Tower Theatre

[Spartan]

Is Marty Dillon still moving the family party store into the space if he ever gets it renovated?

[Steve]

Last I heard, but it won't be fast

[edcrunk]

I'm tempted to see if Wade Starr will get involved... my partners and I really wanna move "Robotic Wednesdays" over there.

[okclee]

What is going on here?

The entire strip east of the Tower theater has all the storefront windows boarded up with plywood to the inside. It has been like this for a week now, but I do not see anything happening. There were a few art galleries in these spaces that are now boarded.

[edcrunk]

I heard that wade Starr has bought into it and that they are moving forward.

[okclee]

I heard that wade Starr has bought into it and that they are moving forward.

Can you elaborate on this?

[okclee]

Wade Starr?

Moving forward with What?

[edcrunk]

Wade Starr?

Moving forward with What?

Putting in a club, restaurants and bar. I've texted Wade a couple times since I heard Deep Fork bought into it (so we can move Robotic Wednesdays there).. but I think he's mad at me.

[edcrunk]

I'm so glad that 23rd street is starting to take off. I owned a record store on 23rd for 7 years in the 90s. I used to have meetings with Jason King of 23rd st body piercing and we'd brainstorm ideas on how to encourage development in that area.

I also dj'd at a rave inside the Tower around that time too.

#backintheday

[Urban Pioneer]

Other exciting possibilities may be in the works too. We'll see if it pans out.

[ypsiexplorer]

I just drove by the Tower Theater today and there's construction going on in the street. It looks like they're removing a section of the landscaped median directly in front of the theater and across from the vacant lots on the south side of the street. Could it be for a crosswalk connecting the theater to parking in the vacant lots?

[wsucougz]

I just drove by the Tower Theater today and there's construction going on in the street. It looks like they're removing a section of the landscaped median directly in front of the theater and across from the vacant lots on the south side of the street. Could it be for a crosswalk connecting the theater to parking in the vacant lots?

I hope so, it's been really difficult to get to a show.

[Spartan]

I hope so, it's been really difficult to get to a show.

You haven't been using the catapult system to safely cross 23rd?

[wsucougz]

You haven't been using the catapult system to safely cross 23rd?

Nah, I usually just ride a transient. Bada bing!

[Spartan]

Nah, I usually just ride a transient. Bada bing!

Ew, that sounds reeeally risky.

[Larry OKC]

I just drove by the Tower Theater today and there's construction going on in the street. It looks like they're removing a section of the landscaped median directly in front of the theater and across from the vacant lots on the south side of the street. Could it be for a crosswalk connecting the theater to parking in the vacant lots?

may have dreamed this but thought I read somewhere that there was an issue with the sign clearance or something along those lines, to get the clearance meant taking out the landscaping (not sure why the landscaping was approved since the sign predated it?

[Pete]

Metro, thanks for the heads-up. That's fantastic news about Deep Fork's new restaurant and bar going into the retail space at the Tower Theater!

Anybody have an idea of the concept they'll be going with?



Here's the entire article:

http://okc.biz/oklahoma/article-5737...elopments.html
June 20th, 2011 - Kelley Chambers
Uptown developments

NW 23 Street is home to several new restaurant concepts, with more planned as the area is revitalized

As restaurants continue to pop up along NW 23 Street from around Hudson Avenue to just west of Classen Boulevard, several have found successful concepts, leading to incremental growth and redevelopment of the area.

On May 18, Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs joined the line of specialty eateries along a stretch of road that includes dilapidated and largely vacant strip centers, wig shops, discount convenience stores, pawn shops, fast-food restaurants and a steady stream of vagrants.

But rather than write off the area, developers and restaurateurs including Keith and Heather Paul, Chris Lower, Mike Tharasena and Marty Dillon are investing in long-neglected properties.

Set to open in August is Tucker’s Onion Burgers across the street from Cheever’s. Keith Paul says he wanted to open an eatery with a distinctly Oklahoma flair.

