Fordson Hotel (formerly 21c Museum Hotel)

[HOT ROD]

agreed!

Hopefully First National will come through with that in it's tower floors. I can just imagine it being a Conrad by Hilton or even a Ritz Carlton.

[Uptowner]

Had dinner this weekend. Art space is serious cool and the restaurant / bar space is raising the bar for OKC yet again. The food production and service is severlery overwhelmed. Bunch of 20 something "chefs" on the line just standing around with 1 hour ticket times acting laisse faire and the servers are like deer in headlights. Seriously, seriously cool space though. And to the previous poster, the mist shuts off after dark. It was high humidity but it misted just fine. My straightening iron using wife used the side entrance into the hotel / museum.

[Jeepnokc]

Has anyone seen the lunch menu? It isn't available online yet. Curious to offerings and prices. Looking at $15 burger on bar menu leads me to believe that it will be to expensive for most of the average employees in that area as far a regular lunch rotation place. However, may be a nice place to take employees out to lunch for special occasions

[pickles]

Had dinner this weekend. Art space is serious cool and the restaurant / bar space is raising the bar for OKC yet again. The food production and service is severlery overwhelmed. Bunch of 20 something "chefs" on the line just standing around with 1 hour ticket times acting laisse faire and the servers are like deer in headlights. Seriously, seriously cool space though. And to the previous poster, the mist shuts off after dark. It was high humidity but it misted just fine. My straightening iron using wife used the side entrance into the hotel / museum.

Super difficult to find adequate personnel in this industry right now in okc. Concepts are outpacing the existing talent pool. A lot of the people getting picked up by places like this don't have exposure to good food and quality service environments and have no concept of the level of service and professionalism expected at a place like this.

[Pete]

^

Right, and we all saw this coming miles away.

Probably over a hundred new restaurants and bars have opened in just the last couple of years and it's not like people are moving to OKC to wait tables and tend bar.

Lots of poaching of good staff but still not nearly enough experienced people to go around.

[skanaly]

I went to go look at it yesterday and got a tour of a few of the different rooms. All the pictures I got are in Steve's video so I won't post any. But I wanted to say it something you have to see in person, even the bathroom is amazing. Also, the museum is open 24/7 , I think this hotel is the best in OKC. I'm a huge fan of Aloft and Colcord and of course the Skirvin but this hotel is something special. Everyone has to go check it out.

[aDark]

Does anyone know if the bar and patio are open to the public yet? I'd like to arrange a work happy hour on the patio but I haven't seen it in operation. Thanks all

[Pete]

Does anyone know if the bar and patio are open to the public yet? I'd like to arrange a work happy hour on the patio but I haven't seen it in operation. Thanks all

They had said that although it's largely finished, it wouldn't open until sometime in the summer.

My guess is they don't want to stretch their waitstaff until they are a bit more seasoned.

[dankrutka]

I stopped by here last night with a guest visiting OKC for the first time, and everyone was really impressed. The concept is unique, classy, and well executed. I was really impressed. I recommend grabbing a drink from the bar and just taking in all the art. It's a great way to spend 30-60 minutes.

[positano]

Anyone have recent or follow-up reviews on the restaurant?

[sroberts24]

Mary Eddy's was excellent. Extremely busy, but great service. Red Snapper and rotisserie chicken are fantastic. The staff also brings around the purple penguin for the table to take pictures with. The bar is large and has a great vibe.

After dinner we checked out the museum, which is top notch. Also open 24hr and they welcome the late nighters just leaving some of the local watering holes.

All around great experience can't wait to go back!

[Pete]

I know this term gets thrown around a lot, but Mary Eddy and 21c are truly "big city"; you certainly feel it every time you go in there.

I can't imagine how different that area is going to feel with the Residences and Jones Assembly.

[sroberts24]

Was thinking the exact same thing... The density alone will add to the atmosphere in the restaurant.

The skyline view from the penthouse is one of the best in the city. Can also see the wheeler park ferris wheel from west side on penthouse.

This entire area is going to be so much fun in the years to come. Now if we can just get that jail out of there.

[Pete]

^

I'm still really upset that 21c didn't use the rooftop for a bar so the whole town could enjoy it.

Especially since they prominently feature rooftop bars at several of their other locations. Incredibly big missed opportunity IMO.

[sroberts24]

Think it is set up in such a way it wouldn't be too difficult to convert it. But def agree it would be top 3 rooftop bars in the city quite possibly the best.

[Pete]

I just don't understand the thinking of making it a private suite as opposed to a space for the whole city to enjoy.

I was really upset when I first saw the plans because that little building up there is tailor made for a rooftop bar and that is a big part of the 21c's. It's like they went out of their way not to do it for some reason. Very strange.

[sroberts24]

It is a very strange setup as well. It is almost 2 private rooms with a common area.

[positano]

Can you give me an idea what the atmosphere is like? I know that is subjective, and likely dictated by day and time, but where would it fall on the spectrum of "loud and fun" versus "quiet and reserved"?

[dankrutka]

Can you give me an idea what the atmosphere is like? I know that is subjective, and likely dictated by day and time, but where would it fall on the spectrum of "loud and fun" versus "quiet and reserved"?

In one word, classy. It's just got an upscale, but relaxed, feel.

[turnpup]

In one word, classy. It's just got an upscale, but relaxed, feel.

Agree. We went last Sunday about noon to look at the art. At that time, there were not very many people there. Everyone on their staff was friendly. The restaurant is beautiful. We're looking forward to going back for a meal.

We had friends with us from Texas. They were really impressed. It made us so proud of our city.

[positano]

Great. Thank you for the responses.

[Pete]

Agree. We went last Sunday about noon to look at the art. At that time, there were not very many people there. Everyone on their staff was friendly. The restaurant is beautiful. We're looking forward to going back for a meal.

We had friends with us from Texas. They were really impressed. It made us so proud of our city.

This makes me happy.

[Bellaboo]

Son and daughter in law from Seattle went when they were here over the fourth. They thought it was great.

[shawnw]

Do we know how it's doing, business wise? Occupancy and such?

[mkjeeves]

I just don't understand the thinking of making it a private suite as opposed to a space for the whole city to enjoy.

I was really upset when I first saw the plans because that little building up there is tailor made for a rooftop bar and that is a big part of the 21c's. It's like they went out of their way not to do it for some reason. Very strange.

It's not that great of a space, IMO. The parapet wall to the north is over head-height and is really tall to the east, so the skyline is cut off above the ground horizon plane. The wall is shorter looking south and there is a view, but most of the existing windows didn't face that way. They tried to make the most out of the structure they had to work with, two adjacent shells with somewhat low headroom and different floor levels. They raised one about two feet to match the other and they built a deck around it which elevates people a couple of feet and helps with the view but it still isn't anything spectacular. There is a penthouse boiler room on the roof to the east and it is surrounded by mechanical equipment, a cooling tower, HVAC units. If I paid premium price for that space, I personally would be disappointed. (Other than the fact it's much larger than a regular hotel room and has a large deck.)

There is a great view out of the 4th floor east suites, especially the NE corner, and actually probably better views out the windows of the bar and restaurant at street level than from the roof. Plus better access.