VZD's

[Snowman]

There are cigar bars/lounges in California. Not sure how they work, but they are around.

And the point about pushing smokers out to the outdoor space is a good one. Most places gradually banned smoking on the patios as well, and the laws here require smokers to stay a fair distance from any doors.

The law here is at least 25 feet from a door, however you still see a ton of people do it standing right at them or light up in large crowds just exiting the doors from a large event.

[Urbanized]

I hear now that Chad might be working with various interests that might come in as partners and help him dig out, which would be great news if true. Apparently more than one prominent local got in touch with him immediately following the news, ready to pony up. Says a lot about how much the community values the restaurant and what he has done over the years.

[Libbymin]

I hear now that Chad might be working with various interests that might come in as partners and help him dig out, which would be great news if true. Apparently more than one prominent local got in touch with him immediately following the news, ready to pony up. Says a lot about how much the community values the restaurant and what he has done over the years.

I had heard something similar from someone else actually. This is coming from a friend of a friend type of source so you can take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard that the financial situation may be a bit more FUBAR than the article indicated. I certainly hope someone can step in and help them out but it may be too much of a mess. I've heard the place next door has already had a steep drop off in business which is also very unfortunate.

[Questor]

Its amazing how slowly things of this nature change here. I completely refuse to spend money at places that allow smoking of any kind. Clearly that hasn't had much impact... I don't know if that's because other non-smokers just keep going to these places anyway, or if there are just so many smokers in Oklahoma it doesn't matter.

Yes, really crazy that the state passes laws taking local rights away from cities. It's not surprising or unprecedented though; Oklahoma has a long history in restricting the rights of its individual cities.

Sad about VZDs. Hopefully they can get something figured out.

[OKCRT]

They need to allow smokers if they want to make it in this city. That's just the way it is. People go to bars/casinos and want to smoke and spend money. That is fact. They need some powerful exhaust fans to suck the smoke out. Putting up a non smoking sign on your door will kill a bar.

[Bullbear]

They need to allow smokers if they want to make it in this city. That's just the way it is. People go to bars/casinos and want to smoke and spend money. That is fact. They need some powerful exhaust fans to suck the smoke out. Putting up a non smoking sign on your door will kill a bar.

First off they cannot allow smoking at VZD's it wasn't a choice they made it's the alw.
2nd you don't have to allow smoking if you want to make it in this city. there are plenty of successfull businesses who do not allow it and they are doing just fine.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
Agreed on all counts. Honestly I don't think you would hear that being trotted out as a reason in this particular case if only:

• VZD's didn't have the longstanding character of a bar/venue vs. restaurant after 5 AND
• They weren't so closely proximate to places like Cock o' the Walk, Sipango, Speakeasy and Edna's.

I suspect they just saw their bar business regularly siphoned off by those places after the law change, and it stuck in their craw.

[IanMcDermid]

Porsche's new Macan has an optional Smokers Package; it's the only Porsche option I know of that costs $0, so I suspect at least some dealers will add it to the ten or twenty grand worth of extras they usually tack on.

Yeah I ticked that option on my 2005 Mini Cooper order. It was an ashtray that fit inside the cup holder and a lighter inside the "phone charger."

[Prunepicker]

Real bummer. Haven't been there in awhile but had some fun times. Have they posted a reason?

I gigged there in the 80's. Sorry to hear it's closing.

[RadicalModerate]

^^^^^^
Agreed on all counts. Honestly I don't think you would hear that being trotted out as a reason in this particular case if only:

• VZD's didn't have the longstanding character of a bar/venue vs. restaurant after 5 AND
• They weren't so closely proximate to places like Cock o' the Walk, Sipango, Speakeasy and Edna's.

I suspect they just saw their bar business regularly siphoned off by those places after the law change, and it stuck in their craw.

I will freely admit that I rarely go out to bars. I spent a good portion of the late 70's and early 80's hanging out in them and they don't have much attraction for me anymore. Having said that, the only bar I can think of that I've been to in the last few years that allowed smoking was Baker Street up on Memorial. I'm also aware of WSKY as a place to enjoy a drink and a good cigar, but haven't been there yet. Do a lot of bars actually still allow smoking? If so, color me surprised.

btw: I'm not opposed to smoking in the right context. (the glass of Bushmill's is out of the shot behind my hand)

[Jeepnokc]

I will freely admit that I rarely go out to bars. I spent a good portion of the late 70's and early 80's hanging out in them and they don't have much attraction for me anymore. Having said that, the only bar I can think of that I've been to in the last few years that allowed smoking was Baker Street up on Memorial. I'm also aware of WSKY as a place to enjoy a drink and a good cigar, but haven't been there yet. Do a lot of bars actually still allow smoking? If so, color me surprised.

btw: I'm not opposed to smoking in the right context. (the glass of Bushmill's is out of the shot behind my hand)

