Lotus in Bricktown closed

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

I think a bunch of national chains in Bricktown would be the worst thing that could happen

Than you don't believe in financial stability and feasibility.


A combination of national chains and local stores is what Bicktown needs. Don't forget... I did mention upscale- meaning stores differant from Applebess and IHOP (Bricktown? Gimme a break.) but more like Cheesecake Factory, unique, upscale. What would you say to chains like Talbots and Banana Republic? We could model this after Downtown Santa Fe (albeit architecture), for those who have been. A mix of local and national, but don't forget, we have a canal! A ballpark! A skyline! And more! Santa Fe, and San Antone do not!


OKC will always be unique... earlier we had a conflct over whether it was Southern, Western, or Midwestern. I think OKC is a mix between Tulsa and Dallas. I don't really hold Dallas in the highest regard, but I have the utmost respect for Tulsa.

[floater]

They have Deep Ellum, We have Bricktown, ten thousand times betetr IMHO.

To be nitpicky, West End is a better comparison for Bricktown - the bricked warehouse touristy entertainment district. Granted, Deep Ellum compares to a SECTION of Bricktown - the eastern side on Sheridan - but it cannot compare by itself. That's something to be said about Bricktown - it's multifaceted. You have the apple pie elements (baseball), the fine dining elements (Mantel and Nonna's), the casual dining places (Chelinos, Crabtown), and the fast food (Sonic) for downtown workers. You have a ride and movies, and (albeit limited) retail.

[metro]

Exactly floater, you hit it right on. It compares more to West End than Deep Ellum. West End also has more casual places, chain places, upscale, etc.. although we have a ballpark, theater and a river......it will be nice to watch us evolve

[Patrick]

Than you don't believe in financial stability and feasibility.

Some chains are okay, just not a lot. You want to make Bricktown a unique location for tourists, not a typical run of the mills restaurant area. Restaurants like Bricktown Brewery, Nona's, Chelino's, Coach's, Daquiri Zone, Mickey Mantle Steakhouse, etc. set Bricktown apart.

A combination of national chains and local stores is what Bicktown needs. Don't forget... I did mention upscale- meaning stores differant from Applebess and IHOP (Bricktown? Gimme a break.) but more like Cheesecake Factory, unique, upscale. What would you say to chains like Talbots and Banana Republic? We could model this after Downtown Santa Fe (albeit architecture), for those who have been. A mix of local and national, but don't forget, we have a canal! A ballpark! A skyline! And more! Santa Fe, and San Antone do not!

I agree with you Sooner&RiceGrad! A mix is the best developing scheme. UPSCALE Chains like Cheesecake Factory attract some people, but local stores/restaurants give the district local flavor.

OKC will always be unique... earlier we had a conflct over whether it was Southern, Western, or Midwestern. I think OKC is a mix between Tulsa and Dallas. I don't really hold Dallas in the highest regard, but I have the utmost respect for Tulsa.

Saying OKC is a mix between Tulsa and Dallas is right on. I don't think we have the class or creativity Tulsa does, but we're not stale and hum drum like Dallas (yup, much of Dallas isn't unique...it's jsut like any typical large city).

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Well... if we wanted to become like Tulsa (I do) I would begin instating measures to assure that more wealthy citizens can move in and prosper. Of course, Tulsa is in dire straights providing their large upper class with jobs though...

I think Dallas isn't too bad. It's great for shopping, I think that the northeast side can be pretty... annoying. The Fort Worth side is O.K. It gets better further out to the west, by Azle and Lake Worth.

[Patrick]

I think the key to getting wealthier people in our city is attracting high paying jobs by going after big corporations. If we could get an out of state company to locate its headquarters here that would be huge.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Or if we can grow more corporate giants out of local companies. Maybe Devon will get a lot bigger, aren't they growing pretty fast? I also think that the Research Park holds a lot of potential. Maybe the St. Anthony deal will give us a big health center.

[Patrick]

Devon is already the largest onshore private oil company. But it continues to grow.
Hobby Lobby is continuing to grow, but there aren't a lot of high end executive positions in that company.

I still think landing an outside major corporation would be huge. Could you imagine having the IBM HQ in OKC, or something like that?

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

IBM, is a high tech company, and Houston or Silicon Valley are perfect for them.

[zuluwarrior0760]

I would say the exception to my prohibition of chains in Bricktown would
be Cheesecake Factory.....but I really don't think of that as a chain "yet"....
point is it would be unique enough at least that people in Norman, Edmond and
Yukon wouldn't have one in their backyard.....same can't be said for IHOP...
Hell yeah, I believe in financial stability, but mark my word: if 10 well known chains
move into Bricktown beyond the local chains that already have......you could have
the overall reputation of the district falter into being known as a cheesy "nothin special"
place to go eat versus a proprietary, must come here to get it type of venue.....
As far as financial feasibility, restaurants must diversify like Nonna's......catering to the
gift shop clientele, as well as meeting space.....etc....Nonna's will knock all others
off the charts in time......the place is absolutely stunning on the inside.....and the food
is just as great....

