Does anyone have any info on when Toby Keith's restaurant will be opening in Bricktown? We will be traveling to OKC in the next couple of weeks and wanted to check it out. Thanks for any info anyone has!

I believe it is July 2 - welcome to OKC!

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I believe Karried is correct....July 2nd (which happens to be my 24th wedding anniversary, also). BTW, ahhnna1, welcome to okctalk. Let us know if we can help you in any way.

yes, as mentioned in the other toby keith's thread, july 2nd is the grand opening. on another note, i have updated pics and my gallery and some new nighttime shots will be added as soon as the mods approve them

And my husband's band "Arrowhead" is playing that night. They put on a good show. My hubby grew up in Tulsa and is always happy to head back to Oklahoma! It would be cool to meet some of you that night!

Well, my kids will be dissappointed. All the news releases said early spring. We will be there Memorial day weekend thru the next weekend. My husband is dying to go back to the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Not my thing, but if it keeps him quiet !!! Thanks for the info!

Just thought I would let you know, it is now known as the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum. They enlarged and modernized the facilities and wanted to bring a more modern feel and sound to the museum.

Here is a link to some 2 for 1 coupons - http://www.travelok.com/hot_deals/coupons.asp


http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/

Have fun!

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coupons?? Its like you know me !! I love coupons. Thanks for the links.

Yes, coupons help when traveling - it can add up!

Where are you visiting from? And what brings you to our sunny state? Visiting? or Business?

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We are coming from Fort Knox KY. My husband is military and grew up in Cordell (West of OKC, near Clinton). His oldest child gave birth to the first grandbaby last month and we are coming to squeeze the heck out of him!! Can't wait to see that baby! My mother-in- law lives in Enid, so we will be visiting her as well. We always try to spend time in OKC while we are there. Although we visit Oklahoma yearly we haven't been to Bricktown since maybe '96 or '97. Can't believe how much it has changed. Looking forward to exploring.

Is anyone under the impression that this place is a bad idea?

I mean come on, OKC needs an urban hip downtown, Bass Pro and Toby Keith are not that.

I hear you are finally getting a wine bar downtown and the Skyy place is doing well, those are what you want, not a "road house".

While many may prefer an urban NYC "style" in Bricktown, OKC can't deny it's outdoorsman and country roots. I think the confluence of these two typically contrasting styles make OKC's Bricktown a unique, eclectic entertainment district all it's own.

Bass Pro and Toby Keith are good for Bricktown.

You have to realize Bricktown is still growing you we cannot expect to attract more real things there til we can get some more names into Bricktown.

Right now, Bricktown or even OKC cannot support urban NYC "style" things. Gotta start small and then work our way up.

Just please dont become another NYC. OKC is unique and fine the way it is, keeps me comming back the way it is.

Guys, you have to remember that swake participates in TulsaNow, where condescension toward OKC is the rule. NYC was a throw-in to imply that downtown OKC is not hip. Even swake knows that NYC is not a perfect model of urbanity.

Bricktown and Lower Bricktown for the most part do offer the kinds of establishments NYC boasts -- cool lounges like Lit, fine restaurants such as The Mantel, even a Mickey Mantle's. Of course we don't have them on a similar scale -- OKC is a smaller city, like the rest of American cities. But we do have them and they must be supported.

My only concern about ILTB&G is what will happen to it once Toby's star fades. But if it continues to book topnotch talent and serve great food, it can have a vibrant life beyond TK's celebrity. Hopefully the Hal Smith organization has a plan to ensure its longevity.

