What food,shopping,entertainment chains do we need in okc area

[OUJAG]

The last thing Oklahoma City needs is another business that is everywhere else...(i.e. a CHAIN).....Oklahoma City has enough chains to make it indistinguishable from everywhere else in this country. How about NO MORE CHAINS. Let's support locally owned businesses. That will make Oklahoma City a better, more unique place.

This.

[danielf1935]

I cast my vote for a Whole Foods Market and a venue like House of Blues or Hard Rock Cafe

[jbrown84]

In and Out:Oklahoma = Sonic:Maryland/Mid-Atlantic

(We always want what we can't have...)

No sonic up there yet?

[jsibelius]

The last thing Oklahoma City needs is another business that is everywhere else...(i.e. a CHAIN).....Oklahoma City has enough chains to make it indistinguishable from everywhere else in this country. How about NO MORE CHAINS. Let's support locally owned businesses. That will make Oklahoma City a better, more unique place.

We can't support both? I LOVE that there are so many locally owned places here. And every once in a while, I love going to the chains too. But it IS refreshing that there are local choices here. Most of the time, we'll go there.

But it depends on what it is we need. If I need to shop for clothes, there is no local retailer who carries anything I could ever wear. Only chains do that. There are probably any number of other niche markets that would never be filled by local businesses even if there were no chains here.

[scootinger]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned QuikTrip! (or other decent convenience stores like Kum n Go or RaceTrac that are conspicuously absent from the Oklahoma City area.) Too bad we'll probably never have any QT stores in OKC though....thanks to Bill Brown and his "gentlemen's agreement" we are stuck with his ****ty 7-Elevens. The OnCue stores popping up around the OKC area are a lot nicer than pretty much everything else around, but not quite as good as QT in my opinion.

And I'll second/third Fry's Electronics, IKEA, and Five Guys Burgers as well!

[dalelakin]

Kroger
Einstein Bros Bagels
White Castle
Meijers

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I will trade a shakey's Pizza here is San Diego for one of Oklahomas Bar BQ places.
Is there not a BarBQ Missionary who would relocate to the west coast?

Tyler's, the Great Taste of Texas out in El Cajon had all you can eat ribs every Thursday when I lived there. I recall it being decent.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Hells yeah...Still there.

Tylers: The Great Taste of Texas.

Looks like they're open 24x7 and have all you can eat ribs on Thursdays AND Saturdays.

I also seem to recall (don't hate me for suggesting it, but I don't mind chains) that Claim Jumper had some decent BBQ as well. HUGE portions to boot.

[MikeOKC]

Costco! I want a wholesale club that isn't related in any way with Wal-Mart.

Someone mentioned Half Price Books. They are on the way.

My wife and I have eaten at this really cool '40s themed steak house called Sullivan's. We've eaten at the Dallas, Denver and Kansas City locations and it was so good and great fun each time. http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com It's like walking back in time and expecting to see Bogart and Bacall hanging out.

[old okie]

Springcreek Barbeque
Imperial Garden [an upscale Chinese restaurant found in Middleton, WI]

And some place that sells just great desserts! Have never really found such a place, but imagine that 'somewhere' it exists.

As corny as this sounds, Farm & Fleet. Found only in the North [IA, WI, etc.] has the type of 'stuff' you didn't know you needed until you saw it.

Cabella's [much superior to Bass Pro!]

[UnclePete]

I like Hyvee stores, but any grocery store that is convenient to Mayfair would be appreciated.

[jsibelius]

John Boy and Billy. That's what we need here. Not exactly a retail or restaurant establishment, but definitely syndicated entertainment.

[metro]

Well this is like the 5th thread on this topic, but I say:

H&M
West Elm
IKEA
Lush
Urban Outfitters
Armani Exchange
Ben Sherman (although many places locally carry it)
Nike Store or Outlet (downtown location with a mural on the side of the building like their urban stores).

[kmf563]

I would LOVE a Verizon Wireless store, along with the network please.

Also:
Costco would be wonderful.

I would like a TRex Restaurant instead of a Rainforest Cafe. Same company...maybe I just like Landrys? hmmm.

I would take a House of Blues.
And an oversized sports bar - not a neighborhood rinky sports bar. But like an ESPN Zone.

