Live music venue proposed for NW 23rd

[Pete]

An application has been submitted to allow a live music / event venue to be established at 415 - 421 NW 23rd, which is immediately east of the Tower Theater.

I just had a long phone conversation with the proprietor who most recently managed the Granada Theater in Dallas (incredibly awesome music venue).

He has investors and the plan is to combine the three large lease spaces immediately east of Tower Theater into about 17,500 square feet of event / music space. To put that in perspective, Grandad's Bar just down the road is around 4,000 square feet.

If this all passes the various zoning and design committees -- which it certainly should -- the venue would feature a high-quality stage and sound and light system.

It would also be a bar, but a "music-first" place, rather than a bar with a band in the corner.

First and foremost, the ownership group will be bringing in promotion expertise and while they hope to attract a wide variety of acts, the main focus will be indie bands.


One obvious question: Why not do this in the Tower Theater? A: That was their first choice but the current owners seem content to sit on that property for the foreseeable future.


We all know that OKC is in desperate need of not only good music venues, but the promotion expertise to attract acts that routinely go to Cain's in Tulsa or even the Granada. If everything goes to plan, this will be a big step in that direction.

Marque type signage including roof and building front mounted with
changeability for announcement of upcoming shows. Signs may be lighted
including but not limited to neon and moving images.

The proposed SPUD contains two structures; the applicant does not anticipate demolition of
either structure at this time. The applicant intends to develop the site for an entertainment
venue/event space

These are the three spaces, representing about 17,500 square feet of space.

[catch22]

Awesome! Just what we need!

[Mr. Cotter]

Fantastic news!

Pete, did you get a sense for how extensive a renovation they are planning? (new façade, etc.)

[warreng88]

Any word on the name or what the cost is going to be? To make it look like one contiguous space, I would think they would need to do some extensive exterior renovation. Of course, the question everyone is going to ask, what about parking? I would guess the lot across the street from the Tower Theatre would be the most obvious place.

[DoctorTaco]

I cannot believe that the Tower Theater owners shot themselves in the foot by sitting on the sidelines. A live music venue was the highest use for their property. Having a venue next door destroys the value of their property.

[warreng88]

I cannot believe that the Tower Theater owners shot themselves in the foot by sitting on the sidelines. A live music venue was the highest use for their property. Having a venue next door destroys the value of their property.

The only thing that would be better than a live music venue at the Tower Theatre would be an Alamo Draft House. It will probably end up being like the Will Rogers Theatre events center.

[Mr. Cotter]

I cannot believe that the Tower Theater owners shot themselves in the foot by sitting on the sidelines. A live music venue was the highest use for their property. Having a venue next door destroys the value of their property.

Maybe, maybe not. Music venues do well in clusters, rather than isolation. Granada is the best venue on lower Greenville, but it's not the only one. A successful venue here could spur a redevelopment of Tower Theatre. If finding financing is really what is holding Marty back, maybe proof of concept next door will help?

[AP]

Hopefully they get rid of the horrible brown overhang.

[OKCisOK4me]

What's the square footage of the ballroom down by Crossroads Mall?

[Pete]

What's the square footage of the ballroom down by Crossroads Mall?

21,000, so slightly larger than this proposed venue.

[bchris02]

This may work out for the best. Have the music venue in this location and eventually convert the Tower Theater into an indie movie theater like Circle Cinema.

[OKCisOK4me]

21,000, so slightly larger than this proposed venue.

But this will be the largest, centrally located venue, right?

[Pete]

But this will be the largest, centrally located venue, right?

Bricktown Event Center is bigger.

It's funny that everyone talks about OKC needing something like Cain's in Tulsa, but the Bricktown Events Center is very similar, it just doesn't book the acts.


What we need is promotion and it sounds like that might be the best thing about this new project.

[soonerguru]

Bricktown Event Center is bigger.

It's funny that everyone talks about OKC needing something like Cain's in Tulsa, but the Bricktown Events Center is very similar, it just doesn't book the acts.