Why would OKC even want to be like NYC. I would not set foot in NYC, OKC, stay the way you are, your doing fine, take that from a "BIG" city person. I think Toby Keiths road house fits right in and I cant wait to see it someday.

yes swake, I take it you have not been to downtown OKC recently?? Downtown boasts many cool-urbanite hipster spots. Lit, the Purple bar, Nonna's Euro-Ristorante, Museum Cafe, Cocktails on the Skyline, SKYYBar, the former Lotus, the Beacon Club, Deep Deuce, many lofts, the Montgomery, the Classen, Cosmopolitan Salon and Spa, Museum of Art, Civic Center, Stage Center, Bricktown Live, the new ultra mod library, and many others including some "underground" bars and clubs that have yet to be announced. A group of us twentysomethings have ultra hip wine tastings, gatherings, etc. at minimum twice a month. We also have tons of additional downtown housing and condos on the way. Additionally, OKC has something NYC cannot offer, a quaint more relaxed setting for those who are not hipsters who prefer a more relaxed conservative entertainment experience such as TKILTBG and Bass Pro and the Theater. Bricktown and downtown OKC, just like NYC on a smaller scale, is a multifaceted place for all walks of life.

Very well put, metro...thanks.

I never said anything about NYC, that wasn't me. As for the rest, I stand by the idea that Toby Keith is viewed by a vast majority of Americans as a hick and his restaurant and Bass Pro are bad ideas when you are attempting to escape an entrenched image. And anyone that calls themselves ultrahip, isn't

It is the things like Toby keith and Bass pro shops that keep this big city boy comming back to OKC, so Swake, you have no idea what you are talking about. Come to Detroit, they will chew you up and spit you out, but I guess that is the kind of big city shit you want OKC to be like.

Be proud of what we have in OKC OR stand up and really try to do something about it. I do not mean attend a few city council meetings or somethin like that, really become a leader and not a constant complainer. (that includes everyone, not anybody in particular)

I think some miss the point of criticisms of Keith's place and Bass Pro. I am sure they are fine establishments, but they are an odd fit. They are inspired by suburban developments and not by their neighboring Bricktown. Both would be great fits for I-240 and Memorial or, especially for Keith's place, Reno and Meridian, but almost seem to be mocking Bricktown at their current locations.

The mentioning of NYC is kind of irrelevant. OKC is not going to be that, nor should it try. However, some of the larger developers and especially those in Bricktown have been content to simply repackage things already offered in OKC. If we have to weather this stuff to get traffic, then so be it. But Oklahoma City leaders seemed convinced that the only way to generate traffic is to give the people what they already know and already have in a shiny new package. We'll never know otherwise, because nothing else has ever been tried.

But one can only look the emergence of Dallas's unique and original businesses in Deep Ellum that made it a stronger entertainment force than its mundane and rather staid area on the other side of town, the West End. One only needs to go to the two places and realize that, while the West End seems familiar and prefab, Deep Ellum seems uniquely Dallas and warrants repeat visits more so than the “been there done that” feel of the West End.

So, yes, the Lower Bricktown establishments draw traffic (I myself go to Harkins for movies all the time), but I also can understand the frustrations of some who hoped that Lower Bricktown would be an expansion of Bricktown's uniqueness, as opposed to a rehash of developments already present all over the city. It’s not about being NYC, but about bringing new things and new experiences to Oklahoma City, which is the only way to locals a reason to visit the area and to get visitors to come back.

In my mind, it's still possible, but there is little indication that developers want that. They simply want to take advantage of the draw of Bricktown’s uniqueness, but do nothing to add to it or participate in it.

Just thought I would let everyone know that I drove by Toby Keith's Restaurant this afternoon and there is sign posted saying it will open June 22 and 3 PM daily. I am assuming this means it will be open only for Dinner to probably 2 AM, since it is part bar. News9 did a story on it last week and showed some updated pictures....It looks like it will make a very nice addition to Bricktown, and will kind of be our "Planet Hollywood/Hard Rock Cafe" type restaurant/anchor for Bricktown, at least for the time being. I personally would rather have Toby's restaurant then a Hard Rock...there everywhere you go now of days.

I wouldn't worry too much about his star fading. Branson seems to do pretty well with faded stars. I wouldn't mind seeing us become the Branson of Country music. We'll never steal new talent from Tennessee, but we have a shot at attracting some of the retired singers. Of course, Branson already has a few of those, but we can compete. Branson seems to be more diversified when it comes to music and entertainment.

By the way, people don't view Tennessee as hickish, so I don't think country music really has anything to do with our image. I think it's our people that create that image.