New option for eating coming to El Reno

[OKCNDN]

People that live out here know things move slow. Nothing major in the last few years except that Burger King and CVS pharmacy.

Now there will be another option for restaurants in El Reno. Swadley's BBQ is coming to El Reno. It will be located just west of the Taco Mayo in the Canadian Square Shopping Center. No idea of when it will open but hopefully this summer. The lot has been cleared of the parking lot surface and utilities have been or are being installed. This is huge news for El Reno.

[PennyQuilts]

Great!! I personally think El Reno could be a boom town in another decade or so. It has a lot of things in place that could help - county seat, location, that sort of thing.

[PennyQuilts]

May invest there, now that I think about it - I'd been thinking Minco but mebbe not.

[rezman]

My wife's family lives in El Reno, and I workd out there for several years. ... They don't call that place El Ghetto for nothing.

[PennyQuilts]

Husband called it that way back when he was in college - a LONG time ago! Some things never change.

[Roger S]

Well at least it's not Rib Crib.

[SoonerBoy18]

My wife's family lives in El Reno, and I workd out there for several years. ... They don't call that place El Ghetto for nothing.

I have lived here in ER all my life and unfortunately the town really deserves this nickname. But the future looks bright for us.

[SoonerBoy18]

Husband called it that way back when he was in college - a LONG time ago! Some things never change.

Because people choose Yukon/Mustang over El Reno and I dont see them us ever reaching that level lol

[PennyQuilts]

It has a lot going for it - HWY 81, on the interstate, close to HWY 66, far enough out from the City to have less expensive land but close enough to commute, some historical landmarks, an actual downtown, and it is a county seat. It also has some business (including the casino) and the community college. The seeds are all there - may just be a matter of time. There hasn't been a need to expand because Yukon is closer and provided all the stuff people in that demographic wanted. When people get to the point of thinking Yukon is too crowded or expensive, El Reno is next up. Schools need to improve.

[rezman]

It has a lot going for it - HWY 81, on the interstate, close to HWY 66, far enough out from the City to have less expensive land but close enough to commute, some historical landmarks, an actual downtown, and it is a county seat. It also has some business (including the casino) and the community college. The seeds are all there - may just be a matter of time. There hasn't been a need to expand because Yukon is closer and provided all the stuff people in that demographic wanted. When people get to the point of thinking Yukon is too crowded or expensive, El Reno is next up. Schools need to improve.

People have chosen Yukon, Mustang, Piedmont, Okarche, Newcastle, Tuttle areas because they are not the toilet El reno has been. Plain and simple.
BUT, property is cheaper around El Reno, and maybe the young up and coming can inject some pride and leadership into that town and make it the next desirable suburb it could be,.... It's going to take a lot of work.

[OKCNDN]

I am so glad they fixed I-40 between Yukon and El Reno. That was perhaps the worst stretch of major interstate in the nation. Now it's a three-lane comfort zone.

[Midtowner]

I practice quite a bit in El Reno. From what I can tell, it's a nice little town. There may be some bad/poor parts, but there are nice areas as well.

[rickself]

Not to venture too far from the OP, Swadleys is due to open very soon and we look forward to something new for eats! A year or two ago Chelino's announced a new restaurant on Country Club where Braum's is now, with Braum's moving to the intersection of I-40 and Wal-Mart.

We've lived in El Reno for 4 years. We moved from Norman to Mustang and now El Reno. That was a major deceleration! Yes, ER is on the lower end of the wage scale. But as it has been pointed out, property is cheap, there is a great history to the area, the new schools are going up, Mercy took over the hospital and big changes are happening. The new Jenks Simmons Field House is wonderful. Improvements to the Rodeo Arena, County Fairgrounds, Legion park, the new Public Safety Building, and the much needed additionto the jail, a new Holiday Inn Express, to name a few. Tax revenues are way up due to the oil and gas industry boom. The water system has had major upgrades (no more orange drinking water). I'm glad to see all the changes. El Reno needs to have a personality upgrade while still keeping the small town atmosphere that is unique.

