Coach House

[Teo9969]

Dave Cathey of The Oklahoman is reporting that The Coach House will be ending its tenure in the OKC restaurant scene after Valentine's Day 2016.

Losing the restaurant is, at this point in OKC's history, sad but neither unforeseeable nor a major blow to the industry. Furthermore, it will surely be replaced by an incredibly high quality concept that will still enhance OKC's dining scene in its own unique way.

What is a major blow to the industry is the potential end of the apprenticeship program that has been running at this establishment for a long time. The apprenticeship program has fed OKC and the whole country with high quality chefs who just flat out know how to create food. If this program is lost in the shuffle, OKC will desperately need something to step-in and fill the void.

This is probably the single biggest news item of the last several years regarding OKC's food scene.

[ljbab728]

Changes are coming.

[ljbab728]

This is somewhat surprising for this long time OKC fine dining spot.

Concept change announced for famed Oklahoma City restaurant | NewsOK.com

Longtime patrons of The Coach House gathered Sunday to celebrate its 30th anniversary but left wondering what was next for Oklahoma City's vanguard of culinary innovation.

The answer: Something different.

Shortly after dinner service, chef/partner Kurt Fleischfresser announced the acclaimed restaurant at 6437 Avondale Drive, will close for renovations shortly after Valentine's Day in February and reopen as a fresh concept with a new name.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I had been here once. I got a $300 gift card and took the wife. Honestly I didn't really care for it.

[Urbanized]

Hopefully whatever comes next will enable retention of the apprenticeship program, which has played a very important role in the incredible transformation of the OKC food scene in recent years.

[foodiefan]

Hopefully whatever comes next will enable retention of the apprenticeship program, which has played a very important role in the incredible transformation of the OKC food scene in recent years.

+1

[ljbab728]

I must have been posting in my sleep last night. I thought I remembered starting this thread.

[Teo9969]

I beat you by a minute it appears.

[ljbab728]

I beat you by a minute it appears.

To the victors go the spoils.

[ljbab728]

Dave Cathey's extensive obituary and update for future plans here.

Oklahoma City-area's Coach House era ends with closing of fine-dining restaurant in Nichols Hills | NewsOK.com

The next iteration for the little building in the middle of Nichols Hills Plaza will reflect the ongoing trend of deformalizing fine dining.

The Fleischfressers aren't ready to fully reveal plans, because a new lease has not been signed. But I can tell you the concept they have in mind will focus on craft cocktails with a menu that affords chef Henry a broader canvas.

"We've been missing out on people who just want to drop in for a drink or two and a bite to eat," Kyle Fleiscfresser said. "We'll have a bigger bar. We'll have seats at the bar, but we'll still have really great food."

In the meantime, Kyle Fleischfresser and chef Henry will operate The Hutch, a pop-up restaurant, out of the space until the new lease is signed and the build-out for the new concept is complete.

[corwin1968]

Interesting. I used to work with Coach House's head waiter (at his day job) and I had a standing offer from him to buy a gift certificate for Coach House at his cost (ie, cheap) but I never took him up on it. I just can't see myself and my wife "fitting in" at a fine dining establishment. We are more "Mom & Pop" and "hole-in-the-wall" type people.

[traxx]

Last time I ate there was about 5 or 6 years ago and it was kinda dead.

[ljbab728]

Last time I ate there was about 5 or 6 years ago and it was kinda dead.

It's always been busy when I've been there. I don't think lack of business had much to do with the changes.

[RadicalModerate]

It's always been busy when I've been there. I don't think lack of business had much to do with the changes.

Once again, you are exactly correct, Sir. I regret that I never had the ultimate pleasure of dining at The Coach House, nor did I seek sustenance at The Haunted House (up there on Miramar or whatever). What I'm thinkin' is that Chef KF (and his sidekick CL) are going to transform it--The Coach House--into absolute Dining Bliss. For the next generation. When Oil Prices rise again. =~) So . . . Where's my Braum's? I still tip at Sonic. =~)

[traxx]

It's always been busy when I've been there. I don't think lack of business had much to do with the changes.

If they're still doing great business, then why change it? If there's no lack of business, then changing just to change is a huge risk. It could ruin the business you already have and people may not like the new name, concept, and direction. Then you've killed a business that was making plenty of money, spent money to shut down and revamp only to have to close for good. That just doesn't make business sense. If that's truly the case, then Kurt doesn't need to be in business because he doesn't understand how it works. I don't think Kurt is that stupid. A bit of an egomaniac, sure. But not stupid. And what I gathered from some of his quotes in the article is that they did need more business and were missing out on some business and that caused the changes.

[TheTravellers]

I believe Kurt said the concept was tired and people weren't coming in because they assumed it was stuffy and expensive (never been, so I can't say if that's true), so they decided to change it. This could work, or yes, it could put them out of business. Bistro Banlieue in Oak Brook, IL did this - they were one of the premier French restaurants (if not *the* one) in the Chicagoland area, and they did the exact same thing. They were out of business a year later (we were patrons often and we completely stopped going), so best of luck to Kurt, et al, on reinvention, hope it sticks.

[sooner88]

It sounds like with Hutch, the pop-up restaurant, they will be able to test out different menu options to see what is most likely to draw in a new crowd. I think they did make some changes (I believe at one point it was jacket required) to make it feel less stuffy, but its reputation has always been on the formal side. With the newer restaurants trending towards a more casual dress/atmosphere I think a change is probably smart to get a wider (and younger) clientele.

