Indiana Center

[Pete]

This is the very large property (25,762 square feet) on the northeast corner of NW 16th & Indiana that was bought by Steve Mason on 5/7/14 for $2.2 million.

The largest tenant -- Plaza Discount Store at 9,500 square feet -- is being cut down to about 3,000 SF and the remainder split into 2 bays for lease. The discount store is being completely remodeled and re-merchandised with new owners.

Although there hasn't been any designs submitted as of yet, there will be a remodel to the facade of the just the space that is being redone. The other tenants all have pretty nice facades / storefronts.

18th Street Studios | Chiltepes | Classen School | Empire Slice House | Homeland | Indiana Center | The Mule | Oak & Ore | Saints | Sunbeam

Tenants

• Bad Granny's
• The Parish
• District House
• Urban Wineworks
• Plaza Discount Store
• Dig It

[Pete]

Yet another project in the Plaza District.

Will be interesting to see who leases to the two new bays created by the contraction and remodel of the Plaza Discount Store.

[EBAH]

Now, Don't get me wrong, I certainly see this as good news, and Steve Mason has a great track record for this kind of thing. HOWEVER, the only bummer about this project, as I see it, is the dividing of the Plaza Discount Store. Now, I HATE THAT STORE, it's simply horrible, however, the space provides an interesting place where I've really always thought a small mid-higher end grocery could be a real winner. I live on 16th St, just West of the Plaza, and have always dreamed of a decent place to stop in and buy groceries on my way home. The only options we really have are Wal Mart Neighborhood Market, Eley's (the option I usually go for in a convenience situation), or the awful Homeland on 18th. Anyway, either way this should be a winner of a project and the last big key to making the Plaza District feel complete. I'm hoping that the new Plaza Discount Store is something kind of like a Famima in LA, some kind of convenience store+ that serves the neighborhood very well, filling gaps in local availability.

[warreng88]

An e-mail was sent out asking what three things people would like to see in a "Variety Store" as they want to figure out what people want and supply it. I am happy to see this store dial it down and you know there will at the very least be a new store front there. I think an All About Tea would do well there and a hipster book shop. Not sure what would go in to the last one but both could have big patios.

[onthestrip]

Now, Don't get me wrong, I certainly see this as good news, and Steve Mason has a great track record for this kind of thing. HOWEVER, the only bummer about this project, as I see it, is the dividing of the Plaza Discount Store. Now, I HATE THAT STORE, it's simply horrible, however, the space provides an interesting place where I've really always thought a small mid-higher end grocery could be a real winner. I live on 16th St, just West of the Plaza, and have always dreamed of a decent place to stop in and buy groceries on my way home. The only options we really have are Wal Mart Neighborhood Market, Eley's (the option I usually go for in a convenience situation), or the awful Homeland on 18th. Anyway, either way this should be a winner of a project and the last big key to making the Plaza District feel complete. I'm hoping that the new Plaza Discount Store is something kind of like a Famima in LA, some kind of convenience store+ that serves the neighborhood very well, filling gaps in local availability.

Youre forgetting the BuyForLess on 23rd and Penn. Sure, its not the nicest and cleanest looking place but by far has the most and best produce selection of the area. I have completely stopped going to Walmart neighborhood market as they always seemed to be out of many produce items. The only thing about Buyforless is you want to avoid it on the 1st and 15th of the month.

[dankrutka]

Something like the Phoenix in Tulsa or the Vagabond in Wichita would be great here. A coffee place that also sells alcohol and sandwiches and such. It's a great model because it can attract people from 7am to 2am and provide a lot of vitality to an area.

[Pete]

Something like the Phoenix in Tulsa or the Vagabond in Wichita would be great here. A coffee place that also sells alcohol and sandwiches and such. It's a great model because it can attract people from 7am to 2am and provide a lot of vitality to an area.

District House almost completely fits that description although they aren't open quite that late.

[dankrutka]

District House almost completely fits that description although they aren't open quite that late.