Come by the office and share one on the balcony with me and my own personal stock of Jack Single Barrel. (I bought the barrel so it really is my own stock)

[RadicalModerate]

Come by the office and share one on the balcony with me and my own personal stock of Jack Single Barrel. (I bought the barrel so it really is my own stock)

When the weather warms up in a few months I just might take you up on that kind offer. =)
On the other hand, a double shot of Jack, neat (or maybe with three ice cubes), a good cigar and a space heater . . .
Nearly Priceless whatever the season. =)

One of Life's Simple Pleasures.
(especially if you don't have any anti-tobacco Nazis nagging in the background =)

[Jeepnokc]

When the weather warms up in a few months I just might take you up on that kind offer. =)
On the other hand, a double shot of Jack, neat (or maybe with three ice cubes), a good cigar and a space heater . . .
Nearly Priceless whatever the season. =)

One of Life's Simple Pleasures.
(especially if you don't have any anti-tobacco Nazis nagging in the background =)

We can always sit in the empty retail space. View sucks but its warm and no issue smoking....I have an in with owner

[Urbanized]

Off the top of my mind places that allow smoking in an inside space within the near-NW "bubble" around VZD's: Sipango, Cock o' the Walk, Edna's, Junior's, Henry Hudson's, Cousins, Speakeasy, Blue Note, The Other Room, Red Rooster, McNellie's (upstairs), Cookie's. I'm sure there are others; those are just the ones I can think of easily. And by "allow smoking" in most cases I mean the smoke is fairly oppressive and you can be guaranteed to smell like a dirty ashtray upon departure.

Around here at least, smoking is still "a thing."

[RadicalModerate]

I really had no idea that indoor smoking was still that common around here. I remember seeing a No Smoking sign on a bowling alley many years ago and thought, "Dang. I can't imagine bowling without tobacco." (not that I was actually a bowler, it just seemed like bowling alleys were the last bastion of bad habits.)

Over the years, I've gotten used to recusing myself to the "Rosa Parks" areas outside of just about everywhere we go if I feel the urge to light up. Ain't no thang . . . doncha know. In fact, in general, I try not to allow my personal vice to trespass on other's airspace. What cracks me up are those wimps who might be twenty feet from you and give those lame little coughs as if just seeing someone enjoying a cigarette is killing them. Never mind all the auto exhaust and asbestos from brake linings and deconstructed buildings that is still wafting around.

btw: for years I've wondered: is it Si-PANG-O or is it Sip-(a)N-Go? (i don't constantly wonder that, just once in awhile . . . like now.)

I don't usually notice the smell of cigarette smoke but I have to admit that on the rare occasions we travel and check into a "Smoking Allowed" room at a hotel or motel, the stink of stale smoke is pretty oppressive . . . for about ten minutes. So I get your "dirty ashtray" simile.

[tulamokom]

I have heard that Sipango was meant to be pronounced as Sip And Go. However, the other way of pronunciation was quite common. I have friends who would refer to Sipango as the "Pang" as well.

[Easy180]

Didn't stay closed for long...Reopening tomorrow under new management

https://www.facebook.com/events/6692...y_type=regular

[Tydude]

They are not reopening tonight They are not ready to open it back up

[Bullbear]

They were still closed tonight

[ljbab728]

Brianna's update.

Oklahoma City restaurant-bar VZD's to reopen under new management | News OK

VZD’s is set to reopen at 5 p.m. Thursday with a solo performance by David Lon from the band the Wavetones at 6 p.m.
VZD’s will celebrate its grand opening Dec. 19 with a reunion performance by 1990s Oklahoma City band Dirt Poets, which hasn’t performed together in about 15 years, Walton said.

“We’ve already had about 500 calls about it — it’s going to be big,” Walton said.

[ljbab728]

Kings X.

Owner says VZD's not ready to reopen | NewsOK.com

[Paseofreak]

Yup! Got all those bases covered. Opening tonight's! NOT!

[ljbab728]

Not good news here.

Plans to reopen VZD's appear to have fallen through in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com

Plans to reopen Western Avenue’s landmark music venue VZD’s under new management appear to have stalled or broken down completely.

[ljbab728]

It's on again as per Dave Cathey.

VZD's on Western Avenue gets new owners in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com

In brief


VZD’s gets new owners

The off-again-off-again-off-again reopening of VZD’s is over as new owners Nelson Bolen and chef Eric Smith on Friday made public their purchase of the historic restaurant and bar.
In December, a few premature announcements were made about the sale of the concept formerly owned by Chad Bleakley. A new would-be owner even went to so far as to go on Facebook to announce a relaunch party that was never to be.
But chef Eric Smith said the bookend to the Western Avenue entertainment corridor will open in late March or early April with a blowout party, featuring live music and samples of the re-imagined menu.

[sooner88]

They tweeted "JUNE 2015" today.