3 Bricktown restaurants close

[traxx]

I think Joe's would be great in Bricktown. No, there doesn't need to be a Sooner shop next door to it either. Joe's can just be a restaurant, it doesn't have to be partisan - and this is coming from a Sooner fan. Joe's name carries quite a bit of cache and would be perfect for the area.

We still need more retail and other things to do down there though. It's no surprise some of these are going out of business because there already are so many restaurants there. No surprise another steak house would go out of business because there's already several down there. And Fuego or whatever it was had nothing unique about it.

I know that some tried to make a go of it in retail thre, like Boone's - and it was a nice place - it just wasn't open enough and at the right times.

I also feel some of the reason for the slow down is because of Inferior Bricktown. I think alot of business owners saw what a subpar development that is and assumed that was the way Brictown was going and so opted not to go into business there.

[Easy180]

I think Al's sports bar will do pretty well in bricktown...Daquiri Zone, Coach's and the Brewery aren't exactly places I would go to watch a game

[metro]

You're right. I forgot Melting Pot unofficially announced they were moving in to the old police substation. In fact, I drove by yesterday and work was going on in the east portion of the building and they had a vinyl sign already outside saying Melting Pot coming soon. I emailed the guys from Simply Fondue as you can see from my previous email from yesterday, however no work has gone on in months and no sign is out. In fact there website doesn't even mention an OKC location anymore and Melting Pot's does.

[scotplum]

I went to Daddy Hinkles twice and I thought it was horrible. Price wise, I thought it beat MM and The Mantel but the quality comparisons weren't even close, in my opinion. Add to that poor service and an atmosphere that really didn't do much for me and I'm not shocked that it couldn't make it. I'd much rather Othello's go in at that spot anyway.

[Lauri101]

I emailed Simply Fondue this morning and got this canned response like I did several months ago:

Thanks for the e-mail. Yes, it is happening and we will be open before Christmas. There hasn't been any delays. However, our company did have to prioritize some of it's time lines and openings once we became so busy with the franchise side of our business. Unfortunately, Oklahoma City was one of the projects that got pushed to the back of the pile. I'll keep you posted on the progress and thank you for the inquiry.

If this is the best Simply Fondue can do in communication, then I vote for Melting Pot. "There hasn't been any delays" ?? "Pushed to the back of the pile" ?? Perhaps ol' Lance might want to invest in a grammer primer!

[fsusurfer]

The building has a melting pot sign in the window and major renovation is going on inside. Across the street, where simply fondue is supposed to be located, looks dead.

[fsusurfer]

sorry just pretty much repeated metros post...but simply fondues web site does still say opening soon in Oklahoma City.

[OSUFlounder]

We went to Da Boat twice. First time is was awful service, honestly the worst I've ever had at a restaurant but the food was great! Second time it was bad service again and the my boyfriend's food was cold. Although I liked the idea, I wish they had implemented it better.

[metro]

sorry just pretty much repeated metros post...but simply fondues web site does still say opening soon in Oklahoma City.

No prob. Anyhow when I checked it, it didn't mention OKC anywhere, I searched forever on it for 2 days. After my 4th round of emails, perhaps they decided to update it.

[traxx]

What's the big deal about Simply Fondue? I've never been to one, can someone please explain? It seems we've got alot of chains in the city, we don't need anymore. We need more original restaurants, especially in downtown. You know, stuff that you can't get anywhere else, that people will come here to eat at.

[Easy180]

Traxx...The Melting Pot is good stuff....Their cheese and chocolate fondues are excellent and there is nothing like steak and shrimp cooked in their stocks or broths...Everything we have ever had was excellent


Doesn't feel like a chain at all and their service is top notch...Very unique dining experience

[metro]

And besides all that, OKC currently does not have any fondue restaurant at the present time, it will offer something different and unique. Although I dislike chains too, Bricktown needs something besides burgers, steaks, Mexican or Italian

[Karried]

LOL

Lauri101, that was exactly what I was thinking when I read that email response!

Fondue sounds wonderful right now with this cool weather.. melted cheese and crusty french bread...mmmmm I'm hungry.

[OKCNDN]

I hate to say this but.................I think a low-priced ($4.00-6.00) fast-food restaurant would do big-time business in the Del Fuego location. I have heard many groups say something similar to "Is Sonic all there is for those that don't want a sit-down restaurant meal in Bricktown?".

I worked at Sonic HQ for 6 months and the Sonic restaurant was very busy during lunch and when I got off work at 4:00. With the movie theater right next door people would be looking for a cheap place to eat before or after their show. There just isn't someplace for people to go for a real quick bite, other than the Sonic. McD's, Wendy's, heck even Del Rancho would do great there I think.

But I know that's not what people are looking for in Bricktown.

Bricktown needs more foottraffic. That would of helped the other restaurants survive.

The art museum, Native American museum or Oklahoma History museum would have been a great addition to bricktown, as far as adding foottraffic.