[Uptowner]

If they're still doing great business, then why change it? If there's no lack of business, then changing just to change is a huge risk. It could ruin the business you already have and people may not like the new name, concept, and direction. Then you've killed a business that was making plenty of money, spent money to shut down and revamp only to have to close for good. That just doesn't make business sense. If that's truly the case, then Kurt doesn't need to be in business because he doesn't understand how it works. I don't think Kurt is that stupid. A bit of an egomaniac, sure. But not stupid. And what I gathered from some of his quotes in the article is that they did need more business and were missing out on some business and that caused the changes.

Maybe the dude wants to do something different after 20 years? lol. Kurt's a savvy guy. And an amazing chef. For what I recall its the only AAA four diamond restaurant in the state of Oklahoma. He owns 5 other concepts on western ave. and I'm nearly certain he owns a good sized the metro. And fairly certain he owns a piece of Earl's ribs and a handful of others. I think he understands the business...at least a tad more than yourself.

[foodiefan]

Maybe the dude wants to do something different after 20 years? lol. Kurt's a savvy guy. And an amazing chef. For what I recall its the only AAA four diamond restaurant in the state of Oklahoma. He owns 5 other concepts on western ave. and I'm nearly certain he owns a good sized the metro. And fairly certain he owns a piece of Earl's ribs and a handful of others. I think he understands the business...at least a tad more than yourself.

+1

[Teo9969]

Maybe the dude wants to do something different after 20 years? lol. Kurt's a savvy guy. And an amazing chef. For what I recall its the only AAA four diamond restaurant in the state of Oklahoma. He owns 5 other concepts on western ave. and I'm nearly certain he owns a good sized the metro. And fairly certain he owns a piece of Earl's ribs and a handful of others. I think he understands the business...at least a tad more than yourself.

He hasn't been a part of The Metro and I think he was fully bought out from Earl's as well quite a while back. Those are strictly Lower concepts

His concepts these days are Musashi's, Sushi Neko, The Lobby Bar, Will Rogers Theater/Tasting Room, and Vast. He may be running Flint, I can't remember.

Kurt absolutely knows his stuff, and he knows how to run a restaurant, but his (recent) success in OKC does not match his pedigree. The new concept will be fine and do well, there should be no worries about that.

[traxx]

Maybe the dude wants to do something different after 20 years? lol. Kurt's a savvy guy. And an amazing chef. For what I recall its the only AAA four diamond restaurant in the state of Oklahoma. He owns 5 other concepts on western ave. and I'm nearly certain he owns a good sized the metro. And fairly certain he owns a piece of Earl's ribs and a handful of others. I think he understands the business...at least a tad more than yourself.

Hi Kurt, and welcome to the forums. I wasn't saying that you don''t know what you're doing. I know that you have your hand in a lot of business ventures. My point was that for someone to say the change had nothing to do with trying to court more business doesn't make any sense. If you're business is booming, you don't change directions just for kicks and giggles. That's a good way to run yourself out of business. If someone changes their business model, there has to be more of a reason than "I just thought it'd be totes fun."

[Teo9969]

Hi Kurt, and welcome to the forums. I wasn't saying that you don''t know what you're doing. I know that you have your hand in a lot of business ventures. My point was that for someone to say the change had nothing to do with trying to court more business doesn't make any sense. If you're business is booming, you don't change directions just for kicks and giggles. That's a good way to run yourself out of business. If someone changes their business model, there has to be more of a reason than "I just thought it'd be totes fun."

I mean, that's not necessarily true. I mean, sure you don't ever change a BOOMING business, but changing the model of a successful business for which you see a limited life or a future decline is hardly unprecedented. Fleischfresser acknowledged that the Coach House had some down-falls…that doesn't mean he the business wasn't currently running successfully.

It's like the Clippers wanting to move Blake Griffin. The Clippers are a good basketball team and they will have success in their current format…but they're not going to compete for championships and they see that their life-span is relatively limited. Close now instead of 3 years from now and evade the opportunity for things to get legitimately difficult with no way out. Get out before the decline.

[TheTravellers]

He hasn't been a part of The Metro and I think he was fully bought out from Earl's as well quite a while back. Those are strictly Lower concepts

His concepts these days are Musashi's, Sushi Neko, The Lobby Bar, Will Rogers Theater/Tasting Room, and Vast. He may be running Flint, I can't remember.

Kurt absolutely knows his stuff, and he knows how to run a restaurant, but his (recent) success in OKC does not match his pedigree. The new concept will be fine and do well, there should be no worries about that.

He's currently running Vast, and trying to turn Flint around, but not sure how involved he is day-to-day at Flint. Gazette or one of the free mags around town (Territory, Splurge, etc.) had a story about him, Flint, and Vast a few months ago, but I can't find it online.

[Uptowner]

Hi Kurt, and welcome to the forums. I wasn't saying that you don''t know what you're doing. I know that you have your hand in a lot of business ventures. My point was that for someone to say the change had nothing to do with trying to court more business doesn't make any sense. If you're business is booming, you don't change directions just for kicks and giggles. That's a good way to run yourself out of business. If someone changes their business model, there has to be more of a reason than "I just thought it'd be totes fun."

I'm not a fleischflesser, lol.

[sooner88]

The Hutch on Avondale opens tomorrow in the old Coach House building.