Bricktown Brewery

[Karried]

I just love that place.. my hubby bought about six $50 Gift cards for some friends/business associates and with each card came a Year's supply of Free Beer! 15 a month!

Can you believe that?

We gave them with the cards and they loved that more than the Gift Card lol... lushes! But honestly, is that a bang for your buck or what?

We are going to the Hornet's game tomorrow and buying one Gift Card $50 and have dinner and then get our Free beer for all next year.. catfish here I come? ( They have great catfish and baked potatoes).. and then I'll start my diet for the new year...

[Easy180]

That sounds like my kind of deal...What's the catch on the free beers karried??

[Karried]

There is none.. you get a paper that has every month listed with check boxes and you get 15 free beers per month. It's signed at the bottom - the only catch is that you can't lose the paper and after a few beers that's a distinct possibility! lol Get a card and we'll meet for free beer!

[HFK]

I first heard of this through a co-worker: he won the deal in a silent auction about a year-or-so ago, and I've been enjoying free beer off and on for the past few months. We were in there earlier this week and I noticed the signs describing the deal that Karried mentioned.

I'm not a great fan of the Brewery's beer, but it's free, and I like the atmosphere of the place, and if I want more substantial brew I head down the street to Tapwerks.

[kmf563]

We found out last night that the Brewery has decided to cancel all currently booked shows and will no longer be hosting live music. This is a big loss to the local music scene. I'm sure it's good news for the other live music venues in bricktown though.

[Easy180]

No kidding....That seems a drastic step even though their concerts don't draw near what they used to

I think part of the blame is the lack of popular local bands right now...The days of large crowds at say a Wakeland gig are long gone imo

Still kind of shocking if it's permanent

[kmf563]

I don't know what they plan on doing with it. As far as the popular bands filling it up, they just had a huge max capacity night a couple of weeks ago with Aranda, Lemma, and Kanaga. I think there were more people there that night than when I last saw Jason Boland there!! I happened to be there last Saturday, didn't know it was the last night at the time...glad I went now! Anyway, Lemma closed it down with a pretty decent crowd that night. It wasn't packed, but definitely enough to cover the overhead. Especially with their now $5 drink prices.

[Easy180]

I think I was at that show as well...Liked what I heard of Aranda (I think they opened), but my group had to leave early...There was a good crowd that night, but nothing like the the Wakeland or Lotus Netti line out the door days

I think saturday nights were still strong, but the few times I have been there on a friday it was pretty weak upstairs

Maybe it's just a dispute with Box talent or whoever they book their shows with...Too good a setup to go w/o live music there unless they have plans to drastically change the upstairs into something else

[jbrown84]

Crazy.

Venues seem to be constantly closing.

[kmf563]

I think I was at that show as well...Liked what I heard of Aranda (I think they opened), but my group had to leave early...There was a good crowd that night, but nothing like the the Wakeland or Lotus Netti line out the door days

I think saturday nights were still strong, but the few times I have been there on a friday it was pretty weak upstairs

Maybe it's just a dispute with Box talent or whoever they book their shows with...Too good a setup to go w/o live music there unless they have plans to drastically change the upstairs into something else

Aranda was the headliner - Kanaga opened and there weren't even half as many people there yet that showed up that night! You missed a fantastic performance. And yes, the line went out the door, down the steps, and around the corner. I agree with you though, it's not steady like that all the time. I know there have been some payment disputes with box talent and the brewery but I didn't think it was anything that serious to cancel all shows. I guess we'll see what they do with it. I can't imagine anything else drawing more people though...karaoke? bingo? what?

[CCOKC]

My kids are just now getting old enough where my husband and I can go out without them on the weekends. Actually the fact is they would rather go out without us. Where is the best place for a couple in their forties to go listen to live music. We prefer any genre besides country with blues preferred. Any suggestions?

[kmf563]

My kids are just now getting old enough where my husband and I can go out without them on the weekends. Actually the fact is they would rather go out without us. Where is the best place for a couple in their forties to go listen to live music. We prefer any genre besides country with blues preferred. Any suggestions?

I would suggest listening to a few local bands online and then choosing a few to go see wherever they are playing. There are several choices for you to make as far as live venues though. There is everything from live music on the patios at Lake Hefner - Pearl's and Red Rock both have live music on Thurs & Fri nights. ( I'll be at Red Rock this Thursday for Lemma, very blues/jazz oriented. If you like Dave Matthews or Jack Johnson you would like them) Remington Park has live music right on the casino floor so you can listen while you gamble. And then there are several just bar type venues with live music.

[Easy180]

Aranda was the headliner - Kanaga opened and there weren't even half as many people there yet that showed up that night! You missed a fantastic performance. And yes, the line went out the door, down the steps, and around the corner. I agree with you though, it's not steady like that all the time. I know there have been some payment disputes with box talent and the brewery but I didn't think it was anything that serious to cancel all shows. I guess we'll see what they do with it. I can't imagine anything else drawing more people though...karaoke? bingo? what?

I guess I had them all confused...I did leave very early and it was already a good crowd so glad to hear it was packed later on

Friends with a guy that was in the band Subroza and they couldn't play there much as pretty much everything is booked thru Box I believe so my guess is something is up with that relationship

[ksearls]

Maybe it's that there are new owners at the Brewery!

[jbrown84]

That would REALLY be shocking...

[Easy180]

Maybe it's that there are new owners at the Brewery!

If so I hope they change up their beer as well...The weakest micro brews of the three biggies in OKC

[ksearls]

Be shocked and awed! It was in the paper. Jim Cowan is now director of the Bricktown Association.

[kmf563]

I just saw that article. So, I guess they plan on upgrading it? Its new owners are Coach's? hmmm. We really don't need another sports bar. Unless it's something huge and fantastic like the espn place.

