Well, the transformation of Daddy Hinkle's into Othello's is going well and I look to have it open by November 6th. The opening of Al Eschbach's Sports Bar will follow before the new year. I have alot going on but I am still thinking about another couple of concepts. I am thinking about a Pizza place and/or a custard place. Lunch Pizza buffet that stays open to 3am. Tell me what you think any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. I love Bricktown and the canal I am really looking to make a 'splash' here - no pun intended. I have several opportunities and I am looking to do whatever is best for this area. Let me know what you think, I am the proverbial new kid on the strip.

Out of those two I would think the pizza place would be more successful...If you do want to offer custard I would do that along with the pizza as it seems the custard places are pretty desolate after the summer heat wanes

They opened a Pita Pit in Stillwater on the strip. At about 2:05am, the place is packed. They stay open late and deliver late.

After a night out at the bars... there is nothing like a giant pita. A place like that would do well if they would stay open till three or four in Bricktown.

Inferno,

Glad to have you in the hood. Make sure and send me info when you get your projects up and ruuning, I will add them to the dining section at Downtown Oklahoma City > Home (http://www.downtownokc.com). I will also include them in an enewsletter.

Kim

I wouldn't mind seeing a Churrascara in Bricktown. I've not been to the one on NW Expressway yet (Gaucho's Grill), but I never really thought that was the ideal first location for what is essentially a new concept in OKC. Oklahomans love their meat, so I think the concept can take off if done correctly. Bricktown might be a good location, especially if the scents of the foods are able to reach nearby foot traffic.

As for the pizza idea, FWIW, I'm more of a fan of pizza-by-the-slice rather than buffet pizza. A New York-style pizzareia would be more my preference.

Mike

Agree on the New York-style

I think a pizza place would go well in Bricktown. Seems like a quick place to grab a few slices of pizza before a Hornets game or movie would be ideal. Bricktown is lacking in the quick/quality department, and something like this could fill that void.

So are people thinking that selling by-the-slice during lunch would be better than a lunch buffet?

So are people thinking that selling by-the-slice during lunch would be better than a lunch buffet?

Yes.

Especially if they're true New York style slices.

2 slices should be plenty for a person.

I would say do a buffet at lunch since it seems to do well for the existing pizza places

I think a Chipolte type place would do well

I think a pizza place would go well in Bricktown. Seems like a quick place to grab a few slices of pizza before a Hornets game or movie would be ideal. Bricktown is lacking in the quick/quality department, and something like this could fill that void.

What is Hideaway Pizza to you? Terrible?

What is Hideaway Pizza to you? Terrible?

I do not think that anyone is trying to run down the Hideaway, it's a wonderful place. :bow: I personally love the original (Stillwater), the hideaway Norman and Bricktown too but it seems that the hours for the Hideaway Bricktown are very unusual and maybe another place could help in filling that void of when they are not open.

Is the Hideaway in Bricktown even open if there isn't a game or concert at the ballpark?

I mentioned Falcone's on another thread. It just opened on May right above 63rd. It is New York style pizza by the slice owned and operated by a guy who grew up in NYC's little Italy. Good stuff. They also have Italian deli sandwiches, calzones, and pasta. It seems to be doing well and I think it would be a great addition to bricktown. Also, there are at least two pizza/Italian buffets downtown in the concourse, and this is way better.

A burrito place would be good. I like the pita idea. An upscale Thai place would be awesome. A real greasy spoon would be great or one of those diners that serves everything that are all over Los Angeles. A Mediterranean place with falafels and shawarmas would also be a nice quick and good idea for lunch, movies, and pregame. The city could also use some Korean Bar-b-que. How about a good southern/soul food place?

There are so many types of food that are almost non-existent in this market that, if you want to try some unique things to draw new crowds, the possibilities really are endless without having to go too far out on a limb.

BTW, I love Hideaway, but isn't that mainly a baseball game day thing?

Yeah, definitely go with an NYC pizza place, a custard place won't make it in Bricktown with the high rents. If you'd like as someone mentioned, sell the custard at the pizza shop as well. I'd like you to sell gyro's and pita sandwiches as well. Keep in mind that Pizza Town is on the west side of downtown OKC across the street from the Montgomery. It has been a downtown staple for decades and they have a lunch buffet. You'd need to offer by the slice or a lunch buffet to stay competitive. I'm confident it would do extremely well in Bricktown though.

Oh, and tapas. I think that'd be perfect for bricktown, but they haven't seem to caught on in this market for some reason. I'd say if the fondue places end up working in bricktown, then a tapas place should be able to.

There are tapas places all over OKC, you just have to know where to go, Tom & Jerry's is probably the best in town.

a custard place won't make it in Bricktown with the high rents. If you'd like as someone mentioned, sell the custard at the pizza shop as well.

