.koco.com/video/13924298/index.html)

Its good to see OKC has enough momentum that development is now starting to spread outside Bricktown.

I wouldn't say this was a "nice" piece on MidTown, but at least it's a start. Hopefully the media is/will notice that there is life outside of Bricktown. Hopefully one day we can teach them how to do real journalism.

The 1492 restaurant at 12th and Walker is set to open the second week in September. The city claims that they will be done with the street work by then. I also noticed that Banta has started remodeling the other buildings on Walker. The workers said that they have to be done in time for the businesses to be open by Thanksgiving so maybe we will have quite a few more restaurants in time for the holidays.

I just drove by 1492 today and noticed all the tables are set up, with cloth napkins already in place. So I would guess the opening may even be sooner than the second week in September. I'm really looking forward to this restaurant.

Please help me understand that Banta Co. and Bob Howards ambition in the area? 21 Million has been spent thus far, back when this blog was started, yet the amount of real-estate they own is unbelivable. I get wanting to revitalized a complete district, however, it does not seem to be very successful to date. There are many projects undercontruction but it does not show signs of being rented/leased out.

Does anyone else feel that this company and Mr. Howard have gotten in over their heads on this project?

I ask because Oklahoma County growth has only been 1.6 percent population growth over the past year. This is a very slow growing economy and has been for many years. We do not have a lot of big business (I dont mean Lowes, Home Depot, BN, CVS, Walgreens, etc cause we all know the is an abundance of those). I am talking big corporations like Devon and Chesapeake. I agree those two corporations are huge, but the dont make up the jobs that were lost by GM closing. You are talking hundreds of manufactoring jobs lost that paid in excess of $20.00 per hour.

I don't even see how the developers in the Triangle District and Bricktown expect to sell their units. DON'T FORGET THAT WHEN YOU HEAR THE UNITS ARE ALL SOLD, EVERYONE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT CLASSEN TOWER... I am not saying its not true but make sure you investigate what you hear unless you actually see the report from the company.

My biggest fear is this high-rollers not succeed from buying to much to quick, because it could cause economic turn downs in a slow paced growth economy.

I would like to hear everyone else's opinions on the Banta Co.

I think all of the projects that Banta has started on are almost completely leased up. Plaza Court only has two small spaces available and the buildings on Walker are all leased. They also announced recently that they signed up Office Depot and are waiting on building permits to begin construction. As far as the rest of the properties I think that they are just being slow and methodical so that they don't make any mistakes. They have stated that they are treating this as one large development which takes more time to put together than if you are just trying to finish one building. Also, If you have been in any of the buildings that they have remodeled I think that you will find that they are exceptional. You are also talking about properties that have been empty for years. No telling what they found once they opened them up. It takes a lot of time to get all of your architectural and engineering done plus you have to get through several layers at the city before you can do any work. In listening to Banta speak at different functions, he is still excited about the potential of the projects and is trying to make Midtown something special. He doesn't act like someone who is trying to make a quick buck and leave. I think he is trying to leave his mark on the area and have something that he is proud of in the future.

My husband and I toured the Classen a couple of weeks ago just for a looksee and they only had 5 units left. I have to admit we were tempted even though they don't fit our lifestyle at this time.

My husband and I toured the Classen a couple of weeks ago just for a looksee and they only had 5 units left. I have to admit we were tempted even though they don't fit our lifestyle at this time.

I'm kinda skeptical of that... Sounds like a sales pitch to get you to commit on the spot. :confused:

Although if it's true, that's great news!

That may be true but there were definitely people milling around the place. The guy giving us the tour was well aware that we were not going to be leasing there any time soon since we have 2 teenagers and the only units left are only 2 beds and not really practical for us.

I wrote Banta Cos. about installing bike racks at some of their MidTown properties for all us downtowners who like to be able to walk or ride a bike to things. I also suggested that Urban Outfitters would be perfect for either of their buildings on the NW or NE corners of Broadway and 10th. Here is what they replied back:

Thank you for your interest in Midtown. We are looking into the bike racks already and we appreciate your tenant suggestions. I have forwarded the names to our retail broker. We are very excited about the development of Midtown.



Thanks again for your email.



Dave Ortenburger

President