Coyote Ugly Bricktown Bar - March 09

[Doug Loudenback]

See New bar will open downtown in March | NewsOK.com

New bar will open downtown in March

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

The dancing female bartenders made famous by the movie "Coyote Ugly” will soon be stomping to the music in Bricktown.

Jeff Wiseman, general counsel with Coyote Ugly Saloons, confirmed Friday a lease has been signed for a storefront along the Bricktown Canal currently occupied by J. Frank's Bar. Property owner Jeff Brown said that the lease with J. Frank's owner David Southard is set to expire in December, but Southard has agreed to an early exit.

‘More than a bar'

The deal was brokered by NAI Sullivan Group's Brad Baker, who said that the club is scheduled to open by March.

"It's more than a bar — there is an entertainment aspect,” Wiseman said. "And the entertainment aspect is the bartenders — they put on a great show.”

What will it be like?

Wiseman said the saloons are typically open seven days a week and are designed to resemble "a dive bar.”

"It's dark, there's a jukebox with country and western songs,” Wiseman said. "The customers play the music they want to hear and the bartenders dance. And the bartenders have a list of songs they have choreographed routines for that when they are played, they will get up on the bar and dance.”

The sidebar comments are:

COYOTE UGLY NOTES

How did Coyote Ugly get its start?
•The Coyote Ugly Saloons are located in 13 cities.

•Liliana Lovell, who founded the chain, got her start bartending at an Italian restaurant in New York City. She developed a routine where she jumped atop the bar, singing along with the jukebox music and hustling drinks for customers.

•She opened her own bar, the Coyote Ugly Saloon, in 1993, which then gained fame with a 1997 story in GQ Magazine. Lovell then sold movie rights to her story, which resulted in the 2000 film "Coyote Ugly.” The movie (catchphrase: "We don't serve water here!”) grossed more than $100 million.

•The saloon has also inspired a television series, "The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search,” which is in its third season on CMT.

[oneforone]

I think this will be like every other bar concept in OKC. It will be popular in the beginning but it will flop in just a few months.

[Lauri101]

New York-New York Casino in Las Vegas has one - every time I've walked past it, it was SRO with people waiting to get in. I peeked in once - the clientele was mostly male and young. The female customers seemed anxious to compete with the singing/dancing bartenders and the ones I saw would be advised to keep their day jobs. The noise level was beyond loud and the average blood alcohol level was probably way over .15.

Meh - to each his/her own. It may have a niche in Bricktown if large conferences are in town. I have to admit that other than trips out of town, I'm rarely into the bar scene anymore, but the concept of Coyote Ugly seems geared for the under 30 wanna-be cool cowboy.

[jstanthrnme]

ughh..
seems like it would do better along meridian with the other cowboy joints.

[donbroncho]

I hope it does well. Then again, Im a half-full kind of guy. And one of those under thirty males...

[Doug Loudenback]

I hope it does well. Then again, Im a half-full kind of guy. And one of those under thirty males...

Yeah, I once knew what you mean! I'd like to see it do well, too. I think its a good fit and adds diversity, from what I've read.

[bluedogok]

ughh..
seems like it would do better along meridian with the other cowboy joints.

It's not a "cowboy bar", it's a variation on the Hooter's concept like The Tilted Kilt, etc. There is one here in Austin on Sixth Street, since I am over 30 and don't "hang out" down there I know nothing about it, just heard about it when it opened up a couple of years ago.

[John]

Should do well, but I'm not a big fan of the space that J. Franks is in. Would rather it be ON the canal to add more life to that level.

[kmf563]

Let me think...hot chicks half naked dancing on a bar slinging booze. It will last. Hell I'm a chick and I'd go. I went to the one in Vegas and had a blast. Oh, and it's not all country. They play a variety of music. There's a reality show on tv, check it out to see what it's like.

[donbroncho]

Let me think...hot chicks half naked dancing on a bar slinging booze. It will last. Hell I'm a chick and I'd go. I went to the one in Vegas and had a blast. Oh, and it's not all country. They play a variety of music. There's a reality show on tv, check it out to see what it's like.

Yeah, I once knew what you mean! I'd like to see it do well, too. I think its a good fit and adds diversity, from what I've read.

Hahahahaha exactly. Itll be alright. Should make for some interesting nights in the future....

Oh and Doug, you can still go there...who knows, you might have a blast!

