Pump Bar

[Martin]

holy cow, can these guys catch a break? just wondering who's going to get hauled off to jail on this one. : P

-M

[HangryHippo]

Unfortunately plenty of owners and developers stick to that rule of thumb in this city. It really needs to come to an end.

Was just getting ready to post this. It's a bull**** way to do things. I understand the process can be onerous, but to just do it and beg forgiveness because it's easier than doing it the right way? Nah...

I'm not saying Pump Bar knowingly did this as it seems like a mistake on their part, but there's a trend in this city and it needs to be dealt with.

[TheTravellers]

A recent Gazette story (I think it was the Gazette) had interviews with city personnel that said they know how horrible the rules are and they're taking steps to make the mural process less painful and faster, taking input from people, etc. Can't find a link to it and don't have that issue lying around, sorry.

[OKCretro]

interesting story...

http://kfor.com/2017/01/03/police-ma...homa-city-bar/

[Dr Beard Face]

interesting story...

http://kfor.com/2017/01/03/police-ma...homa-city-bar/

Love his quote at the end.

[soonerguru]

Sounds like he was having a bad day.

[Roger S]

Sounds like he was having a bad day.

No doubt... He couldn't even get out the actual word... He had to say "F***".... Might as well have said "Ooooohhhhh Fuuuuuuuuuudddddddddggggggge".

[PhiAlpha]

Looks like the Pump might have reached the end of the line:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vBx...ibextid=wwXIfr

[Pete]

^

Wow!!

I didn't see that coming. I've probably spent more time and more at Pump than any bar in OKC.

They made a ton of cool improvements. Sure hope someone else comes in and carries this place forward. Can't imagine seeing it empty on a nice sunny day.

[king183]

Has it been struggling with customers? Every time I drive by, there’s a good crowd there, so I’m very surprised.

[Pete]

This just seems very strange. It may be they are at the end of a 10-year lease and can't justify continuing.

If they couldn't make it work, who could? Such a great place, good staff, great setting, and even the food was good.

I really liked the indoor space when the weather wasn't great.

I just don't understand what happened.

[okcrun]

This just seems very strange. It may be they are at the end of a 10-year lease and can't justify continuing.

If they couldn't make it work, who could? Such a great place, good staff, great setting, and even the food was good.

I really liked the indoor space when the weather wasn't great.

I just don't understand what happened.

It seems like you out of maybe anyone might be able to piece together a picture of what has been happening in the last year or so. I know you keep saying things come and go and new concepts come in but a lot of these established places probably had landlords asking for significant increases in rent from when they started from nothing to what it is now. Is it these developers are on these short term financing where they are dealing with much higher interest rates now or these successful businesses has made the locations much more lucrative? Maybe both?

[soonerguru]

I have no special insight on the Pump's situation, but I do know some bar owners who are struggling. These are long-time, institutional bars, at least one of which has fairly low overhead.

People are not going out and drinking as much. One place that if I told you which one it is you wouldn't believe me, I learned had a night recently with literally zero customers. This is a fairly hopping spot in a hopping part of town.

Gen Z is not drinking as much and spending $100 bucks to drink on an average Tuesday or Wednesday night is not inviting to young people, so they aren't doing it.

Boomers, Gen X and Millennials were all heavy party animals. It's not that Gen Z doesn't, it just doesn't as much, and for a lot of folks, doing it home makes a lot of sense.

You can still get a very high-end six pack of beer for $10. You can get a very drinkable bottle of wine for $14, which is the cost of one glass.

Also, concepts may become tired over time. Not suggesting that's the case for the Pump at all, but a lot of places that have been around for more than 10 years came about in a totally different era, catering to a different generation of patrons.

The Millennials now have teenagers in some cases. They are middle age. Those of us on the X end of the spectrum are eligible for AARP membership.

Also, you have fairly new places to check out, such as Later, Bye and Palo Santo (which is now in its fourth year). The Jones Assembly is still a lot newer than the Pump and others and caters to a wealthy subset of the OKC bar market.

Even people who make healthy six-figure incomes eventually realize that non-stop partying at bars is crippling financially.

