Century Center

[BrettM2]

Short sighted.

How is that short sighted? We're getting an empty building restored. If adding parking would have driven the price too high to renovate, then too bad about the additional levels.

[Plutonic Panda]

It would've been cooler if they would've demoed the Century Center and built new. Could've done like a 10-30 tower with retail ground, parking 2-10 NewsOk takes up however many stories and leases the rest. Could have a new rooftop bar as well. Could have bigger and better video screens wrapping the entire building ....that would've been a lot better.

[soonerliberal]

It would've been cooler if they would've demoed the Century Center and built new. Could've done like a 10-30 tower with retail ground, parking 2-10 NewsOk takes up however many stories and leases the rest. Could have a new rooftop bar as well. Could have bigger and better video screens wrapping the entire building ....that would've been a lot better.

$$$$$$.

Plus there are plenty of parking lots in the periphery of downtown that could be repurposed for what you are talking about. This seems like a solid turnaround for a long time underutilized space. Not that I'm a huge fan of their work (outside of a few exceptions), but props to The Oklahoman for taking is on.

[Bullbear]

$$$$$$.

Plus there are plenty of parking lots in the periphery of downtown that could be repurposed for what you are talking about. This seems like a solid turnaround for a long time underutilized space. Not that I'm a huge fan of their work (outside of a few exceptions), but props to The Oklahoman for taking is on.

agreed.. everything can't be demolished and turned into a 10-30 story tower it just isn't how things work. Are they great to have?.. sure. but sometimes you have to take the progress as it comes. this is a great project and is going to give so much life to a otherwise "BLOCK" of concrete that contributed nothing to the aesthetic of downtown. I am anxious to see how the project turns out.

[Rover]

By bringing employees downtown without adding more parking, perhaps it increases demand for structured parking to be built on one of the gazillion empty lots/surface parking areas. To me, that would be a good thing. So, adding parking on top isn't necessarily that important at this site.

[HOT ROD]

It would've been cooler if they would've demoed the Century Center and built new. Could've done like a 10-30 tower with retail ground, parking 2-10 NewsOk takes up however many stories and leases the rest. Could have a new rooftop bar as well. Could have bigger and better video screens wrapping the entire building ....that would've been a lot better.

EXACTLY, we're so quick to tear down other buildings to build new - I don't see what's so special about Century Centre.

[HOT ROD]

Rover, very good point.

However, we need more parking in the core of the CBD and there aren't any developable sites left.

[Plutonic Panda]

EXACTLY, we're so quick to tear down other buildings to build new - I don't see what's so special about Century Centre.

+1

[Pete]

Just learned that the Mahogany in this project will almost certainly not serve lunch.

Also, there are no plans for a patio.

[Bullbear]

Just learned that the Mahogany in this project will almost certainly not serve lunch.

Also, there are no plans for a patio.

Missed opportunity x2

[Of Sound Mind]

Just learned that the Mahogany in this project will almost certainly not serve lunch.

Also, there are no plans for a patio.

Missed opportunity x2

Agree, especially for that location. The bulk of your weekly business opportunities would be before dinner.

[Pete]

I'm sure their thoughts about lunch are the same at RED Prime: you open at 11:30, do 2 hours of business and then what? Close and reopen again at 5?

The dinner-only model seems to have worked well at RED.

I'm sure this location will also feature some nice happy hour drinks / apps.

[Bullbear]

I'm sure their thoughts about lunch are the same at RED Prime: you open at 11:30, do 2 hours of business and then what? Close and reopen again at 5?

The dinner-only model seems to have worked well at RED.

I'm sure this location will also feature some nice happy hour drinks / apps.

it does work but lunch could work to. that is not different than most places, they have a big lunch rush then usually send marjority of staff home and have another shift later, sprlits are pretty common. but I am sure they will do fine would just be nice to have another lunch option there.

[Pete]

^

They would also have to develop a completely new menu as well.

I'm sure if they think the demand is there they will consider it but it makes sense for them to start this way.

