Milwaukee's Public Market as a model for downtown/Bricktown grocery

[the_Mont]

Good find Pete. Sign me up for the Milwaukee Pub Market idea. I'm completely sold. I think those cooking classes would be great date ideas for those looking for an alternative nights out. I'm down for this idea.

[John]

I've got a location/building that would be perfect for the project! With parking, to boot!


(image via Doug's site)

All it would take is peeling off the metal(?) siding and a little TLC...

[metro]

Now if we can only kick UHaul out of it................. I seriously think this should be in MAPS 3, its probably too late, but if they sat aside $2-3 mil for this, we could easily get it off ground, and that's pocket change for MAPS 3.

[Luke]

Whoa, I had no idea that was the U-Haul building.

[Urbanized]

The building as you see it in that picture is 100% intact, underneath the sheet metal cladding. Including those stunning casement windows. The storage compartments inside are all built out of lightweight materials and built between the existing structural pillars, etc. That building could be cleared out and brought back to its original interior state in a very few days with a couple of skid steer loaders.

Interestingly, the very concept being discussed in this thread was planned for that building in the 1970s. A local attorney, Bill Peterson, planned to convert that building into a market based loosely on Pike Place Market in Seattle. U-Haul beat him to the building though. He then went on to form Warehouse Development Company with Neal Horton and John Michael Williams, which was the company that started the redevelopment of Bricktown. Steve details it all in his Bricktown book, and I think Doug has posted about it before on this site, including the original conceptual.

It was a huge missed opportunity, 'though it really got the ball rolling on what is now Bricktown. You wonder what the district would have become if Peterson had succeeded way back in the late '70s. Also, the U-Haul thing could have been a blessing in disguise. It has entombed that building for someone else to be able to do an amazing historic preservation job and redevelopment at a later date.

[Urbanized]

By the way, those casement windows wrap all four sides of the building, which is not often the case on a structure like that.

[Martin]

i think the uhaul building would be great... but then again, i think this has underutilized potential... -M

[metro]

mmm, agreed, especially since the City DID have plans to Remodel it into a first class market a few years ago, and then bailed supposively. See this thread:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...remodeled.html

[Pete]

I thought of the old farmer's market as well, the problem is that it's not within walking distance of downtown residents and that's a huge drawback IMO. It rather defeats the main purpose.

[John]

The Iten Biscuit Building (aka U-Haul) has the most potential and positives going for it: location, visibility, close(r) to rooftops, parking, and so on...

The only other current space that would make sense, besides the Old Farmers Market, would be this jewel of a building:

[foodiefan]

. . .don't want to quote the whole passage, but Pete mentioned something about a nice wine store, cheese shop, et cet. Since we can't sell wine in grocery stores, how would that work?? Would it be considered like a big indoor mall?? Or would the liquor cartel have to sign up??

[John]

. . .don't want to quote the whole passage, but Pete mentioned something about a nice wine store, cheese shop, et cet. Since we can't sell wine in grocery stores, how would that work?? Would it be considered like a big indoor mall?? Or would the liquor cartel have to sign up??

Each vendor would be a separate 'store.'

[tuck]

All great ideas, be careful not to turn this new project into an Antique Co-op style market.

[Luke]

i think the uhaul building would be great... but then again, i think this has underutilized potential... -M

Agreed. That would be quite a sight all fixed up.

[soonerguru]

It would be nice to see the Farmer's Market all fixed up, but it wouldn't make a good location for what this thread is about. It is not in the CBD or residential section of downtown.

[Platemaker]

It would be nice to see the Farmer's Market all fixed up, but it wouldn't make a good location for what this thread is about. It is not in the CBD or residential section of downtown.

Let's take a closer look:

It's a 20 minute walk from Bricktown to the Farmer's Market.

It's just about the same distance from Bricktown to Sycamore Square and the Legacy.

It's more like 15 from Sycamore Square and Legacy to the Farmer's Market.

Sure it is not the CBD... but, especially after the revitalization of Film Row is complete... it will be walkable from residential... and could be considered part of downtown for all practical purposes.

It is also a sort of 'gateway' district to/from Stockyard's City/Exchange Ave... one of OKC's most unique urban neighborhoods.

I think it would be wise to grow development that direction. (As opposed to a project like this in the biscuit building)

[soonerguru]

Let's take a closer look:

It's a 20 minute walk from Bricktown to the Farmer's Market.

It's just about the same distance from Bricktown to Sycamore Square and the Legacy.

It's more like 15 from Sycamore Square and Legacy to the Farmer's Market.

Sure it is not the CBD... but, especially after the revitalization of Film Row is complete... it will be walkable from residential... and could be considered part of downtown for all practical purposes.

It is also a sort of 'gateway' district to/from Stockyard's City/Exchange Ave... one of OKC's most unique urban neighborhoods.

I think it would be wise to grow development that direction. (As opposed to a project like this in the biscuit building)

These are all good arguments, but people in this town will not walk there. It wouldn't have the same glue in that location. Sorry. It is what it is.

[Platemaker]

These are all good arguments, but people in this town will not walk there. It wouldn't have the same glue in that location. Sorry. It is what it is.

People here are walking more and more everyday. It may be inch by inch but it's happening.

If we are going to look at Oklahomans' current/past/stereotyped attitudes about walking in a "J. Brian Walters-sort-of-way" then we might as well give up on our Trails project, parks and recreation, sidewalks, streetcar hopes and all streetscapes... because we are fat and lazy and it is what it is.

[JohnDenver]

Let's take a closer look:

It's a 20 minute walk from Bricktown to the Farmer's Market.

I wouldn't walk in any direction down Reno Ave towards Farmer's Market. The bridge is so damn scary.. I mean... SCARY. My out of town guest commented that it looked like the homeless people were tailgating the opening of the mission. They had chairs out, beers open and loitering all over the place.

[David Pollard]

This is fantastic place in Stockholm that could serve as a model for the type of market being discussed here. It is full of unique products and tiny restaurants.

Östermalms Saluhall

There are lots of these type of markets in Europe, but I don't see why something similar could not work in OKC. If a suitable location could be found, and I think it MUST be IN Bricktown IN an old building, then a unique formula of local products could work just fine. I'm thinking about many of the products that are currently sold in the Farmer's market, but also things such as buffalo meat / rattlesnake meat (why not?) and lots of fresh vegetables. I could imagine a special area for Indian-related (American) as well as Soul Food. This might sound too 'low class" for an upscale market, but in reality, these are the types of things that define our region. Why not a 'State Fair' restaurant, specializing in the wonderful canned products that were omnipresent in Oklahoma's Pioneer days. I can tell you first hand, that this would draw many tourist as it is not your standard chain restaurant or attraction.
Yes, it will take subsidies from the City to get it started, but again, why not? This would benefit all residents in one way or another. An additional way to finance it would be to give local restaurants the opportunity to have a 'mini-restaurant'. How about a small Cattleman's Diner in the Market with the best quality Oklahoma steaks to eat there or take away raw vacuum-packed. I mean really, the possibilities just go on and on! Let's take a chance and get the city excited about this!

[metro]

Good idea about the market, and I support the city subsidizing one, but in NO WAY, does Cattlemen's come even close to the best steaks in OKC.

[David Pollard]

Good idea about the market, and I support the city subsidizing one, but in NO WAY, does Cattlemen's come even close to the best steaks in OKC.

Oops! Didn't mean to step on toes. I still like their steaks, but then I don't get back very often. Any recommendations?

Back to the market though, unique restaurants or vendors (produce/cheeses/wines/bakeries, etc.) would be a nice addition to Bricktown.