Swig (formerly Okie Poke)

[Pete]

After operating for a while in the old Guernsey Park space behind Chick n' Beer, Okie Poke moved to a spot in The Collective.

Now, they have plans to open a drive-thru- and pick-up-only restaurant on NW 23rd just to the west of Penn. They've already purchased the property.

I asked if they would still keep the Collective spot after the new location opened and was told "not sure at this point".

[Plutonic Panda]

I thought they already had plans to open up a restaurant here?

[Pete]

I thought they already had plans to open up a restaurant here?

You're thinking of another poke place that was planned to the east; it fell through.

[Bullbear]

Great news and close to me! that building needed a tennant as well as it was getting in pretty bad shape with lots of urban camping around that lot.

[BridgeBurner]

Oh man, that'll be awesome!
Heard several comments about how there is a ton of food options on 23rd and Penn but none of them are healthy.
This and the salad place where the old sonic used to be will be some great healthy dinner options!

[Thomas Vu]

Unless collective changed their rent option, can't understand why you'd have presence there if you have a b&m

[Pete]

Okie Poke never got off the ground at this location (NW 23rd just west of Penn) and a building permit was just filed for it to become a Swig.

[OkieBerto]

Went to the one in Moore to try this place out. I do not drink Soda at all, so I was surprised to see they have lots of options with Water and Sparkling Water. I will definitely grab one of those options if I am sick of HTeaO for some reason.

[BadBear]

Sounds like Swig has already closed their 23rd and Penn location after being opened for about 3 weeks. Rumor mill is that employees were being harassed by some of the homeless in the area.

https://www.reddit.com/r/okc/comment...enn_23rd_swig/

[Pete]

^

Very strange as there is the recently opened Salad & Go that has a similar setup and does great business.

Plus, other drive thru's in every direction including a Jimmy John's immediately east.

[cinnamonjock]

Is this area really that rough? How do the other businesses manage it?

[Pete]

Is this area really that rough? How do the other businesses manage it?

I suspect this issue is because Swig sometimes uses employees who stand in the drive-thru lanes to expedite orders, e.g., Chick-fil-A.

Seems like they should figure out how to do this without (often young) employees standing out in the parking lot.

[Dob Hooligan]

^^^^

I'm guessing that they had some challenges and are resetting their workforce and practices in order to operate safely in the area. I use the drive-thrus in the area weekly, and it is a challenge. Over 40 years and I have no complaints. Just different than where they have usually operated, IMO.

[Dob Hooligan]

Is this area really that rough? How do the other businesses manage it?

My wife watched McDonald's employees have to use a broom and garden hose sprayer on a vile smelling person who refused to move their cart from the drive thru path about a week ago. Employees are always polite and civil. Many times the homeless are not as civil.

[OkieBerto]

My wife watched McDonald's employees have to use a broom and garden hose sprayer on a vile smelling person who refused to move their cart from the drive thru path about a week ago. Employees are always polite and civil. Many times the homeless are not as civil.

McDonald's also cut all the limbs from their trees so that the homeless didn't use them for shade. It is a hard intersection for businesses and the homeless population. I have had homeless get in front of my car at Panda and Cain's. Rarely is it too much of a problem, but I am not there all day so I am sure it becomes frustrating and can feel dangerous.

[warreng88]

Drove by yesterday and there were a bunch of trucks in the parking lot and the sign was down.