“We’ve been working on a burger concept for about two years,” he says. “We thought that no one is really focusing on the only cuisine that’s from Oklahoma.”

At the Tower Theater, Dillon is leasing space to the Deep Fork Group for a 4,000-square-foot restaurant and a 1,000-square-foot bar in the retail space facing the street. At Big Truck Tacos, the owners have taken a space for a catering kitchen and a gift store. They will share the building, which Dillon owns, with a gelato shop.

At the 23rd Street Courts, Tharasena has filled that space with Cuppies & Joe, a law office, a tattoo shop and others. Behind Cuppies & Joe, he is renovating a building for restaurant space.

Despite the pockets of restaurants and retail, several abandoned strips and underutilized space stand.

Lower says there is no concerted effort to find a use for that space, but he believes the momentum of the area is catching on and attracting others to take a second look at that stretch of road.

“Getting rid of some of the crummier tenants down there will help,” Lower says. “I think the Tower will become the hub of 23rd.”

NW 23 Street is the north boundary of the city’s sixth ward, represented by Councilwoman Meg Salyer. She has watched as the area slowly has gone from an area of blight to an up-and-coming dining and entertainment district.

“These are all great, brave entrepreneurs,” she says.

Salyer says the key word for growth and improvement in the area is “incremental.” While she and others would like to see the area shape up faster, hurdles remain from owners who leave their properties run down, or have no interest in the revitalization.

“Having folks that are unrealistic about the value of their property, you can end up with some unwilling property owners to get involved in the process,” she says.
Despite some sketchy areas that remain, Keith Paul says there is no place he would rather be doing business. He envisions a day when 23rd is a long stretch of retail and a true destination.

“I hope it will be a neighborhood people will flock to,” he says. “We hope someday people will walk from Cheever’s to Cuppies & Joe, and have things to do along the way.”

Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs
1400 NW 23
Built: 1968
Square feet: 1,728
Valuation of project: about $150,000

After visiting Chicago and trying hot dogs in the Windy City, Chris Lower, Cally Johnson and Kathryn Mathis – the masterminds behind Big Truck Tacos – decided to mix up their meat between a tortilla concept and fixings in a bun.

23rd Street Courts
North side of NW 23, between Shartel and Lee avenues
Square feet: more than 20,000 in eight buildings
Valuation of project: about $3 million to $5 million invested to date

Developer Mike Tharasena and architect Brian Fitzsimmons converted a collection of rundown bungalows into a lively retail strip. Set to open soon is Bubba’s, serving barbecue at 715 NW 23. Behind the strip, a 4,000-square-foot building is being renovated for a restaurant space.

Hotel Motel Liquidation
511 NW 23
Built: 1939
Square feet: 21,840

While “going out of business” has been painted on the windows of this building for years, it is on the market for $1.5 million. Chad Elmore, listing broker with InterWest Realty, says the owner is looking to sell the building and close the business. No future plans for the building have been announced.

Truong-Than Supermarket
2400 N Walker
Built: 1926
Square feet: 9,586

The retail space is connected to the Tower Theater at the northeast corner of NW 23 Street and Walker Avenue. Chad Elmore, listing broker with InterWest Realty, has the property on the market for a lease rate of about $9 per square foot.

Big Truck Tacos
530 NW 23
Built: 1966
Square feet: 1,931
Valuation of project: about $200,000

Chris Lower, Cally Johnson and Kathryn Mathis opened the taco eatery in 2009. The owners also have taken space in a building to the east of the restaurant for a larger kitchen and a gift shop. Next door to Big Truck, Avianos, an Italian gelato shop, is set to open this summer.

Tower Theatre
425 NW 23
Built: 1926
Square feet: 25,400
Valuation of project: $3 million

Owner Marty Dillon plans to restore the space to its former glory. The first floor of the auditorium will be renovated into an event space, and the 280-seat balcony will be used for screening films. Dillon’s Party Galaxy store is moving into the upstairs office space.

