RIP - River's Edge Cafe

[cks511]

Closed today forever.  Now the only place you can eat, drink or be merry is Riverwalk Commons.  Bummer.

[jne]

Whaaa?  details?

[cks511]

Well, we were down there on our bikes and stopped for a brewski.  Owner said she was not turning a profit and the city was pressuring her to rebuild the building.  The city is supposedly going to bulldoze the building and build something else.  She did not know what.  They had all their stuff out selling it, huge rummage sale.  I picked up a couple of item.  They were selling the remainder of their beer for donations.

Going, going, gone.  

People coming by were SHOCKED!  Go down there and check it out.  I suspect the devil is in the details.  Sounded like she wanted to say more but couldn't.

[Jonette]

[!]

Maybe the EVIL Kathy Taylor is "The "DEVIL" in the details"

MUUUHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

[TheArtist]

Well thats sad. Though hadnt gone but a couple of times early in the year. It was always a nice place to take people, just hang out and enjoy the outdoors, chowing down and live music. Was also a nice place to stop and refresh while biking or rollerblading.

I hope the city builds something interesting there.  Will the QT park have a restaurant space at it? Or even just allow food cart vendors.

From what I gather the River Parks charges so much that food cart vendors and heck even artists cant set up anywhere along the river.

[sgrizzle]

As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.

If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.

If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.

Thought River's Edge would have been Jenks?

Edit: nevermind..thought it was on the Riverwalk, now I remember it's over on 21st and Riverside...doh!

Well, WAS over on 21st and Riverside.

[waterboy]

Its not the city. Her lease is with the River Parks Authority who only receives partial funding and board representation from the city. The County also has the same deal. The rest is from donations from local big guys which allows them to populate the rest of the board. The board wants a different tenant I suppose.

I won't act surprised and most folks know I'm no fan of RPA. But she made a lot of money there as the only facility to sell beer on park property. Nobody knows how that happened but she knew someone somewhere. Her rent was cheap. The money spent on improving the building consisted of corrugated plastic awnings, plastic tables and no efforts to create real restaurant capability (mostly microwave, hot plates and prepackaged). She was hamstrung by having to close early (11pm) and by not operating year around. It was a comfy little place but not the full service, year around "break in the trail" that the RPA envisions. The original riverparks spirit of development; small, folksy, laid back and low impact is almost gone now. Things change and that spot has been underutilized.

She also is not the style that the new RPA wants. It sounds like she had a chance to meet their suburban clean, neat, vanilla vision of public venues as evidenced by the Kaiser improvements. She probably saw it coming. It was a good gig for her while it lasted.

They like big names. I'm guessing her efforts to start something will be continued by a local existing chain.

[carltonplace]

The last 3rd penney package that we passed included funds to replace the River's Edge and adjoining restrooms with a structure that had an actual kitchen.

I've known Hillary Koppel (the owner) for a long time and always enjoyed the Edge, I'll certainly miss it. I'd hope that Hillary would get first dibs on whatever goes there. She made the Edge work for a very long time with very little to work with.

[Conan71]

Considering that the place was very weather and season-dependent, they did well to be there as long as they did.  I'm really going to miss it.  It was a great gathering area and, by far, the best place along the river to have a beer without a huge crush of folks.

[waterboy]

Hillary always gave me a big hug whenever I saw her. She knew how to get along with the RPA brass and offered me advice I didn't follow, "Pick your battle's well". I bet she shows up somewhere else with her customers in tow.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.

If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.

I see those food carts and wagons at night, downtown every weekend. If they have running water where they set up downtown, they can have the same running water by the river.

As for artists, I would love for there to be some spots where artists could set up and sell their work. In many cities you see places alongside the river or even on bridges where artists set up and paint and sell their art. But you cant charge them high fees and 20% of what they sell. Especially to newer artists who are just starting out. Also the vendor applications are designed for "events". Why cant someone set up in a designated area on any day they please, event or no?

[cannon_fodder]

That makes me sad, I loved that place.  To me, it was the only place in Tulsa that felt like a big city gathering.  All sorts of people - people with dogs, families, singles, bums, pretty much everyone.  A few drinks.  An occasional art vendor.

It will be dearly missed in my household.

[Michael71]

What a bummer!!!

Where will "the dancing couple" go to show off their stomach-strum guitar move?

[carltonplace]

best place in Tulsa to "people watch"