any news on what might be going into the spot? such a great building!
Last I heard, Ti Amo's had leased it. But haven't seen any evidence...
I heard a prospective Republican Council candidate say he didnt understand why SoChey's had closed. No way could it not have great business with the BOKCenter right next door.
To this day I am floored when I hear that excuse. An event happening even once a week is not enough to support a restaurant, particularly one that is further isolated from any other activity such as bars, hotels, clubs, other eateries, etc.
Scares me that a prospective candidate thinks in those terms.
Quote from: DowntownNow on June 19, 2009, 12:06:30 AM
I heard a prospective Republican Council candidate say he didnt understand why SoChey's had closed. No way could it not have great business with the BOKCenter right next door.
To this day I am floored when I hear that excuse. An event happening even once a week is not enough to support a restaurant, particularly one that is further isolated from any other activity such as bars, hotels, clubs, other eateries, etc.
Scares me that a prospective candidate thinks in those terms.
Just because someone doesn't understand the restraunt buisness does not mean they won't make a good councilor....
Quote from: DowntownNow on June 19, 2009, 12:06:30 AM
An event happening even once a week is not enough to support a restaurant, particularly one that is further isolated from any other activity such as bars, hotels, clubs, other eateries, etc.
The BokCenter is a little more active than "one event" per week. They have been open 38 weeks and have had over 100 days/nights with ticketed events, plus numerous other uses of the center.
I agree if this was the reason they gave for the restaurant failing, it is a lame excuse.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on June 19, 2009, 10:15:22 AM
The BokCenter is a little more active than "one event" per week. They have been open 38 weeks and have had over 100 days/nights with ticketed events, plus numerous other uses of the center.
I agree if this was the reason they gave for the restaurant failing, it is a lame excuse.
Losing their head chef and most of their kitchen crew finally closed the lid on that coffin. It was a shame. I loved that place.
The BOK may be active more than once a week but a bunch of the events are fairly small, small enough to where most park in the Civic Center garage and not very many people walk by SoChey.
I really doubt the minor league sports and smaller touring events have a significant impact on SoChey.
The major arena events that really bring downtown to life are much less than once a week.
I think that if you're in the restaurant biz, you have to be there 24/7 to manage the place. Or you have to find an incredible manager willing to be there for you 24/7. (Much harder to do.)
My guess is that they couldn't find the right mgr to run the place for them. Lots of restaurants have this problem. That's why the best restaurants in town are owned and operated by the same person/family....and they practically live on site.
Even if the Eagles were the BOK house band and played every night, inconsistent food and service will doom you. While I had some good meals at SoChey, I know many who did not. Also, the opening of The Daily Grill created some pretty stiff competition for the "white table cloth" lunch crowd downtown.
Actually the best run restraunts in town are chains....Chains do a better job of managing and training then locally owned restraunts more often than not....
Ti Amo it is. Supposed to open next month.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&articleid=20090620_32_E1_MehdiK146379
Interesting, I have never been to Ti Amo on Sheridan but may try the one downtown.
For any of you who haven't, go try Ti Amo. It may just be the best Italian in town, and for a restaurant billed as having a romantic atmosphere the prices are pretty darn reasonable.
Ti Amos - pretty nice atmosphere, fantastic food, unpredictable service. I hope they have good management at the new location, I have seen some ridiculously bad service in there - ditz waitresses, clueless do-nothing bartender, but at times the service has been great. The food is some of the best Italian in town and it seems like the prices were pretty reasonable.
Ti Amo's is decent, but I wouldn't confuse it with real Italian food.
Check out Villa Ravenna in the Farm Shopping Center...if you want "real" Italian food. (Family owned and operated.)