Tipsy Tiki

[dankrutka]

I know there's a thread for this somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Please feel free to merge...

I went to Norm's with a small group last weekend and it was a great experience. Honestly, the service was terrible. The waitress didn't was pretty apathetic and didn't know anything. They didn't have any beers on the menu and we asked if they had any and she said, "Yeah, we have a ton," and then she just stared at us. We eventually were able to find out what they had with a little coercing.

Anyway, the reason it was a great experience is because of the setting. The concept is great. The entire bar is outside on the canal. I felt like I was on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The weather was perfect and they have these 4 seat rocking booths. People were walking by constantly, the boat toours were driving by, and a lot of people were eating outside at Bourbon Street Cafe across the canal. It was cool to be in OKC and see so much foot traffic. I love how urban it all felt. Anyway, if you can stand ignoring some poor service (I never let that ruin my night), then I recommend this place. I just think it's another piece to the puzzle for OKC's growing urban environment.

[ljbab728]

I know there's a thread for this somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Please feel free to merge...

I went to Norm's with a small group last weekend and it was a great experience. Honestly, the service was terrible. The waitress didn't was pretty apathetic and didn't know anything. They didn't have any beers on the menu and we asked if they had any and she said, "Yeah, we have a ton," and then she just stared at us. We eventually were able to find out what they had with a little coercing.

Anyway, the reason it was a great experience is because of the setting. The concept is great. The entire bar is outside on the canal. I felt like I was on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The weather was perfect and they have these 4 seat rocking booths. People were walking by constantly, the boat toours were driving by, and a lot of people were eating outside at Bourbon Street Cafe across the canal. It was cool to be in OKC and see so much foot traffic. I love how urban it all felt. Anyway, if you can stand ignoring some poor service (I never let that ruin my night), then I recommend this place. I just think it's another piece to the puzzle for OKC's growing urban environment.

Hopefully you found a way to let them know where they were failing. If it's a great experience with poor service, just imagine what the experience would be with wonderful service. It's nice that you were able to overlook problems but you're doing them no favors by ignoring it.

[dankrutka]

Hopefully you found a way to let them know where they were failing. If it's a great experience with poor service, just imagine what the experience would be with wonderful service. It's nice that you were able to overlook problems but you're doing them no favors by ignoring it.

Agreed. I'm always an advocate of changing undesireable situations, not just complaining about them. In this case, I simply left a note on the receipt...

[Urbanized]

Believe me, they are VERY aware that there have been a few minor service hiccups, and these owners will/have nip(ped) them in the bud quickly. They are longtime hospitality industry pros. I do know they have had a difficult time getting qualified cocktails to apply, and have shuffled several through the system over the past couple of weeks.

The good news is that the BARTENDERS are among the most qualified in the city. Three of the four they employ are formerly of Makers (and were there for YEARS, all). The fourth is a longtime fixture at Old No. 7 in the Chesapeake Arena on game and event nights, among other places. They were really fortunate to land the fellas they got.

As for the beer menu, they were working to settle on a final-ish selection before officially putting one out (the place has only been open 3 weeks). I think they now have the beer menu in place. That said, it sounds like that particular server did a poor job familiarizing herself with the selection. I'll let Norm know about your experience, and know he'll appreciate the feedback.

He'll also be thrilled to hear your take on the setting. They worked very hard to bring something totally new to OKC, and I think they have succeeded. The canal-front, outdoor bar and (especially) the gliders have been a huge hit. I know they are also committed to bringing quality entertainment to their stage on weekend evenings.

In the interest of full disclosure: though I don't have financial ties to the bar, I have worked for/with Norm's family for a lot of years. I do have an interest in the bar doing well. This is mostly because it is a new, sorely-needed canal-front neighbor to the two stores (Oklahoma's Red Dirt Emporium and also Bricktown Marketplace) that Norm's father and I started over the past few years, and to Water Taxi, the company I manage for Norm's dad (and which Norm managed for the first few years of its existence). This canal-front bar is to some extent something Norm, his father and I have talked about for years, and I'm thrilled to see it get the reception it's had for the past few weeks (overall incredibly positive).

