Grove Bar

[Pete]

Midtown will soon welcome another large patio bar, as the Grove Bar has started construction.

Taelor Turner is converting a long-abandoned tire shop into a large indoor/outdoor patio bar with a big beer selection and craft cocktails.

Dog-friendly Grove Bar hopes to open before the end of the year at 1009 N Harvey, just south of The Collective.

[BoulderSooner]

man this looks like a great little project ..

[Pete]

It's amazing what has happened in just the last several years in this one small area:

• The ugliest eyesore in all of Midtown was converted to The Collective
• Empty lot is now home to Bleu Garten/City Garden
• Swanson Tire converted to Barrios and other retail/restaurants
• Hall's Pizza is a gorgeous space that was an old industrial building
• R&J and Ludivine converted old/underused building

[Oski]

Will there be enough demand for all those bars? The Collective is pretty quiet now with quite a few vacant kitchens. Also, Sunset Patio is no longer crowded as when it was first opened.

[April in the Plaza]

Will there be enough demand for all those bars? The Collective is pretty quiet now with quite a few vacant kitchens. Also, Sunset Patio is no longer crowded as when it was first opened.

Yeah, I do think think a lot of people are getting pinched by this record inflation and are choosing to drink at home with family and friends.

[boilerup35]

Yeah, I do think think a lot of people are getting pinched by this record inflation and are choosing to drink at home with family and friends.

Drinking out is expensive in general in OKC compared to other cities. At face value the menu prices at many establishments are on par with other cities, but most cities have tax inclusive prices while over 22% is added to the menu price here for various taxes. It seems like businesses take advantage of customers here because rent and overhead is lower in OKC vs cities like Chicago or Dallas.

[Teo9969]

Drinking out is expensive in general in OKC compared to other cities. At face value the menu prices at many establishments are on par with other cities, but most cities have tax inclusive prices while over 22% is added to the menu price here for various taxes. It seems like businesses take advantage of customers here because rent and overhead is lower in OKC vs cities like Chicago or Dallas.

I tried to search this but it looks like we're one of the only states to have this kind of tax. Surely that's not correct.

[onthestrip]

Drinking out is expensive in general in OKC compared to other cities. At face value the menu prices at many establishments are on par with other cities, but most cities have tax inclusive prices while over 22% is added to the menu price here for various taxes. It seems like businesses take advantage of customers here because rent and overhead is lower in OKC vs cities like Chicago or Dallas.

Where do you get 22%? Its 8+% sales tax for food and then 13.5% for alcoholic drinks. Normal sales tax isnt added on top of alcohol is it?

[eeyore]

Depends on the establishment, I've come across two places where I noticed they were charging sales tax on top of alcohol tax.

[Jersey Boss]

So if you don't get food with your drinks the tax is 13.5?
That sounds like a good deal for the bartender if folks tip on total bill and not pre tax bill.

[Edmond Hausfrau]

Depends on the establishment, I've come across two places where I noticed they were charging sales tax on top of alcohol tax.

Agreed. I find food and drink to be expensive in Oklahoma, relative to the wage rate. Housing is not as cheap as it once was, though still a good value but salaries need a huge bump to afford the dining and drinking out.

[boilerup35]

Agreed. I find food and drink to be expensive in Oklahoma, relative to the wage rate. Housing is not as cheap as it once was, though still a good value but salaries need a huge bump to afford the dining and drinking out.

Or bars and restaurants need to lower their prices. The national chains seem to charge more reasonable prices for drinks than local establishments which leads me to believe that the smaller places are taking advantage of customers or they are incredibly inefficient and passing along those costs to customers.

[gopokes88]

Drinking out is expensive in general in OKC compared to other cities. At face value the menu prices at many establishments are on par with other cities, but most cities have tax inclusive prices while over 22% is added to the menu price here for various taxes. It seems like businesses take advantage of customers here because rent and overhead is lower in OKC vs cities like Chicago or Dallas.

What's funny is they aren't legally allowed to do that, it's just not enforced. Listed alcoholic beverage prices are supposed to include all applicable taxes.

There's some lawyer in OKC who saves his receipts all year then files lawsuits in small claims court. Wins every time.

[gopokes88]

Or bars and restaurants need to lower their prices. The national chains seem to charge more reasonable prices for drinks than local establishments which leads me to believe that the smaller places are taking advantage of customers or they are incredibly inefficient and passing along those costs to customers.