That was the idea pizza and frozen custard together. I love Tappas, which may be a Othello's happy hour thing later on down the road. I must admit I haven't been Downtown enough to know what is really there, so everyone's comments and input is helping out immensely.
The nest restaurant is going to be very small and has to be very easy to run because of the space that it is going to be in, this is why I was thinking Pizza.

Keep the comments comming. Thanks!

Metro,

Lots of local places try to do tapas, but there is really no real or good tapas bar here. They basically offer an expanded app menu. I've been to some awesome tapas bars that I suggest you visit if you ever get the chance: Cha Cha Cha in San Francisco, El Farol in Santa Fe and my all time fav, Bin 942 in Vancouver BC. Check them out if you get the chance! You will see and taste the difference.

Kim

Kim, I agree that we don't have any restaurants that are only tapas, however I just get sick of people who say we can't get tapas in OKC, you can and if those places get supported better than perhaps we'd see a better offering and perhaps a full-fledged tapas bar.

Inferno, in regards to you quoting my quote that is fine however get your facts straight as you make me look as if I didn't take the time to read your original message. Your original quote was:
. I have alot going on but I am still thinking about another couple of concepts. I am thinking about a Pizza place and/or a custard place. I have several opportunities and I am looking to do whatever is best for this area. Let me know what you think, I am the proverbial new kid on the strip.


You now imply as if that was what you said in the first place, a pizza and custard shop together. You said and/or custard place, thus meaning you could have had a stand alone custard place. Furthermore, you asked for people's opinion on what they thought, and mentioned you were new to the downtown area. I'm very familiar with the downtown area thus I was offering my advice. You may want to consider your words to potential customers as a business owner.

On another note, I am glad you are wanting to set up shop in downtown. If you haven't already thought of it, there is a perfect place next door to the club that used to be Club Rain (I think Venu now?) that was going to be a hot dog stand but I guess they ran out of financing and it never materialized. I'd love to see it in there and get that building completed.

You may want to consider your words to potential customers as a business owner.

Why so sensitive? Get over yourself. The man is here to get input. He makes a comment saying he meant pizza and custard... big deal. It wasn't a personal attack.

Seems a few of the long timers here want to rule the roost and/or maintain the criticism bar at a very high level. No wonder not many stick around to make this an even better forum.

So are people thinking that selling by-the-slice during lunch would be better than a lunch buffet?

I think that a pizza buffet for lunch would sell well - at least, with some of us downtown workers. Also, as far as layout - we often go to lunch in large groups. It'd be great to sit together, even if tables need to be pulled together. (average 10-15 number of people) With a 45 minute lunch, the idea would go over well!

Metro,

Nothing was meant by my statements, I was just stating that my thoughts were a pizza and custard place because I agree with you that I frozen custard store would have a hard time making it on there own. I am an extremely succesful business owner and I did not mean to offend you or anyone else.

I think the Pizza/Custard thing is a good idea. With Hideaway's strange hours, I would think a good, quick pizza place would be a success. Maybe even offer some pre-made salads from a freezer. And by the way, not a word you have written was negative in any way. I think you caught someone on a bad day. Whatever you decide, good luck to you!

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you are on the right path new concepts no more tex mex

There are tapas places all over OKC, you just have to know where to go, Tom & Jerry's is probably the best in town.

There are places that do tapas, but not any places that do a full menu of real spanish/latin tapas. Most are just appetizers masquerading as tapas. Which is fine, I like what they do and get Tom & Jerrys' "tapas" a lot, but I think we could stand to have a real tapas place.

all i can say is i have never been this excitied for a restaurant to open in bricktown til this one.....Othellos is comparable to pregos and campisis in dallas and that is why it is going to be a great addition to the canal......just like zios and bou st....

What bricktown needs is a non-eating establishment that will bring in people with money that otherwise wouldn't come to bricktown.

One possibility is a casino.

okcdn dont you agree that a casino will trap people inside their businesses and will not allow bar hopping and induviduals..........casinos will kill bricktown beacause it wont be a party town it will turn in to a lost for hope town ..........it is more likely to get killed on your way to work than to win the lottery now that bull**** dont you agree.....isnt that awsome......but we will make that oh well...**** happens........lets get it on...

love brett

sorry that was so jumbled i was just saying casino's can end up being bully's to the local businessman....dont you agree

Note: I drove by the former Da'Boat today and they were taking down the sign. In the windows of the building were tons of flyers advertising the Al Eichbach's Hall of Fame Bar & Grill coming soon. Look's like its a go after all!

Al Eschbach's Hall of Fame Sports Bar & Grill

Just fixing the name...

I noticed the 'coming soon', too.

