Now that is a good idea.

Think I have found the perfect replacement...One of the first Girls Gone Wild restaurants...Email campaign starts now fellas

Francis's California-based Mantra Films Inc. and Nevada-based Sands Media Inc. produce about 80 "Girls Gone Wild" DVDs a year and is expanding to the United Kingdom, Australia and France.

Francis last month announced he was planning a restaurant chain and a line of swimwear and casual wear under the name.

Now that is not a good idea.

oh please. puke. that should be added to the what's the difference between porn and prostitution thread. girls gone wild, girls gone whore, girls gone porn, what's the difference. i do not want to see lake hefner turn into a redlight district.

Metro, I remember Joe's on NWE being a Landry's, but not Pappadeux's. I think I would remember because my dad loves that place.

I thought about Rainforest Cafe, but they fit better in touristy areas like Bricktown.

Does Rainforest Cafe even do stand-alone locations? I've only seen them in malls.
I can't imagine anybody making a special trip to go to one, but it might be good for the tourist crowd in Bricktown.

Pappadeux is the best. The chargrilled catfish is amazing. I could only wish one of these were located in OKC. I ate at one in Albuquerque so I can not imagine why they are not here.

metro,

I remember when Landry's was open, and I don't think it was ever a Pappadeaux. I took my wife there when we were expecting our first curtain-climber way back when, and it wasn't but a few weeks (maybe a month or two) we drove by it again and it was Joe's Crab Shack.

I liked the Landry's concept, an upscale seafood restaurant, but alas, not enough others, ahem, took the bait. (insert sarcastic comment here).

-soonerdave

Like I said, I'm not 100% sure, but these were my old stomping grounds and the two of you are from SW OKC so we both could be wrong. I thought it was one for just about two weeks before changing to Joe's , between the Landry's/Joe's Crabshack stint.

For two weeks? That's crazy if true.

Millie, Rainforest Cafe has a standalone in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo.

Like I said, I'm not 100% sure, but these were my old stomping grounds and the two of you are from SW OKC so we both could be wrong. I thought it was one for just about two weeks before changing to Joe's , between the Landry's/Joe's Crabshack stint.

I don't ever remember it being in the Papas Family. (and I'm a northsider)

I think back then Landry's/Joe's Crabshack and Pappadeux were in the same family. At least I'm pretty sure Landry's and Joe's were. Again, not 100% sure on the Pappadeux. I'm am pretty sure they've been in this market before, but like I said I was a young pre-teen/teen so I could be wrong. It is a possibility considering SoonerDave remembers it changing from Landry's/Joe's within a month or two's time. Anyhow, let's move back to Bahama Breeze, Joe's isn't even at the East Wharf.

That's what it needs to be...Pappadeux's or even a Pappasito's.

There was never a Pappadeux's on NW EXPWY.

That would be great if one of the Pappas restaurants would consider that space. I have spent a lot of time in Houston over the years and remember when they were just a local barbeque place. They expanded to steaks, then seafood, then Mexican and they have other smaller restaurants as well. They didn't start expanding out of Texas until the nineties. The chain was founded by 2 guys who are the sons of a Greek immigrant who also ran restaurants in America. The whole thing is a legend in Houston.

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How about a Rainforest Cafe?


or a planet hollywood or hardrock cafe


NOT

Landry's food is so much better than Joe's. I wish they'd come back to Oklahoma.

OKC’s Lake Hefner loses its Breeze

By Heidi Rambo Centrella - 5/3/2007


Bahama Breeze no longer will provide Oklahoma City residents the island-themed atmosphere at Lake Hefner. The Orlando-based Darden Restaurants closed its Oklahoma City location in addition to nine other locations nationwide.


The eatery, which opened in October 2000, closed after business April 27 and notified its more than 100 employees on the morning of April 28.


“This in no way reflects on their (the employees) work,” said Mike Bernstein, director of media and communications at Darden. “The problem was the location and/or the trade area was not right for the Bahama Breeze brand, or the local market conditions had changed since we opened there.”


Developer and property owner Randy Hogan, principal of Stonegate-Hogan, learned about the closing via a phone call the morning of April 28. He is working with Darden Restaurants in a joint effort to explore options for the location.


