Sideline Bar & Grill

[The]

Man, whatever became of the Skinny Slim's in Norman? Still waiting to open?

[mattjank]

Man, whatever became of the Skinny Slim's in Norman? Still waiting to open?

Ask myself this at least once a month. Still waiting for a soccer bar in Norman.

[SEMIweather]

It will never stop being extremely funny to me that the Skinny Slim’s ownership group got 95% of the way to opening the Norman location and then just abandoned it for seemingly no reason at all. I don’t really have anything substantive to add, and I just can’t quite bring myself to get worked up about it in the way I get worked up about the Energy going dark for half a decade or OU building a new basketball arena five miles off campus, but it is just a very absurd aspect of a niche corner of the OKC sports scene that makes me laugh whenever it’s inevitably brought up on this board every few months.

Anyways, on topic, think for five minutes about the demographics and interests of the average person who visits the Plaza and it never made any sense why someone would think that a sports bar would work there. I have never been to Scorecards but based on their longevity in the face of very mediocre reviews, I can only assume that the owners of that place also own the location outright rather than having to pay rent. Whereas, if even Maples couldn’t survive in the face of Plaza rents, it never seemed realistic that Sideline was going to.

[warreng88]

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

[Oski]

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

What will do well in the Plaza District?

I'm trying to understand more about the different districts in Oklahoma City. IMO, the Paseo District seems to thrive on finesse and an artistic, European vibe, which is why concepts like Frida and Picasso Cafe are doing well there, coffee shops or bakeries with a great ambiance will be successful there as well. On the other hand, the Plaza District attracts a younger crowd, making places like Up-Down bar popular, Sideline just doesn't have any distinctive vibe to me, nothing makes me want to come back.

[BoulderSooner]

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

sideline the way it was run and its prices would not have done well anywhere ...

[OkieBerto]

sideline the way it was run and its prices would not have done well anywhere ...

Totally agree with this! The pricing is to high for the quality of food they are giving you. Also the interior is just so bland. I just don't see this place being successful without a complete overhaul of the menu and design in general.