IHOP coming to Bricktown
Well, downtownguy had already let us know that IHOP was coing to Bricktown, but we weren't too sure on the site. Here's the answer: 401 E. California, in te old restaurant supply building next to the Coca Cola Events Center. IHOP wil be the first tenant of the new Bricktown Marketplace. IHOP will take up much of the 1st floor. Boy, the pic looks impressive. It's definitely an urban IHOP. For once, someone got it right. I'm elated. This is way better than a suburban style IHOP next to the gasoline station.
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"IHOP comes to Bricktown
by Heidi R. Centrella
The Journal Record
12/9/2004
Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruities are making their way to Bricktown, complete with pancakes, bacon and eggs.
Bricktown Urban Design Committee gave the go-ahead on Wednesday to remove the steel windows at the future site of Bricktown Marketplace, an empty warehouse at 401 E. California Ave., to begin repairs on the building.
This decision paves the way for an IHOP to move into the neighborhood.
Franchise owner Wes Salous said the $1.5 million construction project needs to begin by late Jan uary to be completed by May. The planned 5,000-square-foot restaurant will seat more than 200.
Once renovated, the 40,000-square-foot building east of Joe Carter Boulevard will provide additional restaurant and office space on the second floor and a portion of the first floor.
Changes to the building will create what project architect Larry Stubblefield described as an IHOP image, complete with the company's signature blue sign on the corner tower.
Stubblefield said IHOP corporate officials offer latitude on the color of the awnings and the blue roof, but would like to stay as close as possible to the corporate image.
Since no pole signage is allowed, having the blue color and towers are important elements because they reflect that image, according to Al Sahil, who purchased the building in September for $1.35 million.
"If you drive by any IHOP, you can tell it's an IHOP," he said. "And this should look the same."
Sahil said he already has talked with business owners in various locations, including one in Kansas City, who have expressed an interest in relocating next to IHOP.
"We've been working on IHOP for about seven months now, trying to get this done," Sahil said. "And hopefully we'll get it done now.
Sahil last month purchased the parking lot directly north of the property. IHOP customers will not be charged to park in the lot, however other Bricktown visitors may be charged.
The empty warehouse has structural problems and is in need of much repair. Concrete columns and beams have suffered water damage. After repairing the concrete, a stucco finish will cover the columns, Stubblefield said.
Plans for the building include constructing corner and west-side towers with metal roofs, replacing windows, constructing handicap ramps, raising the parapet with a layered cap and adding awnings.
While some discussion revolved around the towers and old Bricktown versus new Bricktown, committee members showed no resistance to the design concept. But Sahil will have to go before the committee again for approval to build a proposed second tower on the building.
"One of the unique things about the particular building is it is either the last or almost the last brick building heading east after you pass Joe Carter," Stubblefield said. "This is a brick building and we recognize that it is a part of Bricktown.
"In the spirit of Bricktown, what we're attempting to do is to take that old warehouse and create something that is back in the mainstream," Stubblefield said, "something that would generate revenue and still stay within the flavor of Bricktown."
Originally Posted by floater
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