The new signs for Othello's look great. One thing though needs to be fixed, don't know if that is something that could be addressed by inferno or Mr. Hickman. On some of the doors in the Kingman building facing Oklahoma Ave, "Daddy Hinkles" signs still linger on the windows.

Al Eschbach's is definitely a go and we look to have it open soon. We have hung the lights, and started arranging the booths and tables. Still alot to do but it is looking better everyday.

Also, I climbed up and removed the Daddy Hinkle's emblem from the other door today while I was hanging the rest of my signs.

One request inferno...Offer up a good happy hour!

Looking forward to Al's opening up as there aren't any true sports bars down in bricktown

Is the Al's in Norman closing? Or is this just a second location?

-SoonerDave

Im excited about Al's opening, we need a good sports bar downtown. I havent been to Othello's yet..but honestly, Im not that excited about it. I have been to the one in Norman and I do like their food, but that isnt my issue. My issue is yet another Italian (I know its not ALL italian, but just about) place opening in Bricktown. I live in Bricktown. Im sick and tired of eating at the same types of places! I think you'll find other people living downtown feel this way to. Maybe not the tourist that show up on weekends, but the people who live downtown that keep the places running year around. I am VERY excited about the melting pot opening up because its different. We really need some varitey downtown.

That's weird. I welcome another Italian place (one that I actually like) more so than another sports bar. Daiquiri Zone, the place that used to be Interurban, the Brewery, and Coach's all do the sports thing and every other bar has sports.

I would rather see a new and original dining option altogether, but Zio's and the Spaghetti Warehouse never did anything for me and Othello's in Norman has always been a better choice. I'll go there before Al's any day. I can get spinach dip, a burger, and watch the game at over half the places in bricktown already... half the places in the city for that matter.

That's weird. I welcome another Italian place (one that I actually like) more so than another sports bar. Daiquiri Zone, the place that used to be Interurban, the Brewery, and Coach's all do the sports thing and every other bar has sports.

I would rather see a new and original dining option altogether, but Zio's and the Spaghetti Warehouse never did anything for me and Othello's in Norman has always been a better choice. I'll go there before Al's any day. I can get spinach dip, a burger, and watch the game at over half the places in bricktown already... half the places in the city for that matter.


Coachs and the Brewery arn't really sports bars. Coaches usually closes at 9 on weekdays. I've never had the desire to go to either of those places to watch a game. I'm not sure about the Daquari Zone, i've never been there and there is also Halftime, but that place is a dump. If I really want to go watch a game somewhere, I go up to Fox'n Hounds. However, if the Al's up here is anything like the Al's in Norman and has the same kind of talent working, it will blow the other supposed "sports bars" in bricktown out of the water.

Coachs and the Brewery arn't really sports bars.


it will blow the other supposed "sports bars" in bricktown out of the water.

How so? They serve drinks, have games on TV, and offer the same typical food. How does Al's really differ from that? I mean, the one in Norman doesn't. I guess it's all in the branding.

But, maybe it will be the death nail for Halftime. That place is a dump.

Really, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I think it will be a nice place and bricktown could probably be all sports bars and still survive. I'm just saying that it's not really bringing anything new. But like Othello's to me, Al's is to you just a better option of something already available. As a resident those differences probably mean more to you, I just don't see myself leaving my neighborhood pubs to go to bricktown to watch a game now that Al's is there. (unless, maybe, if this talent you speak of holds up ;) )

Hmmm...still heard rumors about the Al's in Norman closing at virtually any moment after OU's home football season ended this year...

-SoonerDave

fsusurfer,

You should come and look at my menu, it's not what you would typically think of as Italian and it is definitely not traditional like the other Othello's. If it is not your thing than I totally understand, but I just wanted to let you know that Othello's Bricktown does not have the same menu as the other Othello's restuarants.

I think they are both great additions to a beautiful canal.....trust me they will work.........it will finally help make the top of the canal a destination....

How about a bar?

Not a restaurant with a bar area but just a bar.

Not a club with a bar but just a bar.

No dancing, no menu, no "homebrews".

A true, 100% to the bone bona-fide bar. Liqour and beer only, with a juke box in the corner, two pool tables with crooked sticks and not nearly enough chalk, a bouncer at the door to check id's, no more than one waitress, a bathroom you wouldn't let your worst enemy use, it's own set of regulars and a happy hour that serves budweiser on tap and Dos Equi's shots for $3 a piece and that stays open til 2 every night.

yeah, we need a cheers bar!!

How about a bar?

Not a restaurant with a bar area but just a bar.

Not a club with a bar but just a bar.

No dancing, no menu, no "homebrews".

Go check out Drinkz. Great bar.

Don't think we'll ever see a 'neighborhood' bar in Bricktown.

