POPS in Arcadia now open!

[soonerfan21]

Just wanted to let everyone know that POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia is officially open as of today. I went to a soft opening last night and they had the sign flashing "Open Monday."
The food is great and so are the prices - check it out!

[CuatrodeMayo]

Pics courtesy of my brothers. Turns out we have 2 cousins that now work there...go figure.







Our family namesake Root Beer.

[traemac]

great pics i will be trying it out later in the week

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

My fiancee' and I went out there last night. Didn't get to eat, but they have Faygo Rock N' Rye, so my opinion is that it's the coolest place ever!!!!!!

[zuluwarrior0760]

place is incredible.......
they had a feature on news9 last nite:

NewsOK:

[MrZ]

Drove by there 2 weeks ago and wanted to stop but it wasn't open yet. Looked pretty cool.

[soonerfan21]

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer
ARCADIA — When Aubrey McClendon thinks about Route 66, his thoughts turn not just to trips to California, but to the road's darker history as an escape route from Oklahoma.



"I had always been fascinated with the road going to California,” McClendon said Monday. "I read ‘The Grapes of Wrath' and wondered what it would be like to be starved out of Oklahoma.”

No such exodus could be seen Monday when McClendon's own contribution to the mother road, "POPS,” opened at 5:30 a.m. Monday to a line of about 40 people.

Customers spent hours in the Chesapeake Energy chief executive's tribute to soda pop, snapping photos of the giant pop bottle along the Route 66, waiting for a table in the small cafe or simply browsing through the hundreds of varieties of soda on sale in the convenience store.

The crowds continued throughout the day, confounding McClendon's plans for a quiet opening without any publicity. Manager Marty Doepke encountered one news crew after another as customers packed the landmark's old fashioned lunch counter, convenience store — and grabbed up soda brands usually unheard of in this part of the country.

"We did our very best to keep this quiet, but word spread quickly,” Doepke said. "The last three or four days we had to have someone at the door to keep the public out.”

Admitted stalkers included Barbara Johnson, who shared lunch at POPS with sister-in-law Joy Jeffrey and grandchildren Brandon, 7, and Madison, 9.

"We saw it all lit up last night when we came by to check on it,” Barbara Johnson said. "So we came back again today. It's just so neat, so different for this area.”

The Johnsons left after sampling three different varieties of soda.

Those keeping an eye on the first-day crowds included Hardy Watkins, director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism.

"We know this is a business, but it's also an attraction,” Watkins said. "It's on Route 66, and with the unique way they are putting this concept together, it's going to make people want to stop. I think Route 66 will see a nice impact from it. It speaks to the viability of the road today. You have a nice juxtaposition — the 100-year-old Round Barn down the street and now this new style convenience store and soda fountain.”

Watkins said he appreciated the tributes to Route 66 inside POPS — including photos of Oklahoma highway attractions in the cafe and Route 66 sites from other locations in the convenience store.

Not all visitors were gravitating to the glass wall of soda bottles. Amy Thigpen, an architectural intern from Manhattan, N.Y., spent the afternoon photographing the building itself before settling in for a drink and a bite to eat at the lunch counter. She had high praise for Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott, who designed POPS.

"It's not just a gas station,” Thigpen said. "It's interesting to see the new icons coming on board, and he's establishing a new identity for Oklahoma.”

McClendon said Elliott was the first person he visited with when considering building POPS three years ago. Their work together includes more than two dozen projects, including development of the Chesapeake Energy campus at NW 63 and Western Avenue.

McClendon had bought the property a decade earlier, and was never happy with an adjoining gas station that faced the highway. He decided to replace the gas station when it was closed by previous owners.

"But anybody can build a gas station or convenience store,” McClendon said. "I wanted to build something unique. So how do you get a hook — how do you make it a nationwide attraction? I described to Rand growing up on vacation, and I mentioned seeing the different pop bottles from around the country.”

Elliott took that tidbit and developed it into POPS. The name carried special meaning for McClendon, since he refers to his own father as "pop.”

So with just about every soda pop imaginable at his fingertips, what is McClendon's favorite flavor?

"Dr Pepper,” he responds. "I'm also a big fan of Ginger Ale.”

[traemac]

went by and tried to do dinner but was going to be a 2 hour wait and no to go food yet

[soonerfan21]

I guess the "new" might have to wear off first, as they did not plan such a big splash. Was supposed to be a quiet opening with no media until August 25th, but you know what they say about the best laid plans!

If nothing else, go by and check out the building and 66' tall pop bottle. From the TV clips it looks stunning at night.

[metro]

What I don't understand is why the heck did they build the inside so small. It is very small and they knew it would be a huge tourist draw. I would have expected a little better. The parking lot planned for a huge crowd, why didn't the convenience store and diner?

[CuatrodeMayo]

I am assuming the reason was too keep it true to the idea of a roadside gas station and cafe. It is still new so people are flocking. Wait a while. The size will make sense then. It's not in I-40, it's on 66.

[metro]

I understand your point Cuatro, but I don't think it will die down too much. Keep in mind, there are plenty of residents in the area (east Edmond, Arcadia, Lake Hiwassee). Not to mention Route 66 touring is busy all year long. Also McClendon recently bought and closed down the popular Hillbillies cafe just down the street a few weeks ago. (Glad I ate their about a month or so ago before they closed for good). Needless to say, dining choices are fairly limited in the area, and this cliche as it sounds is now an instant icon as many have said. I think they could have made it a few hundred square feet bigger to accommodate more business (thus keeping more money in state tax coffers for roads, schools, etc.) instead of losing out on possible business. They have a sea of parking, why not take advantage of it on the inside as well?