Things have changed so much. There used to be dozens of places you could go for good, $5 beers (not Bud and Coors), and relatively inexpensive mixed beverages. Everything costs more and people are crying uncle.

[PhiAlpha]

Has it been struggling with customers? Every time I drive by, there’s a good crowd there, so I’m very surprised.

Same here. I’ve never driven by and seen under 20 people there at any given time. Really seems out of left field.

[PhiAlpha]

This just seems very strange. It may be they are at the end of a 10-year lease and can't justify continuing.

If they couldn't make it work, who could? Such a great place, good staff, great setting, and even the food was good.

I really liked the indoor space when the weather wasn't great.

I just don't understand what happened.

It’s one of the more disappointing ones I’ve heard about so far.

[OKCRealtor]

Although I haven’t been to the pump in several years we used to frequent when we lived in that area.

This is pretty surprising, there’s probably multiple factors involved and I’m pretty sure probably a personal component as well although that’s just something I suspect. The bar business isn’t always good for everyone.

This has been a great spot for OKC, hopefully someone throws them a line or takes it over.

[Pete]

I know of at least one respected group that is interested in taking it over, and I bet there will be others.

10 years is a long time for a couple to run a large bar and I suspect their lease is up or getting close.

The space is just too good to stay empty long.

[Sydonesia]

Same here. I’ve never driven by and seen under 20 people there at any given time. Really seems out of left field.

I guess we've gone at different times, because the last few times I've been in the area, I was startled at how dead Pump was. And the last time I had brunch there, there were maybe two other tables occupied. And it was a gorgeous Spring day.

I can only speak for myself and my group of friends, but many of us have sobered up or cut drinking down drastically after COVID. I went from going to the Pump multiple times a month to maybe twice in the last three years.

[Dob Hooligan]

Seems to me that this type business has seen explosive growth over the last 10-15 years. Every scruffy building over 50 years old is being eyed as some kind food, drink, entertainment operation. Like the stuff on Walker in Midtown, ten years is a pretty good run.

[Pete]

I can only speak for myself and my group of friends, but many of us have sobered up or cut drinking down drastically after COVID. I went from going to the Pump multiple times a month to maybe twice in the last three years.

This is exactly me and I suspect it's true for many people.

I only liked drinking socially and with the pandemic, I just didn't go out or drink at all. Then, when things loosened up, I had a pint of craft beer and hated how it made me feel afterward.

Now, I have maybe half a beer every few months. And it just occurred to me that I haven't been to Pump since the pandemic.

[Will Dearborn]

I go at least 5 times a month, they haven't been busy all year.

[OKCRealtor]

.

I can only speak for myself and my group of friends, but many of us have sobered up or cut drinking down drastically after COVID. I went from going to the Pump multiple times a month to maybe twice in the last three years.

+1 on no longer drinks crowd, it does seem the trend has gotten more popular either by neccesity or just generally people being more health conscious. Good thing either way.

[Pete]

+1 on no longer drinks crowd, it does seem the trend has gotten more popular either by neccesity or just generally people being more health conscious. Good thing either way.

Some claim that cannabis consumption is partly to blame.

I don't know anyone who fits that bill but I'm sure there are a bunch out there. Somebody is buying all that weed.

[OKCRealtor]

Some claim that cannabis consumption is partly to blame.

I don't know anyone who fits that bill but I'm sure there are a bunch out there. Somebody is buying all that weed.

I'm sure that's part of it, especially the younger generation. My younger siblings are perfect examples.

The bar & cocktail scene has had a heck of a run over the last 10-15 years but trends change and post covid things are much tougher for most operators in restaurants & bars as you know. Still plenty of people spending money out there eating & drinking but we have a ton of great selections now & what made up their core clientele a decade ago likely doesn't now. Plenty of people my age who have probably also started families and moved to the suburbs that used to frequent.

[OKCTalker]

The cost of dining out - especially alcohol - has really skyrocketed. We went to a nice place recently, sat down and were about to order a mid-level glass of Cabernet from the bar menu and saw it was $32! I feigned a problem with the babysitter to the hostess and we left. Now this wasn't the Pump, but if people sense that there isn't value in going out, they'll do it less, and it'll affect the entire F&B industry.