[Doug Loudenback]

Hahahahaha exactly. Itll be alright. Should make for some interesting nights in the future....

Oh and Doug, you can still go there...who knows, you might have a blast!

Good, you had me worried! "Let me think...hot chicks half naked dancing on a bar slinging booze" will catch my attention anytime ... I ain't dead, yet, I just look like I am!

[jbrown84]

Right next to Hooters. Will do fine.

I know people will scoff at this, but it's important to note that we will be joining

Austin
San Antonio
Las Vegas
Denver
New Orleans
Ft. Lauderdale
Panama City
Tampa
Chicago
New York City
Memphis
Nashville

Basically it's like Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, etc in that they are going into tourist hot spots.

[Karried]

Last time I was in Vegas, at Coyote Ugly, it was filled with drunk, stumbling people all spilling drinks on everyone .. and smoking ugh. I swear, one guy was on crack big time ... the chick on stage singled me out and was trying to get me to come up and dance on the stage, and when I hesitated, she started berating me .... 'what's wrong?, Come on' 'what are you afraid of?' I wasn't afraid of anything, I just didn't want to go on stage with a bunch of drunk hillbillies. Not a good experience in my opinion.. I left and went back to Mandalay Bay and danced until 4am... stayed up 27 hours straight! woot.. I love Vegas.. but didn't like Coyote Ugly one bit.

[jbrown84]

It's clearly not for everyone, but I'm sure that strip will be Frat Boy central with Hooters and Coyote Ugly next door to each other, and SkyyBar right there as well.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Right next to Hooters. Will do fine.

I know people will scoff at this, but it's important to note that we will be joining

Austin
San Antonio
Las Vegas
Denver
New Orleans
Ft. Lauderdale
Panama City
Tampa
Chicago
New York City
Memphis
Nashville

Basically it's like Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, etc in that they are going into tourist hot spots.

Exactly!

Not my cup of tea for sure, but this is a pretty big deal.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I went to the original in NY in the mid 90's, and it was a ROARING good time. Very rough joint too. Not your normal rowdy frat boy bar, but a rough and tumble NY "smash your face with a bottle then we buy each other a beer" kinda place. But I was in my mid 20's, was aggressive as hell and had a love for fighting, and I ate it up.

I'm too mellow for that stuff now, no matter how watered down they make the franchises. I hope they do well though. It'll get people down there.

[Easy180]

Went to the one in Vegas a few years back and it was 90% dudes and warm beer to top it off

My guess is it will have that same ratio after the first year

It is a nice grab for OKC...10 years ago I would be all over this news

[PapaJack]

Hmm, let's see. Toby Keith's ILTB&G is currently in OKC. Vegas and Kansas City. When he opens several more in "tourist hot spots" will ILTB&G get the same raves as Coyote Ugly?

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I don't know anybody that's been impressed in anyway with TK's place. I sure wasn't. Mediocre food, poor service, TOTALLY canned atmosphere.

[kevinpate]

Haven't ever stepped in myself, as there are precious few places that are worthy for me to stand in line for. The curse of treating food as fuel, and only occasionally making it about pleasure.

However, most places intended to be plopped into multiple markets will have a very canned sensation, so bubba, sueann, Freako and Burn feel at ease wherever they sleaze.

[OKCMallen]

Sounds like everyone is dooming this place to failure. Nice attitude, guys.

[donbroncho]

Sounds like everyone is dooming this place to failure. Nice attitude, guys.

Exactly. Just because it isn't everyones favorite place/concept/etc should we really hope that it fails?

Btw this place will do fine as I have said before. Id say theres a 1% that it doesnt...

[sroberts24]

this place will do awesome, where do u think people from out of town will go? they wioll go to the place they have heard of, the place that there is a movie about... when i go to san antonio i go to coyote ugly its bad ass when i go to new york i go, its always fun and will be a perfect fit here, and will do great!

[OKCMallen]

And as to "frat guys" up in the thread- you're lucky those frat guys show up at any of these clubs to keep them open. Multiple times now I have seen references to frat guys dripping with derision. WTF?

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

It's just a sweeping generalization that we all make, this one happens to be of college age young men that are finally out from under their parent's wings and like to get their beer on. HIGHLY annoying to people over the age of 30. Loud, obnoxious, boisterous, etc. Oh...And there are exceptions, but stereotypes don't just make themselves up