[MWCGuy]

I believe that only way a community can prosper is for the citizens to demand more than status quo. Oklahoma City was a typical medium size American city until we lost the deal with United Airlines. The loss forced people to stand up and demand major improvements to the city. Now Oklahoma City is a thriving American city that keeps leaders in Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis and Houston on their toes. El Reno can be a thriving community if the people of El Reno are willing to step up and demand more than the status quo..

[OKCNDN]

The sign out in front of the new Swadley's says it will open on July 6th, this Saturday. Hope it is a good one.

[SoonerBoy18]

El Reno is desperately crying for a Chick Fil A / Long Johns, Waffle House, etc.. =( McDonalds and Braums is the only thing going for us =(

[Snowman]

Chick Fil A seems to follow behind wherever Targets go, at least in our metro. Given the distrabution of stores though, it seems like it is probably just a question of how long till they put ones in Mustang and El Reno

[MWCGuy]

I can't see Target building in Mustang or El Reno anytime soon. Target tends to build in areas where middle class incomes are strong. Their customer is the person and family that avoids Walmart like they plague and I cannot see very many people in those areas stepping away from the super centers in those cities.

My wife was an avid Walmart shopper until she met me. Now we spend more money at Target. She's finally seeing it's worth paying a little more for better quality products, cleaner stores and more product choices instead of the cheap stuff and the bulk items Walmart has always focused on. Now that we have a little one she loves Target even more. Target's baby section is bigger with more products and more than just the basics.

[Snowman]

At the rate OKC near Mustang has been growing it probably have one in a few years, I have no idea about El Reno's growth but it would be the next most likely location on the west side and some of the stores there are expected to draw people from the smaller towns west of the metro.

[OKCNDN]

I tried Swadley's in El Reno this weekend. I have to say it was much better than I expected. Not that I was expecting a bad experience, it was just better than what I thought it was going to be. Maybe it is from having eaten at RibCrib in Yukon and being completely underwhelmed that I thought this bbq place would be much the same.

We got a family platter and while the amount wasn't overwhelming we received more than RibCrib gave us. It was $10 dollars cheaper as well. Ours even included Texas Toast which RibCrib doesn't include. Portions were good size. Hot links weren't as good as at RibCrib though but the chicken was definitely better. At RibCrib it seems the chicken in their family platter is always the same size from visit to visit and I think it might be packaged (not really though just that the chicken being the same size each time puts that thought in my head). There is a drive-thru too. Plenty of parking. As expected the place was very busy probably due to being new. Fries need a little work. BBQ beef was better.

Overall I think El Reno got the better of this deal than Yukon. Swadley's is better on some items, not as good on others but is definitely cheaper.

And the Burger King on Country Club has definitely improved their service. The drive-thru is much faster. I think they got rid of that redneck lady manager they had and there is a black lady managing now. Or maybe she is shift sup when I have gone thru recently. Three vehicles were in line and previously that would have been 9-10 minutes on a good day for sure. I was out of there in four. And it wasn't just once. Times have definitely improved.

Just wish the Braum's would hurry up and get built. A little tired of seeing hitchhikers and bums on that lot. And it would mean a Chelino's in El Reno!

[sgt. pepper]

Does El Reno already have a Braums? and why would a new Braums mean a Chelino's?

[OKCNDN]

Does El Reno already have a Braums? and why would a new Braums mean a Chelino's?

Yes El Reno has a Braum's. Chezlino's is set to move into Braum's old locale when the new Braum's is built.

[onthestrip]

Where are they building a new braums in El Reno?

[OKCNDN]

Where are they building a new braums in El Reno?

East of the Wal-Mart gas pumps.

[stick47]

One thing I do not like about Braums is not having nutrition information available for their menu items. If they want my continued business I think it's time for them to step up.