“It’s a fantastic site,” Hogan said. “And [the replacement restaurant] has to be one that complements our overall mix. We’re not going to allow a concept to come in and compete directly with our existing restaurants. So, that’s the trick on this - something that complements what’s already here and is a great addition to the lake.”

Already, Hogan said, he has received several inquiries.


Bernstein said the Oklahoma City location never reached the level of profitability that they need and, again, indicated location was an issue.


“Our best performing locations have strong access and visibility, they’re in a dominant retail focal point of a densely populated market, and it’s also important to be close to an office or a daytime population,” he said. “And too many of those elements were missing in this case.”


The decision, Bernstein said, better positions the company for growth.


“You couldn’t rule out, at some point in the future, of being back in the Oklahoma City market,” he said. “But that’s not on the table right now.”

I like how he acts as if the brand isn't in major trouble. NINE other locations. It's not just OKC.

Yeah, putting the blame on the location not reaching the "level of profitability" - whatever.

I guess Randy Hogan shot down our chance for a Pappadeaux... :(

So how was Pearl's not conflicting with Bahama Breeze?

Completely different types of food. Pearl's is more cajun-seafood inspired, I think and Bahama Breeze was Caribbean. Sure, they both had seafood...but so does Red Rock.

I like how he acts as if the brand isn't in major trouble. NINE other locations. It's not just OKC.


Exactly. I was reading that story thinking he's spinning and not telling the truth about the problems with the brand.

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Completely different types of food. Pearl's is more cajun-seafood inspired, I think and Bahama Breeze was Caribbean. Sure, they both had seafood...but so does Red Rock.


As for Red Rock, how is "location" not effecting their business? They seem to always have lines out the door. At least the last few times I've been there. However, it has been awhile. Anybody know how they're doing?

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I was there last night. They are doing great. They've added the live music on the patio which has helped business. They also just have really good food and that helps. They have great service and management also, and that shows.

Clearly it's a matter of Bahama Breeze not being good enough to be a "destination" restaurant that it needs to be in that location. Yeah, of course you are going to have to have a little extra pull to get people to come out to the East Wharf, but Red Rock and Pearl's don't seem to be having any trouble.

Was Bahama the only one of the three main reastaurants open for lunch?...I know Louie's is but thats a smaller and more causal kind of place

My guess is Bahama's needs to pull in a good lunch crowd as well to be profitable and that isn't a good location for people to get in and out of quickly

I heard yesterday from a Manager of another Darden Restaurant in the area that Hal Smith has already purchased the Bahama Breeze location... should be exciting.

He wouldn't put a Charleston's there would he?....Hope not

What about that Islands restaurant idea from Norman...what's the news with that, wonder if he would put that at Hefner with a Pearls there already. He's also joined forces with others in the past though (toby keith's and louie's) so it doesn't necessarily have to be a hal smith name restaurant...could be anything! but i bet it's good.

Is the "Islands Restaurant" still open in Norman? I don't think that it is, I believe that location is now Othello's Italian.

okclee, yes, Islands in Norman WAS Othello's, and then Othello's CLOSED down and moved to Bricktown.

I think a Charleston's would probably be placed there, because there is none in that part of town. The closest Charleston's facility is at NW Expressway and MacArthur-ish. But this would be a more central location, east of Lake Hefner, and would draw people from the surrounding community. It also would give Hal Smith complete control of the restaurants at Lake Hefner: Pearl's Lakeside, Redrock, Louie's, and now a new Charleston's, ALL are owned by Hal Smith Co.

Surely there is no need for a Charleston's there. There is also one at 33rd and Broadway in Edmond.

Maybe Has Smith has a new restaurant theme, that we haven't seen as of yet.

I would like to see something OKC has never seen before. We have plenty of Italian, Mexican, Seafpod, BBQ, Bar & Grill and Chinese restaurants.

I hope they do not turn it into a 18 to enter night club or something like that.

I love how the guy from Darden tried to blame it on Oklahoma City and the location. At dinner time, that place was always packed. My wife and I tried to go awhile back, and they had a 3 hour wait, on a Friday night.

I think it's the whole Bahama Breeze chain that's in trouble. I don't think blaming OKC or location is appropriate.