I would also like an indoor skatepark like Vans.
An indoor glow in the dark miniature golf course like the ones they have up north would be cool too. Monster Golf. Not like those things at the mall.

[the_Mont]

One of my personal Texas favorites that I wished we had is Central Market. Central Market is H.E.B's version of Whole Foods or Trader Joes. In my opinion it is much better than Whole Foods!

I've been to Houston's Central Market. Man, that place just makes you want to cook something!

I would like a Fogo de Chao in Oklahoma. Only been there once, but it was awesome!

[progressiveboy]

I would LOVE a Verizon Wireless store, along with the network please.

Also:
Costco would be wonderful.

I would like a TRex Restaurant instead of a Rainforest Cafe. Same company...maybe I just like Landrys? hmmm.

I would take a House of Blues.
And an oversized sports bar - not a neighborhood rinky sports bar. But like an ESPN Zone.

I would also like an indoor skatepark like Vans.
An indoor glow in the dark miniature golf course like the ones they have up north would be cool too. Monster Golf. Not like those things at the mall.

Verizon Wireless will be entering the OKC market shortly as they have acquired Alltel. The deal will close on January 9,2009. I saw this on the online addition of the DO so I am assuming the Verizon name will be popping up shortly.

[bornhere]

an indoor glow in the dark miniature golf course like the ones they have up north would be cool too.

A big league city at last!

[Millie]

Didn't they have an indoor glow in the dark mini golf course at Crossroads a few years back?

[angel27]

I've been to Houston's Central Market. Man, that place just makes you want to cook something!

I would like a Fogo de Chao in Oklahoma. Only been there once, but it was awesome!

I looked this up and I will second that wish.

[onthestrip]

Im going to throw my opinion in here, though most have been mentioned already. Ill try to keep my list to ones that realistically could happen in the next 5 years.

Fatburger (Better than In n Out and is actually expanding eastward)
Paciugo (Gelato)
Dave and Busters (looks like it could happen soon)
Urban Outfitters (Im just not sure where they would actually locate though)
Niketown (probably wont happen in 5 years but its the one Id want first)
Levi's store (great american brand)
Any specialty grocer
Dairy Queen (kind of a joke but will they please come back)

[kmf563]

Didn't they have an indoor glow in the dark mini golf course at Crossroads a few years back?

Yes. Very lame.
You think I'm joking, but if you have ever been - these are incredible. Huge Huge market for them up North because of the weather. They would do really well here. The one I went to was in Michigan and it was next to the Vans Skatepark. There were more people inside the golf giant than in the skatepark. It was bigger than Incredible Pizza and the entire place was glow in the dark. They have a food area, 3 or 4 different courses to choose from. They were about the size of the courses at Celebration Station. There are glow parties with a dj on certain nights.
Here's a link, but there aren't any good pictures. If you play the online game it gives you an idea of what all the holes look like. It's not just a colored block to go around.

Home*-*Putting Edge

ALSO - I second the request for Dairy Queen to return. Just the ice cream part.

[jsibelius]

I would LOVE a Verizon Wireless store, along with the network please.

...

You're about to get your wish.

Verizon Wireless will be entering the OKC market shortly as they have acquired Alltel. The deal will close on January 9,2009. I saw this on the online addition of the DO so I am assuming the Verizon name will be popping up shortly.

It may take a few months, but they are on the way. I don't know why you'd wish for that, but to each his own, I suppose...

...
ALSO - I second the request for Dairy Queen to return. Just the ice cream part.

I disagree. If we're going to have DQ, we might as well have all of it. But yes, I wish they were here.

[edcrunk]

i second the motions of CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN & FOGO DE CHAO.

i would also love to have an EATZI'S here.

did anyone else notice that the sooners ate at FOGO when they were in miami?

[gsan]

A decent grocery store! More produce, a great deli, and good meat and fish department. Our grocery stores are terrible.

Others:

Chuy's
IKEA
Dave and Buster's
ESPN Zone

[tnajk]

Buca di Beppo
Maggianos
Cinzettis Italian Market
Rubios
Del Taco
Good Times
Whole Foods
Kroger/ King Soopers