What we need is promotion and it sounds like that might be the best thing about this new project.

Yeah, except it pretty much sucks.

[Pete]

How so?

Cains looks cool from the outside but it's just a big open space with a stage and people standing around.

[GoThunder]

Bricktown Event Center is bigger.

It's funny that everyone talks about OKC needing something like Cain's in Tulsa, but the Bricktown Events Center is very similar, it just doesn't book the acts.


What we need is promotion and it sounds like that might be the best thing about this new project.

I have always wondered why this venue never has any good concerts. It has been sponsored by COCA-COLA and CHEVY, yet most of the good shows are at the Diamond Ballroom. The Diamond isn't bad on the inside and has fantastic parking that's free. It just looks crappy from the outside and is a little out of the way. A good venue in a emerging district mixed with new/talented promoters is exactly what we need. I saw a great show at Diamond about a month ago. There was a great crowd that night and the band was pretty taken aback by OKC's enthusiasm for them. There is quite a bit of demand for quality live shows here, and I hope this project is able to tap into that.

[soonerguru]

How so?

Cains looks cool from the outside but it's just a big open space with a stage and people standing around.

OK, that's the way most concert venues are. However, Cain's is dripping with charm, wood floors, etc. Bricktown Events Center not so much. Not to mention the godawful acoustics.

[bluedogok]

The only thing that would be better than a live music venue at the Tower Theatre would be an Alamo Draft House. It will probably end up being like the Will Rogers Theatre events center.

Alamo isn't going into old single screen theaters, they are going into former multi-screen theaters or building new multi-screen theaters.

[Pete]

OK, that's the way most concert venues are. However, Cain's is dripping with charm, wood floors, etc. Bricktown Events Center not so much. Not to mention the godawful acoustics.

Sounds very much like the Farmer's Market.


I guess my point is that there are venues, just very little in bookings.

[bluedogok]

OK, that's the way most concert venues are. However, Cain's is dripping with charm, wood floors, etc. Bricktown Events Center not so much. Not to mention the godawful acoustics.

Acoustics can be modified to something reasonable if an owner has the desire to spend the money to improve them.

[CuatrodeMayo]

IIRC, the is the former home of Design Resources owned by Michael Smith (who used to post here as Old Downtown Guy).

[Pete]

IIRC, the is the former home of Design Resources owned by Michael Smith (who used to post here as Old Downtown Guy).

No, that space is now Back Door BBQ: 315 NW 23rd.

[Mike_M]

This is really awesome to hear. I hoped one day to have the resources to open a music venue, and still may. But it sounds like the godawful Diamond Ballroom and whatever other hole in the wall venues we have will either shape up or ship out. Hopefully DCF aligns with these guys or a new set of promoters steps up to bring better acts here.

[Mike_M]

Acoustics can be modified to something reasonable if an owner has the desire to spend the money to improve them.

Anything can be improved with investment. To this point none of our venues have shown any desire to be better because they had no competition. And for the record, Cains is a great venue with amazing gear and great acoustics. If we can get a few venues here at LEAST to that standard, then maybe it'll raise the game here and actually make this a great music town. There are really incredible artists here but there's no where to play where you don't have to bring your own gear, run your own sound, and peddle your own CD's all to play for tips.

[Urbanized]

The owner of the Chevy Bricktown Event Center has publicly discussed the fact that he is making significant changes including addition of a wraparound balcony and major upgrades to the sound and acoustics. The official announcement was made a few months ago at an event announcing Chevy's official sponsoring partnership with Bricktown and with the event center. I don't believe it was covered in any media, so you won't find links. He is aware that the building is, as it sets, an event space that occasionally hosts concerts. He wants it to be a music venue, capable of hosting other events.

That said, it has hosted a number of great shows including Wilco, The White Stripes, The Killers, The Avett Brothers, Grace Potter, Derek Trucks, The Flaming Lips, Loretta Lynn, Morrissey and others. It's not without precedent for that venue to host excellent shows, and the owner would like very much to host more of them. The planned improvements should help tremendously.