Does anyone know where this new Al Eschbach's restaurant is going to be?

These are the types of restaurants we need in Bricktown.....unique and with Oklahoma flavor. Even if you don't like Al, he's is a legend among sports radio in Oklahoma. Now all we need is Billy Simms to locate a BBQ restaurant downtown, and Barry Switzer to open up a chicken fry restaurant.

patrick...It is going in where Da Boat and a 1000 other restaurants have failed

John...My wife liked Drinkz, but I just don't think it's long for this world...Never seen anyone going in or coming out of that place

What's been there besides Da Boat?

I know the one before Da Boat was Joey's Chicago Diner...My memory is horrible so I can't remember what it was before that...Guess I need to scale back my 1000's quote!

John...My wife liked Drinkz, but I just don't think it's long for this world...Never seen anyone going in or coming out of that place

There's usually a decent crowd before/after Hornets games.

That's when I frequent it the most.

What's been there besides Da Boat?

I think it was just Da Boat and Joey's Chicago Diner. Both horrible concepts. The building also held the show for proposed memorials for the OKC Bombing before bricktown took off...

Al, Howard, inferno, and the rest of their gang will make Al's work.

Funny, I don't even remember anything called Joey's Chicago Diner. No wonder they went out of business.

--

why not a true-style irish pub?

why not a true-style irish pub?

Not in Bricktown, but McNellie's Pub, going in the corner of the Plaza Court building is an Irish Pub.

McNellie's Public House (http://www.mcnellies.com/)

NewsOK.com | Powered by The Oklahoman and NEWS 9 (http://www.newsok.com/article/2976908/?template=business/main)

This was in the Oklahoman today:

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

The moving vans are making one-way trips from Norman to Bricktown these days. Two prominent eateries are relocating to the downtown Oklahoma City entertainment district.

Charles Biehler, owner of Othello's, said the location on the Ed Noble Parkway in Norman was moved to Bricktown's Kingman Building earlier this month. Al Eschbach's Hall of Fame Sports Bar & Grill, meanwhile, is set to open next week in Bricktown's Oklahoma Hardware Building.

Operators of both eateries say their moves are no slight against Norman.

"We had a location in Norman already, on Campus Corner, and we had one in Edmond, and we thought it would be good to have a central location," Biehler said. "And this looked like a really good spot."

Jennifer Burgell, manager of Al Eschbach's, said Bricktown may be a better fit than Norman's Campus Corner for the sports bar, named after sports talk radio personality Al Eschbach.

"Al doesn't just concentrate on Sooner sports — he looks at OSU and OU," Burgell said. "So we figured Bricktown might be neutral ground, and we might get more people to see us here than when we were in Norman."

Both locations have troubled histories. The new Othello's opened just weeks after the closing of its previous tenant, J. Frank's Bar and Grill, which was previously Daddy Hinkle's Steakhouse, Lotus and Banana Joe's. Eschbach's takes the place of Da' Boat, which was preceded by Joey's Chicago Diner and an art gallery.

Biehler said he's not worried about the turnover in tenants over the past few years.

"It's a prime location for Bricktown, being right on the canal, and we're looking to make a name here," Biehler said. "We've tried to make it a more intimate spot. It was very open before."

Othello's also uses only part of the space previously occupied by Daddy Hinkle's and Lotus.

"We felt that having the whole restaurant the way it was made it almost unmanageable," Biehler said. "For the summer, it might have been great, but for the winter it would have been very hard."

Burgell also dismisses her location's previous struggles.

"I think Bricktown has grown around these sites," Burgell said. "The art gallery was five years ago. The foot traffic has picked up significantly. And with Downtown in December and the Hornets, the seasonality has gone out of Bricktown. The recipe for success is certainly here."

Another canal space empty for the past year — at 121 E California Ave. — also is finding new life as the home of a smaller, reopened J. Frank's Bar and Grill. Frank Sims, director of the Bricktown Association, said the Kingman Building space was too large for J. Frank's.

"This was just an opportunity to reopen the concept in a smaller space," Sims said.

Sims said Bricktown is an attractive lure to restaurant operators but is different from typical suburban retail corridors.

"I'm not familiar with other store sales outside the area where I can make a comparison," Sims said. "But the weekend sales here are huge, and we're starting to see some good foot traffic during the week. But you really have to get a full season under your belt to really determine what kind of traffic you can expect."

want a true neighborhood bar (near) bricktown? it's already there...the deep deuce grill...

inferno...as someone that lives in the area and eats in bricktown weekly, i agree with the pizza idea. i would also agree with a quick burrito place like qudoba or chipotle.

do you still have primasano (sp?) cubes? i'm coming there to eat anyway, but was just wondering...