[HOT ROD]

So, now it will be dead space most of the day? Surely s Vast improvement over what's there today and a world class selection of retail.

[BoulderSooner]

Agree, especially for that location. The bulk of your weekly business opportunities would be before dinner.

Not really. They will have tons of weeknight corp business

[Pete]

You can argue that perhaps this is not the best use for a highly visible and active corner, especially one that faces the park and has ample room for a patio.

But if you lease to Mahogany, you pretty much know what you are going to get and while we'd all like to see more hours, you can't really blame them for wanting to stick with a successful business model.

[HOT ROD]

The thing about downtown is you adapt to the market or die. Since downtown's population is the biggest between 8-5 M-F, then I'd expect businesses to be open during, near those times to capitalize on the captive market opportunity that exists. This is where Century and Mahogany fail here. What works in the suburbs doesn't necessarily mean it will also in downtown.

Add to that, you're connected to the largest single site hotel in the city and only have evening hours? Fail again.

Add to that, you're in downtown's 'newest' and most visible complex? Monster fail.

Finally, the argument that Red has limited hours simply does not aptly here to Century and Mahogany. For one, Red is in a league of its own as the top steak destination for the city (if not the entire state). Can't say that for Mahogany. Again, Red is a destination in trendy Aalley so you'd expect to pay prime dollar for a night out for dinner and the product and execution is second to none. Mahogany? Not so much since it's in the middle of the CBD next to the cc, park, and a large hotel.

Finally, the rent at Century has to be higher than that at Red's location, so how do they plan to make a living working boutique hours considering this ain't NYC and their product isn't even one of the best worth the premium price point? My take, this will be a massive fail unless 1) they revise business hours immediately to take advantage of the downtown audience and 2) if they hire a big name int'l chef who just by that makes them a 'destination' that could even try to compete with Red, rather than just another steak joint. If neither of these are met, then I expect a rather quick turnover at that location with somebody more appropriate taking it on with sure success.

Again, my thoughts.

[catch22]

I don't mind the hours TOO much, and here's why:

The CBD shuts down at 530pm. It's true, other than the Myriad Gardens. Other districts are alive though. This will provide life inside the CBD after the CBD shuts down.

Even in big cities, there are dinner only restaurants.

I do agree it's a missed opportunity for this specific location, but the concept itself is not a missed opportunity. The concept itself is something the CBD needs, but I would say it's just in the wrong building. I think this location needs a more casual dining space with a patio that serves lunch.

Concept is good, but the location is a missed opportunity.

[PhiAlpha]

I don't mind the hours TOO much, and here's why:

The CBD shuts down at 530pm. It's true, other than the Myriad Gardens. Other districts are alive though. This will provide life inside the CBD after the CBD shuts down.

Even in big cities, there are dinner only restaurants.

I do agree it's a missed opportunity for this specific location, but the concept itself is not a missed opportunity. The concept itself is something the CBD needs, but I would say it's just in the wrong building. I think this location needs a more casual dining space with a patio that serves lunch.

Concept is good, but the location is a missed opportunity.

I think the bigger missed opportunity is not adding a patio to this. They have a fairly large outdoor area to work with and if they aren't going to do it, I feel like someone else could easily make that a great patio space. The hours don't bother me as much, but I think eventually they should have a lunch menu.


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[Teo9969]

I hope they at least create the ability to add a patio later on when they realize how silly they are being by not adding one.

[kevinpate]

If they are going to be a dinner only, higher end, steak house, a casual patio isn't a great fit for that model. And a dead all day patio sends the wrong message out anyway.

[Plutonic Panda]

Not every place needs to have a patio. I think it'll do fine.

[Pete]

They are now planning to do two drive cut-outs, one along Robinson and one on Sheridan.

Also, they will be relocating sculptures from the old OPUBCO HQ to the northwest corner:

[OklahomaNick]

I thought that the original design was going to extend the edge of the building to meet the current sidewalk.
It looks like with the renderings of the driveway cut-ins that this is not the case.