Benz Building (formerly the Broad)

[Pete]

[shawnw]

So in this picture there are no "Available" signs on the windows, but I rode by on my bike tonight and there were several "Available" signs on the windows plus a wood one out front. Was there a change of plans for this building?

[Pete]

So in this picture there are no "Available" signs on the windows, but I rode by on my bike tonight and there were several "Available" signs on the windows plus a wood one out front. Was there a change of plans for this building?

Virtually the entire first floor and the south end of the 2nd is unleased.

I don't think anything has changed.

[shawnw]

Oh I thought the entire thing was a single tenant

[Pete]

Oh I thought the entire thing was a single tenant

No, only about 1/3rd:

[shawnw]

didn't even notice the restaurant space earlier, makes an even better adaptive reuse

[shawnw]

https://oklahoman.com/article/566801...ip-development

Bank and Hal Smith restaurant going in.

[Pete]

I'll have all the details on the Hal Smith place later.

It's a new concept for them and will have a large patio.

[catcherinthewry]

I'll have all the details on the Hal Smith place later.

It's a new concept for them and will have a large patio.

Whose concept is he going to copy?

[jdizzle]

Whose concept is he going to copy?

Is there anything truly new under the sun? Not sure what you were going for.

[ditm4567]

Whose concept is he going to copy?

Would love to hear where this is going.. What are you insinuating?

[catcherinthewry]

Would love to hear where this is going.. What are you insinuating?

Not passing any judgment. He's good at what he does. A friend in the business told me that Louie's and Charleston's are modeled after restaurants that he liked around the country. And El Huevo is suspiciously like Juan del Fuego in Norman.

[mgharfeh]

Heard Tesla is going in the Volvo space next door

[Rover]

Not passing any judgment. He's good at what he does. A friend in the business told me that Louie's and Charleston's are modeled after restaurants that he liked around the country. And El Huevo is suspiciously like Juan del Fuego in Norman.

Originally, Charlestons was almost exactly like a chain named Houstons. However, Houston's wasn't in OKC and wasn't coming here.

[Dob Hooligan]

Heard Tesla is going in the Volvo space next door

I heard that this week. I didn’t think to ask if it was going to be service and parts only. I haven’t heard that Oklahoma law has been changed to allow sales. Maybe it has.

[Pete]

I heard that this week. I didn’t think to ask if it was going to be service and parts only. I haven’t heard that Oklahoma law has been changed to allow sales. Maybe it has.

No, it would have to be a service center like the one proposed for Tulsa.

[Pete]

I've been sitting on this forever because I've been waiting for HSRG to finalize a name, menu, etc.

It will go in the former showroom space, which is super cool. And there will be a large patio as well.

I believe the bank is going into the space directly behind (to the west).

[catch22]

Originally, Charlestons was almost exactly like a chain named Houstons. However, Houston's wasn't in OKC and wasn't coming here.

Hal Smith used to be involved with Outback way back in day, and before that Steak and Ale. you can see he influences of those restaurants in his current ones, at least when he was just getting HSR going. not as much anymore.

[sooner88]

Not passing any judgment. He's good at what he does. A friend in the business told me that Louie's and Charleston's are modeled after restaurants that he liked around the country. And El Huevo is suspiciously like Juan del Fuego in Norman.

Almost every restaurant that he's come out with is modeled after various chains. For example, look at Bandera's menu in Chicago compared to Red Rock (https://hillstone.com/menus/bandera/...n=v-1596466550).

This new concept will also be modeled after an existing national chain that is very popular.

[Pete]

^

It's not just Hal Smith.

Most OKC operators travel frequently to Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles and New York to get their ideas.

[sooner88]

^

It's not just Hal Smith.

Most OKC operators travel frequently to Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles and New York to get their ideas.

Right. That was not a knock on Hal at all, more just highlighting what is a common practice.

[Pete]

This is the restaurant space; in the 2nd photo you can see they've started to build the outdoor fireplace.

And from the looks of things, it seems the bank is going into the space above the restaurant.

[GoGators]

Had a crane hoisting some fairly large ventilation equipment for the restaurant space to the roof yesterday. Looks like they are putting a lot of money in that build out.

[shawnw]

https://twitter.com/hogantaylorllp/s...83275656536067

[Pete]

There is a small physical therapy office going in behind the restaurant.

Otherwise, the entire 1st level is almost empty, and Broadway Park across the street remains completely vacant.