New OKC Metro... projects...

[BricktownGuy]

Being logical and sensible, what new projects do you see OKC being able to support as a business in the next 5-8 years??

what hotels, entertainment venues, etc.

[jbrown84]

I think we can support a Hyatt Regency or equal convention hotel.

I think we can support a boardwalk development on the river like this:

http://www.kemahboardwalk.com

[Spartan]

I think we can support a Hyatt Regency or equal convention hotel.

I think we can support a boardwalk development on the river like this:

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Funny you would bring something like that up. In my pre-Oklahoma days I had a small little house in the Bayou Vista area just south of Kemah that I usualy could be seen at during the weekend. I would love to see something like Kemah here but we just don't have an ocean.

[BricktownGuy]

I think we can support a boardwalk development on the river like this:

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Looks like Kemah Boardwalk is developed by Landry's Restaurants.
Kemah Waterfront (interesting read I think)

Landry's Restaurants run restaurants like Saltgrass, Joe's Crab Shack, Rainforest Café.... among others. Landry's Restaurants, Inc.

The company also owns aquariums, hotels, and other entertainment properties, including the Vegas Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos. Chairman and CEO Tilman Fertitta owns almost 30% of the company.

Take a look at this project of theirs:
Tower of the Americas

Their Specialty Growth Division includes the following properties: Kemah Boardwalk-Galveston County, Texas, Downtown Aquarium-Houston, Texas, Downtown Aquarium-Denver, Colorado, Galveston Island Convention Center, Holiday Inn on the Beach-Galveston, Texas, Inn at the Ballpark-Houston, Texas, Flagship Inn and Pleasure Pier-Galveston, Texas and Tower of the Americas-San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Jeffrey L. Cantwell serves as Senior Vice President of Development. (JCantwell@ldry.com)

That would be an interesting development. How about we all bombard them with emails?

[Spartan]

I think we can support a Hyatt Regency or equal convention hotel.

I think we can support a boardwalk development on the river like this:

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I would rather see something like Kemah go along the undeveloped portions of Lake Overholser.

[stlokc]

One high quality department store: most likely Nordstrom

One or two of the Whole Foods/Trader Joe's (if the liquor laws are relaxed)

One new high quality downtown hotel, such as Hyatt or
W - possibly in a mixed-use tower with condos

A contemporary art museum downtown to complement the more traditional existing OCAM

Probably double the number of downtown condos/apts that are currently planned. 2% of most metro areas will live in a downtown, assume OKC can support half that and that's 10,000

[Swake2]

You are aware that Nordstrom's most direct competition is Macy's, that is now here?

[HOT ROD]

wouldnt the goal be 26,000 downtown residents?

(if OKC Metro is 1.3M, 2% of the metro is 26K downtown).

[Patrick]

I still think a Nordstroms taking up the entire Century Center space would be a good fit.

[mranderson]

1. A second major league franchise.

2. Fry's (they are an electronics company)

3. Ruby Tuesday's.

4. Hyundai assembally plant.

5. Bloomingdales

6. A second Comp-USA (on the southwest side)

7. A major theme park

8. Jet Blue and some other airlines.

There are more, however, I just am not able to think of them now.

[writerranger]

1. A second major league franchise.

2. Fry's (they are an electronics company)

3. Ruby Tuesday's.

4. Hyundai assembally plant.

5. Bloomingdales

6. A second Comp-USA (on the southwest side)

7. A major theme park

8. Jet Blue and some other airlines.

There are more, however, I just am not able to think of them now.

The second CompUSA probably won't be happening for a long time - if at all. CompUSA is on the block and looking for buyers as other big box retailers, that also sell computers, are killing them in the marketplace. Rumors are that things are so bad, the current Mexican owners, if unable to find a buyer, could shutter some - or all - the stores to stop the bleeding.

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[stlokc]

Swake: Many cities have Nordstrom and Macy's. In St. Louis where I live. Nordstrom's competitors are seen as Sak's and Neiman-Marcus. Macy's is roughly equal to the May Company stores (Foley's) that preceeded it. It more closely resembles a dressed-up Dillard's than a Nordstrom.

[Shake2005]

Swake: Many cities have Nordstrom and Macy's. In St. Louis where I live. Nordstrom's competitors are seen as Sak's and Neiman-Marcus. Macy's is roughly equal to the May Company stores (Foley's) that preceeded it. It more closely resembles a dressed-up Dillard's than a Nordstrom.

I'm not saying you can't have both and I agree Nordstrom's is a little nicer on average than Macy's, but, Nordstrom's is not really that different and wouldn't add much.

Nordstrom's, IMO, is no Sak's, Bloomingdales or Neiman's.

[stlokc]

Hot Rod: 26,000 should certainly be the goal. But I don't think OKC will get there in 5-8 years.

[Midtowner]

I think we can aspire to at least another two LifeChurch dot T-V franchises.

[floater]

A W in OKC would turn a lot of heads.

I second nods to Whole Foods, Hyatt Regency, and Nordstrom's. They're all possibe downtown and will be successful if thoughtfully planned.

[Luke]

I think we can aspire to at least another two LifeChurch dot T-V franchises.

I've noticed many of your posts, especially lately, seem to be bitter and antagonistic.

I'd be curious to know why.

[Midtowner]

I've noticed many of your posts, especially lately, seem to be bitter and antagonistic.

I'd be curious to know why.

The weather?

[jbrown84]

I'm pretty sure Nordstrom wouldn't be caught dead in Crossroads Mall, so I think it would be an upgrade.

[metro]

Isn't there already Ruby Tuesday's in Norman? And for Midtowner, Lifechurch.tv is already working on a NW campus that should be open by winter. That's one out of the 2 on your wish list.

[mranderson]

Isn't there already Ruby Tuesday's in Norman? And for Midtowner, Lifechurch.tv is already working on a NW campus that should be open by winter. That's one out of the 2 on your wish list.

No. The one in Norman is Red Robin. They also have one just north of Pennsylvania and Memorial. Ruby Tuesday's is locating in Tulsa, however, for some unknown reason, they are passing on Oklahoma City.

[metro]

Yes, I'm not questioning about Red Robin, I'm familiar with them and have eaten at them many times. I still think there is a Ruby Tuesday in Norman however. I could be wrong. Either way, I don't think a Ruby Tuesday is something OKC has to wait 5-8 years to support. It is a chain restaurant for crying out loud, we could have supported one 20 years ago.

[lcd1712]

I agree. Forget the chain restaurants. All there is here is restaurants. No wonder there are so many fat people, all we think is eat.

[Karried]

all we think is eat.

We do not!

Actually. On second thought ... a good cheeseburger sounds really great right now.... lol

[labbri_ardenti]

Music maestro!