Well... I haven't been so I guess I need to make a stop there the next time I'm in town.

[Urbanized]

Pete's right about District House having a similar feel to The Vagabond (though larger and church-affiliated). The Vagabond is much more bar-y, if that makes any sense. Love that place.

[Plutonic Panda]

Stretching and dollars in the Plaza District: Yoga studio among tenants slated for renovated discount store building | The Journal Record

[DoctorTaco]

Stretching and dollars in the Plaza District: Yoga studio among tenants slated for renovated discount store building | The Journal Record

Can you give synopsis?

[Plutonic Panda]

Unfortunately, I still have yet to get a subscription. I know as much as you know right now. Hopefully someone that does have access will post it or give a summary.

[Pete]

OKLAHOMA CITY – One of the city’s premier arts districts will soon have a new look and tenants on its northern side.

Sweet Sixteenth LLC started renovation of the Plaza District’s Discount Dollar store and will update the exterior of the block from Dig It, 1739 NW 16th St., to Bad Granny’s Bazaar, 1759 NW 16th St. The Plaza District is on NW 16th Street from N. Marion Avenue to N. Indiana Avenue.

Sweet Sixteenth purchased the 29,000-square-foot area for $2.2 million and will invest $950,000 in renovations, including bringing six to eight new tenants into the former dollar discount store space. One tenant will be the YogaLab studio, operated by Martha and Ted Cox, owners of Spirit House Yoga.

Another tenant, Market 16, is already in operation. The market includes items such as office supplies, but Sweet Sixteenth wants to add grocery items and is seeking a grocer partner.

The store is run by Najat and Andrew Abeid, a couple who first came to Oklahoma City as Sudanese refugees through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Decisions on the block’s renovations are being made with existing tenants in mind, Sweet Sixteenth’s Aimee Ahpeatone said.

“We consider (the tenants) stakeholders,” she said. “When you buy properties with very low rents that haven’t been updated or renovated, people could run out. But we haven’t lost anyone. That’s pretty exciting to us that we can keep all our tenants and continue to work with them.”

Sweet Sixteenth is working with Fitzsimmons Architects on an update to the block’s exterior. That change has been taken cautiously, as they want to give the area a new face without taking away from its charm. The exterior renderings are expected to be complete in the next few weeks, and façade construction will start shortly after.

Behind the buildings, Plaza artist Dylan Bradway, a co-owner of the district’s DNA Galleries, will lead a curated graffiti project in the alley. Landscaping will be added as well.
Sweet Sixteenth has plans to bring in more parking spaces to the district, with a lot behind Empire Slice House, 1734 NW 16th St.

To date, the district’s growth has been in existing commercial buildings. But those spaces are now in short supply, and the district is still growing. Ahpeatone, who is also president of the Plaza District, said the next step will likely be to purchase homes farther west on NW 16th Street, east of Pennsylvania Avenue, and use them for shops. Ultimately, the area could have a business improvement district designation.

Even if the growth doesn’t continue down NW 16th Street, Shane Hampton, fellow at the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities, said the district is spurring development in nearby neighborhoods. Muse Art and Tattoo Studio is just a few blocks from The Plaza, at 1206 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The company’s website even states it moved from southwest Oklahoma City to join the midtown movement. He said he expects vacant lots around The Plaza to soon be filled with new developments.

He commended Sweet Sixteenth for its innovative renovation of the Discount Dollar store.

“That’s a really interesting way they’re going to generate more small businesses and more activity just by changing the size of the space inside the building,” he said.

[Pete]

Here is the floorplan of how they provide to divide up the big space.

[stphntylr]

Figured I would contribute here and say that slot C has been leased to Blue Mountain Health. Its a privately owned Naturopathic practice. The owner/doctor is Meredith Blalock, ND a native of the city who has been running her practice up near Mercy for the past few years. She studied at Bastyr in Seattle.

You can find info here Blue Mountain Health

[NWOKCGuy]

Yoga Lab is open. www.yogalabokc.com