If you want to follow the bar's progress or reach out to Norm, you can visit the bar's Facebook profile, or shoot him something on Twitter.

[Urbanized]

As an aside, this bar makes the canal frontage between Oklahoma Avenue and Mickey Mantle (the part most often seen in photographs of the canal) almost totally developed; Norm's (large canal frontage), Red Dirt Emporium (1,000+ sq ft retail), Put A Cork In It winery (1,000+ retail/production and currently expanding) and Bricktown Marketplace (6,000 sq ft retail). When Sammy's Pizza opens (it will), the STREET LEVEL of the same section will also be nearly 100% developed (Peachwave, Sammy's, Hooters, a couple of bars, Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse).

Upper levels of JDM and the Miller-Jackson are almost completely leased to class A type office tenants. ACM has built out pretty much all of the Oklahoma Hardware Building's upper levels as unbelievably cool classroom space the next block over. Harding and Shelton (also in that block) have done a super-nice remodel of the street-level space of their buildings, next to Zio's (across from the Biting Sow).

I know ACM@UCO and Harding & Shelton are planning to develop the canal levels of their buildings in the near future, which will greatly change the character of that block. I believe the Brewer family is formulating some neat long-term basement level (behind Norm's), street-level and upper-level plans for the Hunzicker Building (Norm's, Peachwave, Sammy's). Most of these developments have been done without controversy, overblown news conferences, media releases and fanfare, so I think unless people are down here regularly they might not even be aware that they have happened. As far as our businesses, we have just tried to assess needs, demands and requests from our existing customers and respond to them with businesses that made sense.

I know the north canal took a long time (too long) to develop, but if you haven't been here in a while you might be surprised by the activity. I bite my tongue quite a bit when reading this site, watching people bash this part of Bricktown, apparently unaware of what has appeared down here over the past few years. While there is still a lot of opportunity for investment and improvement, the prevailing perception that the north canal is void of development and lifeless is tired and inaccurate.

[Skyline]

Urbanized,,,, Excellent information, I love reading these type of postings, especially from someone who is actually on the scene daily. I haven't seen this area of Bricktown lately it does sound like some good energy is being created here.

Urbanized, I would like to hear your opinion of the newly proposed/revised House of Bedlam development? What would this do to you and the others (such as Norm's) that are invested nearby?

[Urbanized]

Thanks; it's flattering that you ask my opinion. However - and I'm sorry for being coy - I'll point out that discussion on that matter would be even further afield than I've already taken the thread topic, and respectfully beg off on picking up that particular hot potato!

[dankrutka]

I hope the place succeeds, Urbanized. One other thing our group mentioned - they need a sign. A lot of people looked interested in coming in, but seemed unsure b/c there was no entrance sign welcoming people from the canal or a "Capt Norm's" sign...

[Urbanized]

You're absolutely right, and again they're well aware of the issue. They have a really cool one going through the design process right now. Like the rest of the place, it will be unusual for Bricktown, and the thing I am most excited about: it's designed to appeal primarily to pedestrians (walking on both levels of the canal AND on Oklahoma Ave) rather than to people driving by on I-40 or 35 MPH up Mickey Mantle.

[metro]

Pics yet?

[Urbanized]

I've got a few pretty good ones, metro. Will do my best to post them ASAP. Some of them show the gliders really well. I still need to get some evening shots when it's open and lots of people are there. It really changes the whole character of that part of the canal.

[Easy180]

Looks like they are closing on July 24th...From their FB post

"We have sad news to report. On July 24th, Capt. Norm's Dockside Bar will close its doors for good. We have been wildly successful due to our wonderful, loyal customers and the hardest working, most dedicated staff in Oklahoma City.
"
Looks like the landlord demanded a 100% rent increase.

[Pete]

There will be a new, very respected operator taking over that space.

[PhiAlpha]

There will be a new, very respected operator taking over that space.

Do you know if the new operator will additionally make use of the interior of the building?

