FlashBack RetroPub

[Chadanth]

Hey guys, thanks for checking in and asking about our progress. We are still looking for a new location, our biggest hurdle has been finding a location where we the owner is ok with and ABC3 Permit and is also within the requirements of that permit (300 ft from a school, church or day care) believe it or not it's easier said than done.

What are the hurdles for Automobile Alley? Have lease rates gone too high, or is it permitting?

[JRod1980]

Getting an ABC3 permit is the biggest hurdle, even if you meet all the requirements you still have to go before the Planning Commission. Once you get their blessings you the have to go before the City Council and get their blessings. The entire process takes about 3 months from start to finish.

[harp23]

Take over the VZD's space and put the machines upstairs. The people down below can listen to music and talk and any noise from the machines will be upstairs.

[JRod1980]

Western Ave is a great district, but it's not one we are looking at for this concept.

[PhiAlpha]

Western Ave is a great district, but it's not one we are looking at for this concept.

I'm sure you all have looked into it, but have you thought about 603 NW 23rd? With all the windows facing dewey it would seem like a great location to get a lot of exposure (and all those arcade games would look really cool there at night). Someone mentioned that the new ownership wanted a bar or restaurant there. It's also pretty close to your old location.

http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=603+NW+23rd

[JRod1980]

I'm sure you all have looked into it, but have you thought about 603 NW 23rd? With all the windows facing dewey it would seem like a great location to get a lot of exposure (and all those arcade games would look really cool there at night). Someone mentioned that the new ownership wanted a bar or restaurant there. It's also pretty close to your old location.

603 NW 23rd - OKCTalk

We explored every option we had available on 23rd St., but ultimately decided we wanted to be closer to downtown.

[Chadanth]

We explored every option we had available on 23rd St., but ultimately decided we wanted to be closer to downtown.

What sort of square footage are you needing? There are a few spaces along NW 10th that might work. Best of luck,regardless, I'm sure this search would have been easier a couple years ago.

[JRod1980]

What sort of square footage are you needing? There are a few spaces along NW 10th that might work. Best of luck,regardless, I'm sure this search would have been easier a couple years ago.

Between 2000-2500 square feet, with no less than a 12 ft wall height. The space also needs to have sprinklers, which I still don't understand that regulation since we are Non-Smoking and won't have a kitchen.

[Chadanth]

Between 2000-2500 square feet, with no less than a 12 ft wall height. The space also needs to have sprinklers, which I still don't understand that regulation since we are Non-Smoking and won't have a kitchen.

You need to be able to cool it off in case someone gets too hot on PacMan.

Anyway, have you looked into any of the spaces on the south side of 10th west of Broadway? Some appear to be unoccupied, but I suppose you'd be waiting again as you negotiate and build etc.

[onthestrip]

Between 2000-2500 square feet, with no less than a 12 ft wall height. The space also needs to have sprinklers, which I still don't understand that regulation since we are Non-Smoking and won't have a kitchen.

Was just looking into this issue recently, you would probably be classified as an Assembly-2, which requires a sprinkler system if A) 5,000sf or larger or B) have an occupancy of 100 or more. It can be pretty burdensome, especially if the building doesnt have it already or since you are only 2,000-2,500sf. In such a small space, occupants can get out of the space very quickly.

[kevinpate]

You could always decide okc isn't retro game friendly enough and
come on down to Norman.

[JRod1980]

You need to be able to cool it off in case someone gets too hot on PacMan.

Anyway, have you looked into any of the spaces on the south side of 10th west of Broadway? Some appear to be unoccupied, but I suppose you'd be waiting again as you negotiate and build etc.

I love that Old Gas/Repair Station on 10th & Harvey, but I can only imagine how much work that building needs. 10th street has made a new for itself over the last year or two. Whether be design or by accident, it has seen a lot of success.

[JRod1980]

You could always decide okc isn't retro game friendly enough and
come on down to Norman.

We could always look to do a FlashBack RetrPub 2 in Norman. Main Street definitely has a ton of cool buildings that I love.

[NWOKCGuy]

What about the buildings on 8th street just west of Auto Alley? I've always thought that would be a great area to have a bar district and it would compliment what's happening on 9th and feed off of AA.

[JRod1980]

You need to be able to cool it off in case someone gets too hot on PacMan.

Anyway, have you looked into any of the spaces on the south side of 10th west of Broadway? Some appear to be unoccupied, but I suppose you'd be waiting again as you negotiate and build etc.

Speaking of Pac-Man, we almost scored a very unique Super Pac-Man game a couple of months back. Only to have the seller change his mind at the last minute. But we just got a Defender and we are picking up a Missile Command this weekend.

[Urbanized]

Most of Automobile Alley is tough for ABC-3 because of the churches lining Robinson.

That sprinkler restriction is ridiculous. The same thing put a huge dent into Grandad's budget and opening timing. It is crazy that a non-smoking bar has to have tens of thousands of dollars worth of sprinklers added, but if they added a kitchen (with fire!) and became ABC-2 there would be no such requirement. It is probably because of an assumption that bars are all smoking establishments (or that they would lie and switch to smoking); but still, why not have the same requirements for places that cook (with fire!)?

[Pete]

^

I remember that about Grandad's. I actually met Greg Seal as they were just getting to open, then all the sudden they had to stop and put in a sprinkler system which almost killed them.

[bchris02]

This might be a good time for the state government to revisit allowing churches to waive the distance requirement. I don't see how anybody could oppose that especially if the law remained in effect unless the congregation in question granted permission. That way anti-alcohol churches could keep the restriction. Many of the churches along Robinson are of the non-fundamentalist persuasion and probably wouldn't have a problem with a nearby ABC-3 license.

[kevinpate]

.... we are picking up a Missile Command this weekend.

Melts. Loved me some MC back in the day.

[JRod1980]

I

Most of Automobile Alley is tough for ABC-3 because of the churches lining Robinson.

That sprinkler restriction is ridiculous. The same thing put a huge dent into Grandad's budget and opening timing. It is crazy that a non-smoking bar has to have tens of thousands of dollars worth of sprinklers added, but if they added a kitchen (with fire!) and became ABC-2 there would be no such requirement. It is probably because of an assumption that bars are all smoking establishments (or that they would lie and switch to smoking); but still, why not have the same requirements for places that cook (with fire!)?

Agreed, it is ridiculous. But that's the way the Liqour Laws go in this state and I don't foresee them changing anytime soon.

[hfry]

Have you looked at Capitol Hill at all or are the other districts just more preferred at this time?

[bradh]

What are the hurdles for Film Row? Seems like a place like this could liven up the night there.

[Chadanth]

What about 400 N Walnut?

[JRod1980]

Have you looked at Capitol Hill at all or are the other districts just more preferred at this time?

At this time we want to stay within the downtown area.

[OKCinsomniac]

What about 400 N Walnut?

Seconded! Or anywhere in Deep Deuce. Not sure what may be available. Auto Alley would be great too.

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