[jbrown84]

I'm really surprised he would sell his restaurant of almost 20 years.

Can't find the article. Was he required to sell it to take the job or just didn't have time for both?

[kmf563]

I don't think it really says....here is the article.

Making changes in Bricktown
Brewery owner takes on new role

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

A familiar face is taking over the Bricktown Association, but he promises the group's direction will diverge significantly from where it was when it was headed by previous boss Frank Sims.
John Allgood, executive director of the Oklahoma RedHawks and association board chairman, said the selection of Jim Cowan, currently interim director, was not a foregone conclusion.

Cowan was chosen by a committee consisting of Allgood, Courtyard by Marriott general manager Jim Rickards, parking lot operator Jim Brewer, Oklahoma Gas & Electric representative Susan Harkness, Water Taxi manager Chad Huntington, property owner Avis Scaramucci, and Tom Anderson, a special projects manager at City Hall.

"This committee represented ownership, it represented merchants, it represented the city,” Allgood said. "And we placed newspaper ads in The Oklahoman, the Dallas Morning News and the Tulsa World. We received over 75 applications. It was very difficult because we received so many great candidates.”


The Bricktown experience
Cowan's experience in Bricktown dates back to his start as a manager of the Bricktown Brewery in 1992.
As owner of the restaurant, he served multiple terms as association chairman.

"Jim is experienced in Bricktown, and that was a positive for him, but more than anything, (we liked) his passion for the area and the integrity he brings,” Allgood said. "We really believe he is someone who can lead us to the next level we need to go to, and can unite Bricktown all on one page.”

Cowan said his transition to association director coincides with a previous decision to sell the Bricktown Brewery, one of the district's oldest restaurants. He began talks in November with potential buyers, and a sale is scheduled to close with owners of Coaches Restaurants by May 1.

"I'm taking this position effective May 1,” Cowan said. "If the transaction isn't 100 percent signed and sealed, I will enter into a management contract with them where they manage it and it's totally their's. It's definitely happening and I will have zero percent interest in the Brewery.”

Cowan said the new owners, Jim Burke, Brad Grow, and Kevin McFall, will have the capital "desperately” needed for upgrades. The three previously co-owned Eateries Inc. Cowan said they also will be hiring back Charles Stout, a veteran Brewery manager who left in the fall to oversee a Norman eatery.

"They've got much bigger plans, and I'll be leaving them to reveal that at a later time,” Cowan said. "The Bricktown Brewery will get what it needs, and it really needs new carpeting and furniture. I never got to where I could do that. Meanwhile, I can stay in an area I love and continue to see it prosper.”


Safety comes first
Allgood said the association is meeting with club owners, and is hoping to avoid gang violence that erupted last summer. They also want to pursue new events in Bricktown, and will be looking to assume July 4th festivities previously coordinated by Brewer Entertainment (Brewer is moving his annual parking lot festival to the former Downtown Airpark). They also want to improve ties with Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.
"We want to see what kind of family events that can be done during the day, and what do we do about a parade,” Cowan said. "People expect to see festivities going on in Bricktown on July 4th. We need to make sure we deliver.”

Other planned changes include an overhaul of the association's web site so that it will include current information on not just tourism, but also space available for lease and sale. They want to convert a district map into a printable file so copies won't have to be mailed to those with Internet access.

Allgood described the association's finances as "stable,” and noted last month's Taste of Bricktown raised about $10,000 for its operations. Sims announced in January he was quitting , after the association's board, by a split vote, decided to pay vendors' bills instead of his payroll.

Allgood and Cowan say they also will be pursuing ways to crack down on use of the Bricktown name and logo, which may involve negotiations with Sims. The former director has continued to operate a Bricktown Visitor Center, and is continuing to market large group visits to the district.

"We've got to get our hands around the licensing of Bricktown,” Allgood said. "I know it's public domain and people can use it. But the Bricktown Association has the rights to its logo, and we need to set up where people need our approval to use it.”

Those efforts, Allgood said, may also include negotiating an agreement giving the association some oversight of Sims continuing to market large group visits. The same discussions, he said, might also include similar negotiations with Brewer Entertainment over future festivals.

"Frank is a member of the association,” Allgood said. "He attends our meetings and we welcome him. From the viewpoint of bringing in groups, just like with licensing, there has got to be a way that is managed.”

Cowan said he did not appreciate how important Bricktown was to the city until he heard visitors attending the opening of the canal in 1999 boasting the district had exceeded San Antonio.

"It's difficult for me to be part of something for 15 years and then sit back and actively not want to lead and try to make it better,” Cowan said. "This area is one of the signature stamps that Oklahoma City has. It says we're not the Dust Bowl anymore; we're not cowboys and Indians anymore. We're proud of where we came from, but we're at the front of the pack now.”

[Easy180]

Interested in this part


They've got much bigger plans, and I'll be leaving them to reveal that at a later time,” Cowan said. "The Bricktown Brewery will get what it needs, and it really needs new carpeting and furniture. I never got to where I could do that. Meanwhile, I can stay in an area I love and continue to see it prosper.”

[kmf563]

yea, me too. I wonder what those bigger plans are and if we will ever see them. New chairs would be wonderful. Those things are broken and uncomfortable!!

[okclee]

I just saw that article. So, I guess they plan on upgrading it? Its new owners are Coach's? hmmm. We really don't need another sports bar. Unless it's something huge and fantastic like the espn place.

I agree, the Bricktown Brewery would be a great spot for a place like the ESPN Zone or a Dave and Busters.

[Easy180]

I agree, the Bricktown Brewery would be a great spot for a place like the ESPN Zone or a Dave and Busters.

Yes and yes please

[Karried]

I just hope they still honor my free Beer for a year coupon