[dankrutka]

It's funny that a successful business that actually adds life to canal is being pushed out when there is so much canal space to the west that's just dead and unused. Too bad the new operator couldn't find a space somewhere else so both could exist.

[PhiAlpha]

It's funny that a successful business that actually adds life to canal is being pushed out when there is so much canal space to the west that's just dead and unused. Too bad the new operator couldn't find a space somewhere else so both could exist.

No kidding

[Pete]

It's funny that a successful business that actually adds life to canal is being pushed out when there is so much canal space to the west that's just dead and unused. Too bad the new operator couldn't find a space somewhere else so both could exist.

There is another side to this story and as I said, someone new will takeover that space so this isn't a bad thing for the canal.

Remember, this operation was only open a few months out of the year.

[hfry]

I saw this tweeted by the @BricktownOKC account during the night (:Breaking: Pirate and tiki bar coming to Norm's space on Bricktown canal. New owners and operators. Gonna be cool)
Sounds like a cool change.

[Teo9969]

It's a shame, but as long as the outdoor space is maintained and we'll operated, it will be fine.

[HangryHippo]

There is another side to this story and as I said, someone new will takeover that space so this isn't a bad thing for the canal.

Remember, this operation was only open a few months out of the year.

Any chance Norm's moves to a less utilized part of the canal and we get the new place?

[Pete]

^

No, they have never been that interested in the bar scene, at least year-round.

[Downtowner405]

After 5 successful years Capt. Norm's Dockside Bar closed its doors for good on Sunday. Brent Brewer, the landlord, drove the most successful patio bar in Bricktown out of business by demanding a 100% increase in rent with no negotiation. He was required to negotiate and give a first right of refusal. But that didn't happen.

The fact is the owners of Knucks Wheelhouse and In the Raw negotiated a lease with Brewer for the same location, but neglected to disclose the deal. That's just underhanded and sneaky. What you don't know is Capt. Norm's Dockside Bar got Brewer all the tennants (including Knucks) in the building, now named for Brewer's late father, Jim Brewer, considered by many to be the father of modern day Bricktown. The one thing old man Brewer had (in addition to vision) was loyalty and influence. Seems those are values and traits that Brent didn't take from him. Too bad.

His son, Brent is not necessarily following in the old man's footsteps however. He is doing more damage to Bricktown than perhaps any other property owner. He charges ridiculous prices for parking in Bricktown (Bricktown Parking is a Brewer venture), as much as $20-$30 to park during "events." And now this sneaky underhanded crap. Perhaps it has something to do with him getting his butt kicked by the City over the Santa Fe train station deal when they took it from him with eminent domain for a little over $2 million, instead of the 12+million he was asking or the 6+million he could've had but declined. Nice job Brent. I'm sure your father would be proud.

Want to know the best way to drive business away? Raise prices when there is increased competition and drive popular establishments out. Mr. Brewer is masterful at this. Bricktown is facing a rocky road (hopefully in the short term) despite exciting new development. This week alone Hooters, Bolero, KD's (closed to rebrand), in addition to Capt. Norm's Dockside Bar all closed. There is a natural progression/evolution with bars and restaurants. Hopefully the new establishments will be as popular as are the old ones. But they're going to have a hard time with all the uncertainty in the economy and increased competition as other venues and districts continue to grow and offer appealing options.

Just know that if you plan to enter into a contract for space in Bricktown with Bricktown Canal Properties (Brent Brewer), you are dealing with a back-stabbing, person who has a big problem with loyalty and ethical business practices.

[jbkrems]

Why did Bolero close and when?

[Roger S]

Why did Bolero close and when?

The two times I was there recently... We were one of only two tables there. That made me wonder how much longer they would last.

[Downtowner405]

There is another side to this story and as I said, someone new will takeover that space so this isn't a bad thing for the canal.

Remember, this operation was only open a few months out of the year.

This is factually inaccurate information. Capt. Norm's was open 8 months out of the year. Because the venue is all outdoors, it was a seasonal establishment. Makes sense when winter is some of the slowest business of the year.