George

[PhiAlpha]

Interurban huh? Well that means it will be open for a few years, then they will close it with no explanation. The absolute worst metro restraunteurs....

A) The Interurban guys are pretty tied up with Packard right now. I have several friends, that i communicate with on a daily basis, who are very involved with opening it and i haven't heard anything about this yet. It may be them, but given the prime location it seems odd that none of them have brought it up when I've been over there.

B) which restaurants are you referring to? The only IU that's closed in the last few years, operated by the IU group was on I240 in a space that three other restaurants have failed in. The downtown location that closed a few hears ago was a franchise. Several closed in the 80s and 90s due to the oil bust but that was hardly their fault. The Yukon, NW side, and new Norman restaurnts have been around for at least 5-8 years and the Edmond and Ardmore restaurnts have been open as long as I can remember. Also Los Cabos in Tulsa has been very successful. They are hardly the worst restaurant group in the metro.

C) Since when has any restaurant given a reason for closing? Most just up and disappear over night. Almost always it's for the same reason, the profit or lack there of didn't justify keeping them open so the owners cut their losses.

D) The food and drinks at Packard are going to be awesome. It should be pretty successful especially when it starts serving brunch on weekends.

[CuatrodeMayo]

B) which restaurants are you referring to?

I think he is referring to the Interurban that opened in MWC then closed a short time later.

[PhiAlpha]

I think he is referring to the Interurban that opened in MWC then closed a short time later.

Ah, explains why I never knew it was there... Oh well, can't win 'em all. His statment was still a gross over generalization.

[ljbab728]

New steakhouse on tap for Founders Tower | NewsOK Videos

[PhiAlpha]

Run by the interurban restaurant group or Kevin George by himself? He is a silent partner in the Interurban group.

[Pete]

Run by the interurban restaurant group or Kevin George by himself? He is a silent partner in the Interurban group.

Sounds like this is Kevin George project alone.

Here are some screen captures from the Oklahoman video:

[PhiAlpha]

Sounds like this is Kevin George project alone.

Confirmed that he is going it alone on this project. The Interurban group isn't involved.

[Larry OKC]

The renderings Pete posted clearly show tables for 4 along the outer ring...and if it is to scale, the tables only take up about half of the available width...which goes against what he said in the article:
Steakhouse planned for top of Oklahoma City's Founders Tower | News OK

Although the restaurant's rotating track — powered by 10 motors hidden under the floorboards — is still functional, George said he doesn't plan to use it much.
There's just not enough room on the narrow track for a table large enough to accommodate comfortably four diners at once, he said.

The rotating outer ring is one of the main advantages to this space...be a shame not to utilize it.

[Eddie1]

I agree, I think this would be a lost opportunity to abandon the rotating aspect of the space.

[Pete]

Anybody know how long it takes for that floor to make a complete revolution?

I know it moves very slowly... Perhaps an hour or so to make a full lap?

[OKCDrummer77]

Anybody know how long it takes for that floor to make a complete revolution?

I know it moves very slowly... Perhaps an hour or so to make a full lap?

We ate there once when it was Nikz, almost 10 years ago. One lap took almost exactly one hour. We started at 8 and stayed for 2 hours, so we got one lap of daylight/dusk and one lap of darkness.

[Plutonic Panda]

We ate there once when it was Nikz, almost 10 years ago. One lap took almost exactly one hour. We started at 8 and stayed for 2 hours, so we got one lap of daylight/dusk and one lap of darkness.

That's interesting. The Reunion Tower in Dallas moves pretty fast then haha.

[OKCDrummer77]

That's interesting. The Reunion Tower in Dallas moves pretty fast then haha.

How fast does it go? I've been up there, but only the observation deck level.

[Plutonic Panda]

How fast does it go? I've been up there, but only the observation deck level.

I don't know exactly, but when we were up there for about an hour, we must have made at least 4-6 full spins. Also, The Reunion Tower is a bit smaller and I didn't think about that, so that could have something to do with it.

[kevinpate]

When it was Eagle's Nest, one trip around was right at one hour.

[Teo9969]

So. Many. Steakhouses.

[Pete]

The steakhouse atop Founders Tower will be called The George and the lead chef will be the former owner (Josh Valentine) of Divine Swine.

The plan is to be open by fall:

Oklahoma Gazette Food and Drink: Features: New restaurant atop Founders Tower


https://www.facebook.com/thegeorgeokc

[Roger S]

Yep.... Saw an article last week where Dave Cathey mentioned the same.

[OKCisOK4me]

Who's George anyway?

[Roger S]

Who's George anyway?

I believe he used to be a partner at Interurban.

[jn1780]

I found the Gazette pictures kind of humorous. Why is Josh Valentine ripping down sheet rock? Don't they have contractors for that? lol

[ljbab728]

Who's George anyway?

The article says it's named after the owner, Kevin George.

[ljbab728]

They may have very good reasons to not use the revolving feature but I don't think comparing it to an amusement park ride is a very good one. I wonder if he was ever there when it revolved. I always enjoyed it and never got sick from my head spinning or stomach dropping once. LOL

[RadicalModerate]

Actually, the restaurant never revolved. The tables, on a moving ring around the outside edge, went around in a slow, slow circle. I still don't understand why the waitstaff insisted on diners buckling their seatbelts.

[ljbab728]

Actually, the restaurant never revolved. The tables, on a moving ring around the outside edge, went around in a slow, slow circle. I still don't understand why the waitstaff insisted on diners buckling their seatbelts.

I always thought the tables were part of the restaurant, but what do I know. LOL

I did always keep my seatbelt firmly in place, though.