See post #3 from Pete

It's amazing what has happened in just the last several years in this one small area:

The ugliest eyesore in all of Midtown was converted to The Collective
Empty lot is now home to Bleu Garten/City Garden
Swanson Tire converted to Barrios and other retail/restaurants
Hall's Pizza is a gorgeous space that was an old industrial building
R&J and Ludivine converted old/underused building

That level of custom building costs a fortune. Therefore the drinks will be more.

Every Chile's looks the same.

To each their own, but to expect to pay the same for a drink in unique spaces as a cookie cutter chain isn't going to be reality.

[Pete]

There are plenty of places to buy food and drink inexpensively.

It's all just supply and demand. Businesses charge what people will pay. And lots of people out there will pay more for good food and a nice environment.


OKC is growing and evolving which is a good thing. It's great to have all types of options and it also means there is something for everyone and every budget.

[PhiAlpha]

After several nights out in Austin, Fort Worth, Scottsdale, Tulsa, Chicago and OKC over the last few months, I find it extremely comical when anyone complains about food and drink prices in Oklahoma. Going out isn’t cheap, but its hilarious to act like we’re getting hammered with high prices for food and drinks here. We are still below larger cities and some peer cities.

[Jersey Boss]

See post #3 from Pete

It's amazing what has happened in just the last several years in this one small area:

The ugliest eyesore in all of Midtown was converted to The Collective
Empty lot is now home to Bleu Garten/City Garden
Swanson Tire converted to Barrios and other retail/restaurants
Hall's Pizza is a gorgeous space that was an old industrial building
R&J and Ludivine converted old/underused building

That level of custom building costs a fortune. Therefore the drinks will be more.

Every Chile's looks the same.

To each their own, but to expect to pay the same for a drink in unique spaces as a cookie cutter chain isn't going to be reality.

I agree with all your sentiments here. However there is no reason whatsoever to pad your profits by not following the law on charging the correct amount of tax or posting the price based on state tax law.

[Anonymous.]

After several nights out in Austin, Fort Worth, Scottsdale, Tulsa, Chicago and OKC over the last few months, I find it extremely comical when anyone complains about food and drink prices in Oklahoma. Going out isn’t cheap, but its hilarious to act like we’re getting hammered with high prices for food and drinks here. We are still below larger cities and some peer cities.

This was my exact thought when I first read that post, but you already commented on it here.

A lot of OKC bars even have specials that would get you laughed out of another city [try and order a domestic beer + a well shot for $5 anywhere else]. As long as you're not buying drinks at Bricktown clubs, you will be getting some of the cheapest booze around.

[PaddyShack]

What's funny is they aren't legally allowed to do that, it's just not enforced. Listed alcoholic beverage prices are supposed to include all applicable taxes.

There's some lawyer in OKC who saves his receipts all year then files lawsuits in small claims court. Wins every time.

Wait, what?!? I guess I will not order drinks out anymore if this is happening. I already don't order drinks often, but I would like to see some enforcement.

[Plutonic Panda]

This was my exact thought when I first read that post, but you already commented on it here.

A lot of OKC bars even have specials that would get you laughed out of another city [try and order a domestic beer + a well shot for $5 anywhere else]. As long as you're not buying drinks at Bricktown clubs, you will be getting some of the cheapest booze around.

^^^^ there’s some pretty good happy hour deals in LA if you know where to look.

[catch22]

After several nights out in Austin, Fort Worth, Scottsdale, Tulsa, Chicago and OKC over the last few months, I find it extremely comical when anyone complains about food and drink prices in Oklahoma. Going out isn’t cheap, but its hilarious to act like we’re getting hammered with high prices for food and drinks here. We are still below larger cities and some peer cities.

Holy Moly, Scottsdale! I was there a few months ago and wow. Good luck finding any alcoholic drink for less than $12. Cool you can buy hard liquor at the grocery store, there.

[gopokes88]

Wait, what?!? I guess I will not order drinks out anymore if this is happening. I already don't order drinks often, but I would like to see some enforcement.

Lol. You're in Oklahoma dude.

[Teo9969]

What's funny is they aren't legally allowed to do that, it's just not enforced. Listed alcoholic beverage prices are supposed to include all applicable taxes.

There's some lawyer in OKC who saves his receipts all year then files lawsuits in small claims court. Wins every time.

I believe it's only BWL tax that has to be included (the 13.5% tax). Sales tax can still be computed separately.

[Pete]

[Pete]