Interurban

[OKCMallen]

I was told today by a staff member that they were closing after today! They just found out this week, and the ownership couldn't get into an agreement with the City Place building's new ownership.


Anyone else hear this?

[Steve]

C.g.

[tuck]

C.g.

ool reens

[OKCMallen]

No way!!!!!! Score!!!

[USG'60]

Why are we all being so cryptic?

[jbkrems]

Are the earlier comments implying Cool Greens would open in that space ?

[metro]

I was wondering where the DT cool greens would go

[betts]

Woohoo!!! I wonder if they'll be open in the evening?

[BBatesokc]

Okay, I must have missed it somewhere.... do we know for certain Cool Greens is locating in downtown or just speculating?

[OSUMom]

I've been hearing this for a while now, but haven't seen any real signs that they were actually closing.

[Soonerus]

IU Express has it's lease until November, 2011...if they are leaving early it is a compromise with the landlord. Landlord wants Cool Greens.

[metro]

Okay, I must have missed it somewhere.... do we know for certain Cool Greens is locating in downtown or just speculating?

We've known for certain for months. CG has confirmed this as well.

[cgrider3]

Yes, they did close. Some type of problem with the building. It looks like cool greens is opening at some point in the future. We wish Jerry and his crew the best of luck. They were here for years and it is sad to see them go. With the loss of Interurban Express and the Over the Counter before that, the business district is losing all it's old standby places to eat and drink. Too bad. The Library is still down there serving food and drinks. Hopefully they make it through all the construction and mess downtown.

[BBatesokc]

Only been to Cool Greens a few times. I just wonder if they can make it in that location. I can see them having a great lunch crowd, but do you think they can draw a good dinner crowd there too? Maybe it's just me, but I'm thinking a lot of people won't go there for dinner and they are going to need more than lunch to cover all their costs. Could be wrong, but either way my wife is excited to have them so close to her work.

[betts]

I wonder if they're even going to be open at night. Hope so. Their biggest problem that I can think of is the fact that even people who live downtown aren't in the habit of going to the CBD to eat as much as Bricktown, Deep Deuce and Midtown. If there were lots of options in the area, it might be easier to put them mentally on this list of dinner choices. We go to Trattoria and La Baguette some, but don't think of them as much as some of the other options. Also the fact that their biggest menu item is salad makes dinner less of an option. I haven't ever eaten there for dinner in Nichols Hills and wonder how busy they are at night there.

[Easy180]

http://m.newsok.com/s?s=16&a=3532651&f=business

Owners of downtown's City Place Tower confirmed Friday a CoolGreens restaurant will open this spring in the ground-floor space previously occupied by the Interurban City Express.

Mark Beffort, lead partner of CityPlace LLC, said interior demolition of the space is under way and that CoolGreens, which has locations in Nichols Hills and northwest Oklahoma City, likely would open this spring.

Interurban City Express was one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the Central Business District, having opened in 1986.

The closing of the Interurban follows a monthslong dispute between the restaurant and owners of the building as they have been converting the top floors of the tower into condominiums.

Jerry Wright declined to comment for this story but confirmed he is looking at possibly reopening elsewhere downtown.

The two sides went to court last summer, with Wright alleging his business had been hurt by the placement of construction Dumpsters in parking spaces along the adjoining Couch Drive. The Dumpsters, he alleged, took away parking from his customers and blocked his restaurant's windows.

Wright also complained about construction dust and debris in the lobby; the closure of nearby restrooms, forcing customers to use restrooms on the sixth floor; and malfunctioning heating and air conditioning.

CityPlace LLC filed the lawsuit claiming nonpayment of rent, but Wright responded the building landlord granted rent concessions for several months to compensate for the loss of business, only to reverse the concessions last April. Wright said Beffort then asked for payment of the credits.

A jury ruled in favor of Interurban City Express.

Beffort said the allegations were “blown out of proportion,” and he believes both sides are parting without further hostility. He said the Interurban was a good restaurant and expects it to reopen elsewhere downtown.

[BoulderSooner]

would love to see interurban reopen some where else downtown

[Steve]

http://m.newsok.com/s?s=16&a=3532651&f=business

Owners of downtown's City Place Tower confirmed Friday a CoolGreens restaurant will open this spring in the ground-floor space previously occupied by the Interurban City Express.

Mark Beffort, lead partner of CityPlace LLC, said interior demolition of the space is under way and that CoolGreens, which has locations in Nichols Hills and northwest Oklahoma City, likely would open this spring.

Interurban City Express was one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the Central Business District, having opened in 1986.

The closing of the Interurban follows a monthslong dispute between the restaurant and owners of the building as they have been converting the top floors of the tower into condominiums.

Jerry Wright declined to comment for this story but confirmed he is looking at possibly reopening elsewhere downtown.

The two sides went to court last summer, with Wright alleging his business had been hurt by the placement of construction Dumpsters in parking spaces along the adjoining Couch Drive. The Dumpsters, he alleged, took away parking from his customers and blocked his restaurant's windows.

Wright also complained about construction dust and debris in the lobby; the closure of nearby restrooms, forcing customers to use restrooms on the sixth floor; and malfunctioning heating and air conditioning.

CityPlace LLC filed the lawsuit claiming nonpayment of rent, but Wright responded the building landlord granted rent concessions for several months to compensate for the loss of business, only to reverse the concessions last April. Wright said Beffort then asked for payment of the credits.

A jury ruled in favor of Interurban City Express.

Beffort said the allegations were “blown out of proportion,” and he believes both sides are parting without further hostility. He said the Interurban was a good restaurant and expects it to reopen elsewhere downtown.

Easy, I don't mind excerpts and links to articles being posted at OKC Talk, but please give the paper the same courtesy given to bloggers by not copying and pasting the entire article. Thanks for following our coverage.
- Steve

[Easy180]

Makes sense Steve...Will do going forward

[okclee]

It has actually been a long time since I have seen someone here post an entire article from the DOK.

[Steve]

I know. All in all, OKC Talk has been very good at honoring this request. A rare kind reminder is all that's needed. Thanks to all.

[Soonerus]

Interurban to Sandridge Commons...

[BoulderSooner]

Easy, I don't mind excerpts and links to articles being posted at OKC Talk, but please give the paper the same courtesy given to bloggers by not copying and pasting the entire article. Thanks for following our coverage.
- Steve

didn't pete get full permission to repost full newsok articles?? ..

this is just your request right?

[metro]

didn't pete get full permission to repost full newsok articles?? ..

this is just your request right?

That's how I understood it too. Its Steves personal request.

[Steve]

Guys, I'm not aware of NewsOK giving permission for reprints. If anything, I suspect if someone were to go to NewsOK about this right now, they might find out there is far less tolerance for this than you might think.
I'm not in charge of this; I don't set policy at The Oklahoman. But I can request that you honor my preference with my stories. Just be cool about this - you don't repost entire articles from bloggers, so give news sites the same consideration.