Brown's Bakery property

[PhiAlpha]

Went by today at 9:15 and they had been completely sold out of donuts for about 45 minutes. Better go early if you want a donut lol

[Martin]

While I agree it could be made to look great again, that might only make sense if you were to leave the parking lots undeveloped. Any improvements to the building might be significantly obscured if the lots were developed. I'd personally prefer to see it razed if it leads to a much larger development taking up the entire property, and I think this location is ideal for something with a larger presence.

that's a good point. i can see the value if something with greater density replaces it.

[gjl]

Went by today at 9:15 and they had been completely sold out of donuts for about 45 minutes. Better go early if you want a donut lol

I don't think there is a donut worth that much to me to struggle that much to get. I'll just stick with my regular donut shops I frequent.

[Laramie]

Good memories of Brown's Bakery, my mother used them to purchase our sheet birthday cakes when they were on 13th & North Robinson. Mrs. Brown was as sweet as the cakes she prepared.

Four sons, she (mother) never forgot our birthdays. You could depend on Mrs. Brown to have those cakes ready around 2 p.m. when we picked them up. Never disappointed in the service they provided for our family.

[Jersey Boss]

So it sounds like this is mainly a donut place with no fresh baked breads, rolls, baguettes or similar items.

[Laramie]

So it sounds like this is mainly a donut place with no fresh baked breads, rolls, baguettes or similar items.

Last time I visited the current Brown's Bakery (2022) they had baked breads. donuts, rolls, cornbread and a number of variety sweet rolls. Must admit, the goods weren't as fresh as they use to be when they were on 13th & Robinson. Mrs. Brown IIRC passed away when the store was on Robinson.

[chssooner]

So it sounds like this is mainly a donut place with no fresh baked breads, rolls, baguettes or similar items.

What? Have you never been? It is a full-blown bakery.

[Jersey Boss]

What? Have you never been? It is a full-blown bakery.

No, I have not been. That was why I asked as nobody was talking about their bread selections

[rayvaflav]

I had a friend visit my home when I lived in Heritage Hills. Over the dining room table he told me "I used to manage the 4-plex next door and I could see through the windows into your house. The table in this dining room was a mess, always covered in flour. It was The Brown's family home, the family from Brown's Bakery.". I'm also thrilled to see that someone else remembers that Brown's Bakery was on NW 13th & Robinson before the moved to their present location. It has been a source of debate with those that insist that "Brown's has been in their present location forever".

[Urbanized]

Yes, I do remember it for sure. Used to stop there with my dad when I was a kid. That corner felt so much more urban then. Torn down due to rat infestation, I remember hearing.

[Pete]

The Brown Family bought that Midtown property in 1997, so they must have moved about that time.

They paid $167K for both the old grocery building and the lot to the south.

They are going to end up clearing millions in the sale.

[Bill Robertson]

^ Wow!!!

[Urbanized]

The Brown Family bought that Midtown property in 1997, so they must have moved about that time…

It must’ve been some sort of lease-purchase arrangement, and 1997 was when they closed on the sale, because they moved into that space well before 1997. I thought it might’ve even been the late 80s, but this article indicates they moved in 1992.

[Urbanized]

Here is an architectural rendering of the original grocery store that was in that location:

[Urbanized]

Yeah, here’s an Oklahoman article mentioning the anticipated tear down of the Robinson location, after they had already moved. Looks like the move was February 1992.

[Dob Hooligan]

^ Wow!!!

Keep in mind real estate was dirt cheap in that area then. The building that is now The Loft Garage Apartments sold around that time for $200,000ish IIRC. 60,000sf on 3 levels.

Some recollections of the area from 25-30 years ago-Brown's Bakery was owned then by Bill Brown and his wife Katie(?), who were the second generation of baker Brown's. Their building they owned at 13th & Robinson was mortgaged when they expanded into Edmond in the 1980s and build a shopping center to go along with their second bakery location. The oil and real estate busts cost them everything but the original bakery, and they were tenants of the 13th building thereafter. Bob Moore acquired Bolen Oldsmobile, Jeep/Eagle around 1995 and moved it into the 13th & Broadway dealership that had been Buick for many years. Bob Moore wound up owning (or optioning) the Brown's building and cleared it for vehicle storage.

The Brown's were nice people and were strong allies when we opposed St. Luke's effort to close 14th Street between Robinson and Harvey.

Their 10th & Walker building was the Taj Mahal compared to 13th & Robinson.

[chssooner]

This would be a great spot for a residential tower with ground floor retail. Use the whole lot. Get rid of surface parking there.

[Jersey Boss]

Last time I visited the current Brown's Bakery (2022) they had baked breads. donuts, rolls, cornbread and a number of variety sweet rolls. Must admit, the goods weren't as fresh as they use to be when they were on 13th & Robinson. Mrs. Brown IIRC passed away when the store was on Robinson.

Thanks Laramie. It doesn't appear to be a destination for rye, sourdough loaves or burger, dog buns.

[warreng88]

I was eating lunch at McNellie's earlier this week and noticed a lot of work going on at Brown's Bakery. Excited for whatever is to go in there.

[Pete]

I was eating lunch at McNellie's earlier this week and noticed a lot of work going on at Brown's Bakery. Excited for whatever is to go in there.

The property sale still hasn't closed.

Still think it's the Midtown Renaissance guys but I've heard whoever it is, they plan to restore the old grocery store building, replacing all the glass and opening up the high barrel roof.

[BoulderSooner]

The property sale still hasn't closed.

Still think it's the Midtown Renaissance guys but I've heard whoever it is, they plan to restore the old grocery store building, replacing all the glass and opening up the high barrel roof.

i think the bones on both buildings could make for some very nice space ..

[Pete]

i think the bones on both buildings could make for some very nice space ..

The building to the south was a tack-on and I bet it goes.

[BoulderSooner]

The building to the south was a tack-on and I bet it goes.

I didn't know that thanks .. so maybe some kind of new build on that space ..

[warreng88]

The property sale still hasn't closed.

Still think it's the Midtown Renaissance guys but I've heard whoever it is, they plan to restore the old grocery store building, replacing all the glass and opening up the high barrel roof.

When I went by, the drop ceiling was already coming down and most of the wood (or is it paint) covering the upper windows on the north building had been removed. I believe the windows on the south building were exposed as well.

[Pete]

It appears the new owner of the Brown's Bakery property is Midtown Renaissance.

I know the plan is to restore the main building, which was once a mid-century beauty. Don't know about the rest of the property.