Midtown

[okclee]

Noticed quite a few contractors inside and outside the building at 10th and Classen, former Army surplus store.

Anyone know the scoop?

Also I noticed the new giant Midtown Plaza Court sign on top of the building, not sure if it has been lit or not.

[betts]

Noticed quite a few contractors inside and outside the building at 10th and Classen, former Army surplus store.

Anyone know the scoop?

Also I noticed the new giant Midtown Plaza Court sign on top of the building, not sure if it has been lit or not.

I recently told someone I know to tell the owners of Crescent Market about that space. I'd be thrilled it they're looking at it.

[BoulderSooner]

just a note about the new Louies at the former midtown deli location: .. they started the remodel and kitchen build and they are on track to be open in early Feb.

[metro]

I recently told someone I know to tell the owners of Crescent Market about that space. I'd be thrilled it they're looking at it.

I doubt it. It appears to be an interior design place, and an ugly one at that.

[Spartan]

Crescent Market has been adamantly opposed to moving downtown for years. Easy position to take up from Nichols Hills..

Not to bring up anything new, but has anyone heard anything about the Medical Business District, Inc bids? Has there been any interest in that site? I heard Tanenbaum was interested for a while but is much more keen on the OG site for some unknown reason, maybe just to beat Wiggin, who knows. I still doubt whether the MBD is even a real group because they do not answer their phones or email accounts.

[betts]

Crescent Market has been adamantly opposed to moving downtown for years. Easy position to take up from Nichols Hills.

Not anymore. Not since Whole Foods began construction and their rent was raised. I know they're looking downtown, having been told so by multiple reliable sources, one of whom I told to have them look at the building on the northwest corner of 10th and Classen, which is a cool building with a lot of potential and a parking lot. The immediate area on Classen is not that great, but it's really close to Midtown, Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, as well as is close enough to downtown for those who don't believe they have to walk for groceries.

[Spartan]

Not anymore. Not since Whole Foods began construction and their rent was raised. I know they're looking downtown, having been told so by multiple reliable sources, one of whom I told to have them look at the building on the northwest corner of 10th and Classen, which is a cool building with a lot of potential and a parking lot. The immediate area on Classen is not that great, but it's really close to Midtown, Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, as well as is close enough to downtown for those who don't believe they have to walk for groceries.

Didn't realize they had made a 180 so quickly. The Whole Foods definitely would change that, but perhaps they would want to wait it out and actually see what happens?

[soonerguru]

Not anymore. Not since Whole Foods began construction and their rent was raised. I know they're looking downtown, having been told so by multiple reliable sources, one of whom I told to have them look at the building on the northwest corner of 10th and Classen, which is a cool building with a lot of potential and a parking lot. The immediate area on Classen is not that great, but it's really close to Midtown, Mesta Park and Heritage Hills, as well as is close enough to downtown for those who don't believe they have to walk for groceries.

I love the idea of them being there but I'm not sure that would be all that swell for them. And it wouldn't really provide a grocery to downtown residents either. Why not Auto Alley?

[betts]

Auto Alley would be great, but I know there are some expensive rents there. And, I'm going to say that there aren't that many people even living downtown who will trundle over to AA with their rolling wicker market basket and pick up their groceries. That would work if you're using the European concept and only picking up enough to make dinner, but doesn't work on paper towel and toilet paper shop day. You're going to need a car for those days. We're being really, really picky if we say a grocery store on 10th and Classen doesn't serve downtown, as that is closer than most people living anywhere are from a full grocery store. It's not as if we're Manhattan and there are people who don't actually have cars and live in OKC. That's not going to be possible for years and years, most likely. So, while I, who would probably walk over with my wicker cart (I even have one already and right now it holds umbrellas) would love a grocery store on AA, I think anyone who thinks a store a mile away isn't close enough is being too picky. It would nicely serve Mesta Park and Heritage Hills from that location as well, and any grocery store that is going to succeed will need more than just downtown residents to support it. I'd rather have a grocery store one mile away that's still thriving five years from now than one six blocks away that goes under in two years because there aren't enough customers.

[metro]

I think the vacant building at 8th and Walker would make a perfect grocery store, be near streetcar routes and be a central locationnfor all of downtown and near HH/Mesta.

[BG918]

I think the vacant building at 8th and Walker would make a perfect grocery store, be near streetcar routes and be a central locationnfor all of downtown and near HH/Mesta.

It also has parking so it could be convenient for those walking/biking in the downtown area (or taking a bus/streetcar), as well as those driving from surrounding neighborhoods like HH/Mesta/Crown Heights.

[Pete]

Crescent Market currently has about 18,000 square feet in NH Plaza. That building at 8th & Walker is only about a third that size.

They would need a site close to the size of the Homeland on 18th & Classen (22,000 square feet) which is almost 2 acres. I'd say 1.5 acres, minimum. That's a pretty good chunk of property. 8th & Walker is 1/3 acre.

