Bricktown Coney & Pub opening soon!

[BailJumper]

If i take you at your word then while you've been lurking for so many months here, the only topic that moved you to actually register and post was the one regarding hot dogs? Wow, that's really deep.

Aren't you friendly!

Not really.

[AFCM]

Xusnsailor, welcome to okctalk. One thing you'll learn about the folks on this board, is although it may seem like it, we're not pessimists. In fact, we're optimists who truly believe in OKC. When we critique something in particular, we tend to have high expectations as a result of this optimism and too often, we're disappointed, especially when a development or business doesn't even come close to the hype it generated.

You see, I think most of the people on the forums have high expectations but are pretty reasonable. I want nothing but 10's to go up in Oklahoma City, but I'm a realist so I'll settle for sevens and depending on the circumstances, maybe a six. However, it seems like Oklahoma City keeps getting threes and four. Granted, what we're getting is better than what we had ten years ago, but we know Oklahoma City's potential and we've seen subpar developments come one after another. Over time, we start thinking of future projects cautiously optimistic. We only want what's best for OKC and Bricktown, but we're not going to let the hype of a particular business blind us into not seeing it's faults. I hope BPC can stay, but I've seen a lot of establishments dry up in Bricktown. I will say that BPC didn't get off to a great start.

Again. Welcome to the board.

[xusnsailor]

Thanks for the welcome!! I understand your fervor for wanting only the best of businesses or OKC. I want the same. I guess I didn't go to the place with as high expectations as others. I do agree that it didn't get off to such a great start. What I do know is that I enjoy the place, and wanted to give a different view than what was already on here.

[metro]

I'm going to have to go with BailJumper and AFCM. You joining this site and making your first post about hot dogs is kind of sketchy in regards to this topic. We're realists. Too often a time, when any business is criticized on here one or a few people join the site, defend the business, and then disappear. Kind of makes you wonder if they aren't the owners or have some sort of personal tie to that business. I'm not sure what type of "personal vendetta" any of us here who don't even know the owners would have something personal against a hot dog stand??

BPC got off to a horrible start and didn't live up to the hype as AFCM put it. It's a hot dog stand and bar for crying out loud, they need all the help they can get, especially in a make or break area like Bricktown. Word of mouth is everything for places like this. To have wish washy hours simply doesn't cut it for downtowners who run a tight schedule. I ate there last week after supposively the "kinks" are now worked out. Dena was very friendly, however she kept throwing excuses out. Oh our hours vary because we were working on our sign out front or putting up flyers, etc. That is stuff that should be done when the business is not open. Call me crazy but there was a sign out before the restaurant even opened to the public. I'd love to see several more of these small alleyway restaurants in the downtown area, but they're going to have to realize it can't be a hobby. As AFCM said well, we shoot for 10's and hope we get a 7 or 8 at least. So far, this place has been about a 4 or 5. I will give them the fact their hotdogs are pretty tasty, however they only have one coney to choose from. The rest of the menu is fries, cheese fries, etc.

[BailJumper]

Okay, so I gave this place another shot this week and took the wife and a co-worker.

First, the decor is great. I love a mish-mash of garage sale leftovers, 'antiques,' and signage. The small square footage and narrow layout are very unique to Bricktown. I truly wish we had an entire row of such places - reminds me of NYC.

Personally, I do not think a few tables and bar stools facing the wall makes for a good pub atmosphere, but we'll see.

The bar upstairs, while tiny seemed fun. Maybe it's just me, but I'd hate to know what all is embedded in that shag rug couch.

Overall I'd give the decor, layout and atmosphere a 7/10.

On to the menu... This is where the place falls flat. While the atmosphere my be unique the menu can be found in virtually any snack bar downtown and for alot less money.

As stated before, they have one style of hotdog and it's not even a foot long. Your basic tiny weiner on a bun with chili, cheese and onions. At least the cheese was shredded and not nacho cheese goop.

They offer your basic fried this and that (fries, tamales, pickles, etc.) and stuffed olives.

We did dogs, fried pickles, fries and a tamale.

The owner bragged about his chili he claims to have been working on for over a year. While good, it was nothing to brag about.

Overall the hot dog was tasty, but it's gonna take two to fill up most people and at nearly $3 each is overpriced. You can easily pay $7-$10 per lunch. At that price Bricktown offers many more satisfying choices.

You can go to Sonic and get a very tasty footlong and tots for $2.99. Or, go a few more blocks to Coney Island and get a fantastic dog for about $1.30. Also, if you've never had the dog at Sweets and Eats, you should try it and even it is cheaper than Bricktown Coney.

The fried pickles were very tasty but seemed to come frozen from some food supplier.

The tamale was a joke. I've had better and cheaper from 7-11. We couldn't even figure out why it was on the menu.

The fries were again nothing special and obviously frozen.

Overall I'd rate the food a 5/10 and the value for the money a 4/10.

We may stop in after the omelette party at the Coca Cola Center just to see if they are attracting a night crowd.

Lastly, lets talk marketing; In a nutshell, this place doesn't even exist. They own a domain name This Web site coming soon, but they've yet to even post anything. Downtown OKC spelled their domain name wrong. I don't fault DTOKC, I fault the Coney owners for not carefully monitoring their Internet presence.

Again, a year at best if this places doesn't make some changes and even at that I predict it never makes a profit.

One piece of advice, sell the decor with the place as someone with some real vision can make it very cool! Personally, I'd love to see a row of these turned into shotgun condos with faux store fronts!

[fsusurfer]

I am not sure this place will ever make a lot of money, but I have a feeling during baseball season, they will draw a pretty good crowd.

[BailJumper]

I'd take that bet. Part of thew whole 'baseball experience' is sitting down IN THE STANDS with a cold beer, some hot peanuts and a coney or slice of pizza.

We go to games all the time and can't think of a single time we stopped to eat before the game. Besides, at $3.00 a dog you can pay that inside.

[fsusurfer]

I live downtown, I go to games all the time. I dont usually eat inside the stadium. We always go somewhere before the game to eat and get liquored up before going inside the game and paying 6 dollars a beer (except on Thursday). The late night summer crowd will most likley give this place some business. I've been by several times around 1am on the weekends and there are always people inside drinking. This place is going to be more of a late night attraction than a eating establishment.

[Nixon7]

Did this place close down? Lights were off last night..

[Lauri101]

See post # 36 - looks like I missed it by a week or so!

[BailJumper]

Wouldn't surprise me. Except for those who fail to acknowledge reality, many of us were predicting a short lifespan for that place.

But maybe it is like the Boone General Store and will open and close randomly until the lifesupport is turned off (aka, the bank account runs dry).

[diesel]

I would have to say that the best hotdogs found in OKC, can be found at Dawg House on May & NW 75th.. Its a cyber cafe/hot dog cafe... Try their footlong hotdogs... AMAZING!!