[CuatrodeMayo]

It is about being true to a concept. If Aubrey was after the money, then we wouldn't have POPS...we would have an enormous c-store. It's a choice that was made between creating an icon or a business. He traded more space and revenue for something less tangible but more important in him.

I agree with you. It would be nice if it was bigger. but I am sure Aubrey and Rand discussed it, and for one reason or another decided to keep it small. I don't know. There are plenty of residents in the area, but most decided to do their business in Edmond. If there really is such a pent-up demand for restaurants in the area, they would already be there.

[metro]

Good points Cuatro, I can' always support staying true to style!

[soonerfan21]

Cuatro hit the nail(s) on the head - the entire concept (in my mind anyway) is about the Route 66 experience. From looking at the pics posted, that experience starts on the highway leading up to POPS, continues with the 66' pop bottle and continues through the store onto the patio looking out into the grove of Redbud trees. I think people should go visit and walk around the site as did the architecture student from NY who was quoted in the Oklahoman article.

I wish folks would get away from this "fast-food" way of thinking about the food and focusing on the $$ and see it for themselves.

[zuluwarrior0760]

Pop's will not stand alone. Give it some time,
and all that parking in relation to the square footage
will make sense......

[CuatrodeMayo]

Zulu...I believe you and I are thinking the same thing...

[MsProudSooner]

I wonder if they will have Delaware Punch? I used to love that stuff!

[John]

They ran out of EVERY soda, except Coke/DP/etc in normal plastic bottles this weekend.

I think they said they should be stocked up by today.

I've been for breakfast and lunch, so far. I'll post a review in the Food Court once I have dinner there.

If nothing else, go check it out, preferably at night so you can check out the bottle in action.

[zuluwarrior0760]

set the Tivo to record the Colbert Report tomorrow night on
Comedy Central with Stephen Colbert. His guest will
be Michael Wallis....who has been a big part of the historical
end of Pop's and I'm sure Pop's will be discussed.
Should be interesting to see what he has to say about
the mother road in general and Pop's in specific on this
national program tomorrow night.

[metro]

Cuatro hit the nail(s) on the head - the entire concept (in my mind anyway) is about the Route 66 experience. From looking at the pics posted, that experience starts on the highway leading up to POPS, continues with the 66' pop bottle and continues through the store onto the patio looking out into the grove of Redbud trees. I think people should go visit and walk around the site as did the architecture student from NY who was quoted in the Oklahoman article.

I wish folks would get away from this "fast-food" way of thinking about the food and focusing on the $$ and see it for themselves.

Actually I have soonerfan, before I posted my comments. I totally get and understand staying true to style, but adding another 300 sq. feet to the interior would still have accomplished that and provided a better experience (not fast food experience) in my opinion. If you've read my posts long enough, you'd know that. Heck it would make the building look better with the gigantic canopy roof and the sea of parking. I see how it all relates now, but it's my honest opinion it would look more to scale if the interior was just a slight bit bigger. I'm not talking about another 5,000 sq. feet here.

[soonerfan21]

I get the gist, metro, but seems like the masses are not talking about a mere 300 sf. Hopefully when the new wears off people can "pop" in for a soda (sorry, couldn't resist!)
Anyone see Michael Wallis on the Colbert report? I saw on line this morning - he was just talking about his new book. Nothing was said about Rt. 66.

[diesel]

I went last night to POPS and I was very shocked at their lack of selection. On their website they show all the different types of POP that they have but when you go in there all the good stuff seemed to be gone. Pretty sad. I am going to take some friends up there tonight and try their food. Seems pretty interesting. Is it just me or if they have that wide of a selection, why would they have so little refrigerator banks?!?! Also why did he build this in BFE?!?! This place would do AMAZING in Oklahoma City...

[BoulderSooner]

went yesterday for lunch .. parking lot was full and they said a 40 min wait at 1120am .. lucky for us 3 seats opened at the counter and we were the only group of 3 waiting .. so we sat after 5 min ..

food was very very good .. one of the best burgers i have had away from home ... also friendly service and good prices ..

Actually I have soonerfan, before I posted my comments. I totally get and understand staying true to style, but adding another 300 sq. feet to the interior would still have accomplished that and provided a better experience (not fast food experience) in my opinion. If you've read my posts long enough, you'd know that. Heck it would make the building look better with the gigantic canopy roof and the sea of parking. I see how it all relates now, but it's my honest opinion it would look more to scale if the interior was just a slight bit bigger. I'm not talking about another 5,000 sq. feet here.

the problem is that they only had limited space between the supports of the cantalever (sp?) overhang .. and they only built between the supports instead of having the supports inside the building also remember this is only week 2 and the demand will go down at some point with the location

I went last night to POPS and I was very shocked at their lack of selection. On their website they show all the different types of POP that they have but when you go in there all the good stuff seemed to be gone. Pretty sad. I am going to take some friends up there tonight and try their food. Seems pretty interesting. Is it just me or if they have that wide of a selection, why would they have so little refrigerator banks?!?! Also why did he build this in BFE?!?! This place would do AMAZING in Oklahoma City...

this is because of the suprise crowd .. they were planning a soft opening until the grand on aug 25 .. then all the tv people showed up and boom packed daily and sold out of most of the pop ..



interesting for thought .. i doubt they ever intend to franchise or add other locations ... but if they did this concept .. would go over huge in california and in other locations in ok..


maybe 10 new locations across america ON route 66

[Pete]

^

I was just thinking the concept would be great out here in California.

Of course out here, it would have to be called 'Sodas'.