City Garden (formerly Bleu Garten)

[BoulderSooner]

Was just told that the McNellie's group is taking this over.

best news i have heard in a long time ....

[Will Dearborn]

The McNellie's down the street has struggled with staffing too...getting service on the patio this year has been a struggle.

Don't see how them taking over really helps.

[Urbanized]

The McNellie's down the street has struggled with staffing too...getting service on the patio this year has been a struggle.

Don't see how them taking over really helps.

That's a short-term issue. McNellie's group a professional team. They will reinvest in the space - something that hasn't been done previously - and as soon as they can get up to reasonable staffing levels you can bet that they will be open during any hours in which they could be turning a profit. Lack of ongoing re-investment and unreliable/non-aggressive operating hours were the main downfall of Bleu Garten.

[formerly405Tulsan]

Was just told that the McNellie's group is taking this over.

Does this mean they will run the food truck park, or do you expect them to develop the land into a restaurant?

[Pete]

Does this mean they will run the food truck park, or do you expect them to develop the land into a restaurant?

I believe they will run it in a similar manner as Bleu Garten.

I'm sure they'll also make some changes and hopefully some upgrades.

[shawnw]

It would be smart for them to offer some kind of limited food/delivery menu from their restaurants for those times when the what's available via on hand food trucks isn't appetizing

[Pete]

^

Or add their own kitchen.

That's the setup at their soon-to-be big rival, Truck Yard.

[shawnw]

Yes, of course, if there's room for that

[Pete]

The lease with the McNellie's group isn't quite finalized, but they are working on it.

The plan is to add some permanent food items and make other small changes.

With the cold weather coming, I suspect they won't reopen until spring.

[borchard]

Rumor I heard was some kind of Burger concept

[soonerguru]

Rumor I heard was some kind of Burger concept

Cutting edge.

[Pete]

The McNellie's Restaurant Group has signed a lease to operate the old Bleu Garten space. The new name is City Garden.

They will be doing a refresh, planting 4 mature trees, adding new furniture, fire pits, more lighting and generally updating everything.

Will open one day for Saint Patrick's, then start a regular schedule this spring.

A permanent kitchen will offer a variety of tacos and likely one other type of food while they will also host rotating food trucks.

Local beers with seasonal cocktails will be available at the bars.

[runOKC]

Those mature trees will make a massive difference. Looks awesome.

[BoulderSooner]

wait you mean they are going to invest in the space .... what an amazing concept .. trees and misters .. will make this fantastic

[Roger S]

They should put in a shooting range for the Kong's crowd.

[warreng88]

Can't wait for the "where do we park?" crowd on social media posts...

[soonerguru]

This sounds promising. The trees are indeed a nice touch; will make it less State Fair and more of a permanent space with an Austiny-type feel, which is probably what they are shooting for.

[gopokes88]

Can't wait for the "where do we park?" crowd on social media posts...

kinda amazing how many people just admit to drinking and driving tbh

[chssooner]

Can't wait for the "where do we park?" crowd on social media posts...

What? This is literally the exact same thing that was there before. No parking is being lost.

[DoctorTaco]

They should put in a shooting range for the Kong's crowd.

lol

[king183]

they should put in a shooting range for the kong's crowd.

oh lawdy!

[Martin]

They should put in a shooting range for the Kong's crowd.

great cross-promotion... it's the shots and shots saturday night special!

[foodiefan]

. . . love the "this ain't my first rodeo" signs!!

[soonerguru]

Hilariously, I saw someone on the FB post bemoaning these improvements, saying, "I want Bleu Garten." WHY?

People are ridiculous.

[tokyokie]

The signage in the pictures is from Howdy Burger in Tulsa. Could that mean they will be one of the permanent concepts?