[Spartan]

I tend to think if Crescent Market will be moving, and I am excited at the possibility, that they won't make a rushed decision based on what's available and what's affordable. They will take their time, make the right decision, make it very deliberately, and not sacrifice quality. I imagine they would probably downsize slightly in going to downtown because in urban environments you do use space more efficiently, and I imagine that they would want to preserve their upscale image that has made them an OKC staple for like 80+ years. They might even be looking to build/renovate their own building.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see them move somewhere else still not downtown. Anywhere between downtown and Edmond is probably in play for them, in their minds at least. Market C has done really well on 23rd, even benefiting from Good Egg's following in that part of town. The Midtown/Uptown/Heights area neighborhoods seem to be the epicenter for households with disposable income wanting fresh, organic, healthy foods.

[bluedogok]

Sometimes you take the amount of square footage available in a space whether you actually need it or not, sometimes I felt that is what Crescent Market did in Nichols Hills Plaza. They could surely come up with a more efficient layout than what they have now and reduce the need for the exact same amount of space. I could also see them doing some multiple smaller "neighborhood market " locations (not the WalMart Neighborhood Market type) with a central warehouse/distribution center to reduce the need for a large amount of warehousing on site. That is what many of the smaller markets do in other more urban cities.

[Spartan]

Sometimes you take the amount of square footage available in a space whether you actually need it or not, sometimes I felt that is what Crescent Market did in Nichols Hills Plaza. They could surely come up with a more efficient layout than what they have now and reduce the need for the exact same amount of space. I could also see them doing some multiple smaller "neighborhood market " locations (not the WalMart Neighborhood Market type) with a central warehouse/distribution center to reduce the need for a large amount of warehousing on site. That is what many of the smaller markets do in other more urban cities.

That would be a big move, though.

[metro]

I tend to think if Crescent Market will be moving, and I am excited at the possibility, that they won't make a rushed decision based on what's available and what's affordable. They will take their time, make the right decision, make it very deliberately, and not sacrifice quality. I imagine they would probably downsize slightly in going to downtown because in urban environments you do use space more efficiently, and I imagine that they would want to preserve their upscale image that has made them an OKC staple for like 80+ years. They might even be looking to build/renovate their own building.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see them move somewhere else still not downtown. Anywhere between downtown and
Edmond is probably in play for them, in their minds at least. Market C has done really well on 23rd, even benefiting from
Good Egg's following in that part of town. The Midtown/Uptown/Heights area neighborhoods seem to be the epicenter for
households with disposable income wanting fresh, organic, healthy foods.

Is this pure speculation or what are you basing this on?

[Spartan]

80% speculation. Others are entitled to that, you know. You don't see me as one of the people asserting myself all the time, "What I say is absolute fact and you heard it first on OKC Talk from Spartan and it must be true because I heard it on the Internetz..."

[Pete]

Sometimes you take the amount of square footage available in a space whether you actually need it or not, sometimes I felt that is what Crescent Market did in Nichols Hills Plaza

Except they made the choice to expand their space at least once, so they must need all 18,000 square feet.

And, they have always been a full-range grocery store -- a place where you can do all your shopping if you so choose. It's hard to do that in a space much smaller than they have now.

For those of you that have never been in Crescent Market, it's quite a trip... Red carpeted aisles, wood paneling and antiques. In addition to luxury and specialty items, they also have your typical frozen food section and sundries:

[okclee]

The north west corner of 14th and Broadway could be something for Crescent to look at. Nice size free standing building close to 10K sf, but easily expandable or could be new build to suit, decent sized parking lot too.

This location could be good, close to downtown, midtown, uptown, mesta park, heritage hills, deep deuce, etc. All these areas could use another option for closer grocery shopping. This location could also be along the future streetcar route, how cool would that be?

[dankrutka]

Is Desmond Mason still opening his art studio in Plaza Court? There was paper covering the windows for weeks (although you could see art through some small holes), but I walked by last week and the window was not covered and nothing is inside... What's the deal?

[Spartan]

The north west corner of 14th and Broadway could be something for Crescent to look at. Nice size free standing building close to 10K sf, but easily expandable or could be new build to suit, decent sized parking lot too.

This location could be good, close to downtown, midtown, uptown, mesta park, heritage hills, deep deuce, etc. All these areas could use another option for closer grocery shopping. This location could also be along the future streetcar route, how cool would that be?

I would think they'd go for something with a little more prominence. The only problem with Broadway north of 13th is that it doesn't feel like it's a part of anything at the moment. That may likely change soon, since I suspect one of the first big developments to come out when the economy rebounds will be the project behind Campbell Park between 10th and 13th, but as it is, that's the way it is.

[metro]

You hould be their site selector with all that experience.

[securityinfo]

Ran across this in the paper... anyone know if this is the same R.D. Smith (Robert Dean) as the Corsair Cattle Co. developers? Likely not, but a strange coincidental name collision....

http://newsok.com/eufaula-mayor-arre...rticle/3525740

[Doug Loudenback]

securityinfo, what has the link got to to with Midtown Developments? Is the arrested mayor involved with Midtown? Corsair Cattle Co. is a Midtown operation?

[Doug Loudenback]

Is Desmond Mason still opening his art studio in Plaza Court? There was paper covering the windows for weeks (although you could see art through some small holes), but I walked by last week and the window was not covered and nothing is inside... What's the deal?

I don't know but would like to, also.