Tucker’s Onion Burgers
324 NW 23
Built: 1959
Square feet: 1,470

Owner Keith Paul says onion burgers are perhaps the only true Oklahoma-originated cuisine. The restaurant will feature onion burgers, French fries, hand-dipped milk shakes and freshly squeezed lemonade. The restaurant will seat about 50 people inside and 25 outside. Average check: $10.

Cheever’s Café and catering building
2409 N Hudson Ave. and 401 NW 23
Built: 1937
Square feet: about 4,500 combined

Owners Keith and Heather Paul continue serving food at the restaurant. Next door, a building facing NW 23 Street that previously housed Market C, has been converted to catering space.

[warreng88]

What’s cooking on NW 23rd? New eateries in the works as corridor makes comeback
By Brianna Bailey
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact 405-278-2847
Posted: 09:27 PM Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Here is the portion of the article I posted on the 23rd St Development thread that has to do with the Tower Theatre

Renovation plans are gearing up at NW 23rd Street’s historic Tower Theater, some five years after brothers Marty and Mike Dillon purchased the vacant property.

The project stalled when the economy went south a few years ago, but has found new momentum. At the same time, several new restaurants have sprung up in the area.

Construction that will transform the old movie house into a special events center is slated to begin within the next 60 to 90 days, Marty Dillon said.

“I saw this area as something poised to come back, although maybe I got in about four years too early,” he said.

Local restaurateur Deep Fork Group has leased 45,000 square feet of retail space next door to the theater and is developing two restaurant and bar concepts there, Marty Dillon said.

[Skyline]

What’s cooking on NW 23rd? New eateries in the works as corridor makes comeback
By Brianna Bailey
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact 405-278-2847
Posted: 09:27 PM Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Here is the portion of the article I posted on the 23rd St Development thread that has to do with the Tower Theatre

Renovation plans are gearing up at NW 23rd Street’s historic Tower Theater, some five years after brothers Marty and Mike Dillon purchased the vacant property.

The project stalled when the economy went south a few years ago, but has found new momentum. At the same time, several new restaurants have sprung up in the area.

Construction that will transform the old movie house into a special events center is slated to begin within the next 60 to 90 days, Marty Dillon said.

“I saw this area as something poised to come back, although maybe I got in about four years too early,” he said.

Local restaurateur Deep Fork Group has leased 45,000 square feet of retail space next door to the theater and is developing two restaurant and bar concepts there, Marty Dillon said.

Is this project dead?

I haven't seen any construction or renovation at the Tower in quite some time. In fact the building is starting regress, not progress.

It has been 5 1/2 years since the Tower redevelopment project started.

[bombermwc]

Not to sound sceptical, but we've been at this point so many times over the years. I hate to feel excited about something until we see some real work going on. My "best buddy" on this thread will now pounce on me here and tell me I'm stupid....

[Architect2010]

Well, I'm not actually certain this is so. Because it isn't one project that's on the boards or under construction on 23rd right now. Really, it's multiple completed redevelopments, with a few under way, and a few planned.

So I'm hoping, and not disagreeing with bomber, that this time the Tower Redevelopment goes through with all the recent proposals growing on 23rd.

[Pete]

Having the Deep Fork people on the dotted line is very encouraging.

And with the whole area gaining momentum, looks like it's finally the right time to make this work.

[Urbanized]

They've really stabilized the Blue Note, which is basically a neighbor. They obviously are committed to the neighborhood.

[Steve]

Not dead. Just going VEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY slow.... I'll keep you advised when it's really about to start up. Right now this project is on "the dark side of the moon."

[DammitDan]

Not dead. Just going VEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY slow.... I'll keep you advised when it's really about to start up. Right now this project is on "the dark side of the moon."

Are you hinting that there will be Pink Floyd laser light shows there?