Uptown / 23rd District

[catch22]

That sounds excellent!

[Pete]

Here are some quick notes I jotted down when interviewing the proprietor (Truong Le of Guernsey Park):

Casual
Fried Korean chicken similar to lollipops at Guernsey
Curry, salt and vinegar, bbq, spicy/schewan
Fried catfish
Sweet fritters
Simple w/ Korean flair
Sliders / bar food
Beer: Coop/Anthem + cocktails
Sit-down full-service
Korean wings

[Pete]

[John Knight]

Here is their logo:

[Ginkasa]

Here is their logo:

Is that a foot? With the banner in the way, that looks like not a foot. Maybe my mind is just in the gutter.

[cinnamonjock]

I saw they took down the awning at the former Joe's Pawn at 23rd and Lee

[Roger S]

Went to Hugo's Taquizas for Taco Tuesday and stopped by the old Grand Village soon to be the Sam's Southern Eatery and snapped a couple of pics of progress there.

[OKCisOK4me]

Is Sam's a popular joint to go eat at on the Southside?

[Roger S]

Is Sam's a popular joint to go eat at on the Southside?

The one on 23rd will be the only/first location in OKC.

[HangryHippo]

The one on 23rd will be the only/first location in OKC.

Have you eaten at one before? If so, what did you think of it?

[Roger S]

Have you eaten at one before? If so, what did you think of it?

No. Had never even heard of it until someone posted about Grand Village closing up thread.... I ate at Grand Village occasionally and I'm sad to see it gone.

[wsucougz]

The Daebak K lot sold for $350k - anyone know the buyer/plans?

https://www.redfin.com/OK/Oklahoma-C...home/107343254

[Roger S]

The Daebak K lot sold for $350k - anyone know the buyer/plans?

That's really disappointing. I was really looking forward to having a Korean option there...... At least I have Chae now instead of having to drive to Del City for a long lunch.

[Pete]

That's really disappointing. I was really looking forward to having a Korean option there...... At least I have Chae now instead of having to drive to Del City for a long lunch.

The restaurant is still going to happen, just at another location.

[Roger S]

The restaurant is still going to happen, just at another location.

In the same area?

[Pete]

In the same area?

No.

I'll have more on this soon.

[sooner88]

Not sure the best place to post this, but this is the Pivot presentation from the recent Rotary luncheon. They start around the 17 minute mark.

https://vimeo.com/184598731

[Harbinger]

Great find Sooner88! This is the first I've heard about the Korean takeout concept in the Tower and the cocktail bar by Barrios. I have so much admiration for these guys. As one of them jokingly said of Sunshine, "as you can see, its pretty risk averse". Their willingness to take on these difficult projects cannot be recognized enough.

[onthestrip]

Great find Sooner88! This is the first I've heard about the Korean takeout concept in the Tower and the cocktail bar by Barrios. I have so much admiration for these guys. As one of them jokingly said of Sunshine, "as you can see, its pretty risk averse". Their willingness to take on these difficult projects cannot be recognized enough.

Well they did get, what, half a million in TIF money, so yes, much of the risk was probably taken out.

[Uptowner]

6.6 million invested in tower...you're talking big bank Monopoly money at this point, bro. Risk is people like Velvet Monkey, Power House, or The Pump investing into shambles for 0 tif to make a mom & pop business.

[Harbinger]

Not sure why the comment was made then. With the above mentioned comments about Pivot's lack of risk in these projects, were they assured TIF prior to the closing of their bigger ticket purchases?

[wsucougz]

Harbinger, have you ever heard the term "Armchair Quarterback?"

[Uptowner]

It depends on what perspective you want to view it from. From a developers perspective they are risk nightmares. Historic. Renovations. Urban design overlay. But there's that TIF at least. Bankers and developers love that TIF.

From a business perspective: It's relatively low risk. build that mother out, stay out the budget red zone, lease it to %100 before the bank takes it back, and your golden. Hopefully it skims a little profit and someday the bank note expires and you will actually own it!

Edit: all things said. Commercial development is not "easy." Not even close.

[Harbinger]

Wsucougz, I'm well aware of the term, but not what you could be implying. Have I insinuated that I have expertise on development or banking? Nope. How is merely asking about how a process works (timing and implementation of TIF) indicative of me being an "armchair quarterback"? I asked a question to learn more about a process-something that should be encouraged in this forum, not shamed. And thank you Uptowner for the clarity of your answer. That makes more sense.

[wsucougz]

That wasn't directed at you.