Glad to see Hal having control of all of East Wharf's eateries.

I don't know if I can see him putting in a Charleston's right there, especially with Red Rock a door down. Their offerings are a little too close, but it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.

Yeah I think Charleston's would be a dumb move and like John said the offerings too close to Pearl's, Red Rock and others, it needs to be a new unique concept.

yea, and the location on broadway is still fairly new, I don't think he would build one that close. oh and don't even joke about a nightclub. bleck. what a way to ruin the setting!

Maybe I just hit the place on a bad night but my last experience at BB was horrible. Bad service. Bad food. Bad attitude from the wait staff. This was a major contrast to my earlier experiences at the restaurant where everything was top notch. Maybe the employees knew the end was near and they were just going through the motions.

That place was always busy as hell. I don't see how they could close due to lack of business. Granted, I've only been there on weekends, so maybe they were slow throughout the week.

I've heard that Ted's is going to occupy the old "Bahama Breeze" facility... anybody heard similar? I think they're looking at moving into where Mexico Joe's was in Stillwater as well.

Ted's Escondido Mexican Restaurant is owned by Hal Smith Restaurant Group (HSRC), so that would make sense, given that HSRC has purchased that building.

That would be good news, although I hope they don't butcher the nice atmosphere a la what they did with the old Bellini's in Edmond.

There's no Mexican restaurant at Hefner, so that wouldn't be a bad addition. Is a little close to their original location though.

That would be good news, although I hope they don't butcher the nice atmosphere a la what they did with the old Bellini's in Edmond.
How did they butcher the nice atmosphere? They made it a Ted's! They weren't making it a Mexican Bellini's.

I'd imagine if the Bahama Breeze Building becomes a Teds, they'll lose the "island" theme of the building. Would only make sense.

Maybe not an "island" theme, but it certainly can be adapted to a tropical theme. Think about what the murals painted in Ted's look like (what are they pictures of?).

Ted's is good, but I hope that's not what is going in there...Already several Ted's around the metro to choose from so it's not a very exciting scenario to me

I don't disagree at all. I'd love to see something really unique go there.

Surely they would close the original if this became a Ted's.

I doubt that. As busy as Teds is, they could probably support both. Look at how many Chelinos are around town.

With every Teds around the city, you can go to one at 3pm and still wait 30 minutes... they could def use another one... it is a very "island" like building, but it should be interesting how they adapt it to a Mexican restaurant.

It doesn't look like a mexican restaurant at all.

Well however they decide to spruce it up...Will just be another Ted's just closer to water is all

I would much rather see a new concept go in

Yeah, as Ted's prices increased, my family's interest decreased. It's good, but there came a point in time where we looked at the prices and realized it wasn't that good. Heck, that was my wife's #1 all-time favorite place for Mexican food, and she won't go there any more because of the prices.

Here's a vote for something new.

-soonerdave

Yeah, as Ted's prices increased, my family's interest decreased. It's good, but there came a point in time where we looked at the prices and realized it wasn't that good.

Us too.

I agree that I would rather not see a Mexican Restaurant at this location. I would really like a place I can go to drink frozen drinks with umbrellas, like a Bahamarita and watch the sunset. Maybe some tapas and sagria to boot.

Yes, prices have turned me away from Teds as well. Why pay $12 for a plate of enchiladas, when I can get the same thing at Chelinos for $7-8?

Seriously, Teds isnt THAT good...

I will forever miss Bahamaritas...

I was hoping Hal would try the "island" themed restaurant that was previous mentioned... I know it didnt work in Norman, but ON THE WATER... sounded promising.

I've never thought Ted's was "that" great.....although
they may opt for Ted's in that location because they
might be looking for "curse" insurance.......

Restaurants that go out in a location have a very very
tough time making it as something else.....just look
at Broadway in Edmond...., yellowtail, callendars, pepperoni grill, etc etc.

FWIW, the new Mexican place "Original Ole'" on Memorial where
Harrigan's used to be is way nicer than Ted's in terms
of atmosphere and on Mondays they have 2 enchiladas,
beans, rice for 3.79 and it was far better than a meal of that price
has any right to be....

We were VERY impressed with the place overall....