[bandnerd]

You know, I have honestly never had fondue. I think anything dipped in cheese is divine. Even cheese dipped in cheese lol.

I'd love to go to the Melting Pot once it's been open awhile, maybe let some of the hub-bub calm down.

As for a fast food restaurant...maybe we could stick to something local instead of a national chain? I mean, how many more Taco Bells or Subways do we really need? But a classy faster place might go well. But the Noodles place was pretty fast, too...I liked their mac and cheese, was sad to see it go. Never tried Rio.

[John]

Not to thread jack, but speaking of fast food in (near) Bricktown... a Subway would be a good fit in one of the loading docks of the old train station, if they ever get that done.

I saw a guy painting some trim work today on top of the balcony, maybe that is a sign of progress?

Also, a good fit for the old Nothing but Noodles/Rio del Fuego location (besides an obvious Chipotle), would be a Camille's Sidewalk Cafe. Good food, pretty quick, & inexpensive.

[y_h]

I hate to say this but.................I think a low-priced ($4.00-6.00) fast-food restaurant would do big-time business in the Del Fuego location.

Don't hate to say it . . . it happens to be true. Any successful district like Bricktown aspires to be needs a variety of food service options. You certainly want to have your sit-down anchors (with a range of casual and upscale options there as well) but you also want to have the fast food/fast casual option as well. Heck, a few street food vendors (especially ethnic street food) would also be helpful. That broadens the district's appeal greatly. It works well on San Francisco's Pier 39, the Universal Citywalk in LA and the relatively new shopping/entertainment district in Tampa (out by the airport - its name escapes me for the moment).

[traxx]

I can see the point of a fondue place adding something totally different to OKC. But the arguement that we need one because we currently don't have one is a double edged sword. We shoudln't want something just because every other city has it, then we become an also ran. Heck, if they had restaurants that served fried turds, should we put in one of those because OKC currently doesn't have one?

Camille's is a good idea for the spot next to Sonic, however it is not necessarily inexpensive.

And as much as I like local businesses investing in Oklahoma, I'm upset at Sonic because I think that restaurant has such a crappy deco. I'm sure it does a great lunch time business because it's quick and cheap, but they could have made the inside look a little cooler. It's obvious they don't know how to do sit down restaurants.

[Easy180]

traxx...my argument is OKC doesn't have a fondue restaurant...fondue is good so I want one here

I am open to any restaurant coming in that we currently don't have in the metro area...Even fried turds

The three businesses that just closed were locals and weren't patronized evidently so it's not bad sprinkling in successful chains in bricktown...Still plenty of room

[ChristianConservative]

Simply Fondue should do well. Fondue is the in thing right now.

[metro]

I thought that Brewer announced Camille's Sidewalk Cafe already for the train station depot (as someone said if that ever opens, a Cingular was also announced there)

[John]

I thought that Brewer announced Camille's Sidewalk Cafe already for the train station depot (as someone said if that ever opens, a Cingular was also announced there)

You're right, I just don't know if that thing will ever get off the ground...

March of '07 would be a good target date for a lot of 'proposed' items.

[BDP]

I think a low-priced ($4.00-6.00) fast-food restaurant would do big-time business in the Del Fuego location.

What about a Johnnie's Express? I know many of our expatriates crave it and put it high on their list of "need to do's" when back in town and you pretty much have to go to the boonies to get it. As for national chains, Johnnie Rocket's always seem to do well in places like lower bricktown. I figure that Sonic probably has a non-compete clause in their lease, so a real burger joint probably won't happen. I like the cafe/deli ideas, though.

Even though Del Fuego failed and there is plenty of Mexican in bricktown, I think a real burrito place would be good, like a Chipotle, La Salsa, Baja Fresh, etc. I know I'd eat there a lot.

I think a sub place would work as well, but I'd like to see a real sub place and not just another meatless Subway.

I think another good idea would be a NY style pizza by the slice place. There's a great one on May called Falcone's run by a guy who grew up in NY's Little Italy. It seems to be doing well, maybe someone could suggest it to him... He also has some Italian deli items and sandwiches.

I'd rather not see fast food downtown, either, but let's face it, that's the direction lower brick town has taken and Sonic is already there, so it wouldn't be the first time.

[OKCNDN]

Johnnie's isn't the "cheap" restaurant I was thinking of.

Johnnie's is expensive especially when you recall that it's a fast-food burger joint. $7-9 bucks a meal. The other night three of us stopped there and it nearly $30 for just us three!!!

I was thinking something cheap ($4-6).

There are many people (elderly, movie-goer's, school children on a field trip, large family's, etc.) that can't afford $7 bucks a meal. Something cheap would do real good. That's why Sonic does good business.

Either way that locale is great. You can get people from the movie's, baseball fans, Hornets fans to come in and eat. You can get more than just people who come in specifically to eat.

[Luke]

Dairy Queen