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Some chains aren't cheesy. Cheesecake Factory, a CHAIN, is not cheesy, well... it IS a Cheesecake Factory. ...

[Patrick]

I would say the exception to my prohibition of chains in Bricktown would
be Cheesecake Factory.....but I really don't think of that as a chain "yet"....
point is it would be unique enough at least that people in Norman, Edmond and
Yukon wouldn't have one in their backyard.....same can't be said for IHOP...
Hell yeah, I believe in financial stability, but mark my word: if 10 well known chains
move into Bricktown beyond the local chains that already have......you could have
the overall reputation of the district falter into being known as a cheesy "nothin special"
place to go eat versus a proprietary, must come here to get it type of venue.....
As far as financial feasibility, restaurants must diversify like Nonna's......catering to the
gift shop clientele, as well as meeting space.....etc....Nonna's will knock all others
off the charts in time......the place is absolutely stunning on the inside.....and the food
is just as great....

Count me in to be at Nona's when it opens!

[floater]

The value of some chains is that they can lend a stamp of legitimacy (to customers and businesses/developers) to a shopping/entertainment district. The Cheesecake Factory is probably one of them, but I think it should be used to pave the way for more retail, not more restaurants. Of course, being a free market economy, we can't choose what comes in, only how it looks like (via Bricktown design guidelines).

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

If we could the Centennial Comission wouldn't have let an IHOP come in.

[HOT ROD]

Guys, I must stand corrected.

In my post, I said that sushi rolls was called Inari. At the time I wrote the post, that is all I could think of, I could not remember maki. If you go back to my post, and substitute maki where I said Inari, you would have it correct (the post wouldnt let me edit it - oh well).

Actually, sushi roll is called maki (mah-kee). Inari is a nigiri sushi which consists of thumbnail rice surrounded by thin-fried tofu (bean curd), and is the favourite sushi of my fiance's brother.

Please accept my apologies, but sushi roll is called maki. Inari would be a great try for beginners, tho - tofu is very simple.

[HOT ROD]

Also wanted to mention,

dont feel so bent out of shape about the IHOP. While I agree it should have gone into downtown CBD or deep duece, having diversity of a 24 hour joint only adds to the urban feel of downtown OKC. And those whose pockets are thinner can come and enjoy what bricktown has to offer - without dropping their pockets going to the local restaurants.

I can tell you, when I return to OKC to visit, I plan to visit all restaurants in Bricktown/Downtown but I will definitely go to IHOP for breakfast. See, if IHOP were not in Bricktown then you (OKC) would have missed that increased tourist revenue.

And that is my point, while IHOP is a chain and so on, no local company came forward to answer the void of a 24 hour breakfast joint - i dunno why. IHOP answered the call, and it will be much appreciated and used (especially by tourists in the morning and downtown residents all day).

Besides, it will adopt a bricktown theme (which will be the ONLY IHOP I know of that does not have its trademark roof, parking lot, etc.) That is something to be grateful of.

[Patrick]

If we could the Centennial Comission wouldn't have let an IHOP come in.

Although I'm not a big fan of low end chains, I like IHOP locating in Bricktown. We didn't have a decent breakfast place in Bricktown, and IHOP fills that void. IHOP is probably the more upscale of the breakfast restaurants.

[Midtowner]

Although I'm not a big fan of low end chains, I like IHOP locating in Bricktown. We didn't have a decent breakfast place in Bricktown, and IHOP fills that void. IHOP is probably the more upscale of the breakfast restaurants.

Personally, I'd rather have seen Jimmy's Egg go in there. It's at least a local chain. But IHOP works as well.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

I would consider Hideaway and Bourbon Street Cafe chains, and yet they seem just like local eateries. That is what Bricktown needs.

[Patrick]

Hideaway and Bourbon Street are both local restaurants aren't they? Bourbon Street is based in Tulsa, with restaurants in Tulsa (2), OKC (1), and Amarillo (1). Hideaway Pizza is headquartered in Stillwater with locations in OKC, Tulsa, Edmond, Stillwater, and Norman. They have 8 locations.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Yes. So I would call them a chain, because you can find them in more than 3 locations out of Bricktown.

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

There needs to be more Hideaway's period

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Ahh... have we turned you pro upscale chains?

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

honestly nobodies turned me into anything....Hideaway Pizza is just one of the best things about OK period.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

But, it is an upscale chain.