Jenks is exploding

[swake]

Jenks has $630 million in projects recently built or in the works. Another $100 million in projects that will be announced soon.
https://tulsaworld.com/business/local/big-time-development-landing-in-no-longer-small-town-jenks/article_2284802c-abcb-11ed-9858-6f1ecbb4ffad.html

The Simon "Premium" (whatever that means) Outlet Mall located south of the Creek Turnpike on the river is back under construction

https://tulsaworld.com/business/local/work-resumes-at-proposed-jenks-outlet-mall-after-project-stalled-in-2020/article_ed38bea2-a70f-11ed-aecf-2fc9f9b08e9e.html

The low water dam for the Arkansas now is funded after federal grants and funding from the Creek Nation:
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/officials-sign-agreement-to-build-south-tulsa-jenks-low-water-dam/article_33260e0c-9067-11ed-b6b1-9b4c65128c2e.html

On the campus of the Oklahoma Aquarium a climbing gym is planned:


Also on Oklahoma Aquarium campus a High Five entertainment center with bowling, bars, laser tag:

https://ktul.com/news/local/austin-based-high-5-entertainment-to-expand-in-jenks

Again on Oklahoma Aquarium campus a ten million dollar food hall:

https://www.fox23.com/news/high-5-entertainment-moving-in-near-jenks-riverwalk-crossing/article_ddcbf332-cda5-5117-9192-e5296617fa76.html

On main downtown there are a few new projects:

A $10 million expansion of historical Main Street buildings for the headquarters of Telford Insurance:

https://tulsaworld.com/business/local/10-million-mixed-use-project-headed-to-downtown-jenks/article_850f33e4-daa8-11ec-9792-53a0679eb07b.html

A couple of blocks down the street on main four story mixed use building:

http://paine-associates.com/properties/main-street-jenks-mixed-use-project/

Across the street from the last project is a $70 million mixed use complex including 300 apartments and retail:


Another large development is at Main and US-75. The Gateway Development where Kevin Stitt's Gateway company is based. A second office building is under construction, a third is planned. A hotel just opened. A 8 story hospital is planned and an indoor shooting complex is planned.

[tulsabug]

aw man - you got my hopes up that Jenks was literally exploding 

[patric]

aw man - you got my hopes up that Jenks was literally exploding  

The Tuesday eviction of GolfSuites from the three-story golf and entertainment facility at Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks will not be the end of contention between GolfSuites' corporate team and OneFire Holding Company, the subsidiary of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation which serves as landlord for all of Riverwalk including the golf facility.

OneFire is expected to continue to pursue in Muscogee tribal court at least $2 million it claims it is owed for unpaid lease payments. GolfSuites contends it is in arrears due to disagreement about who is responsible for failure to maintain or replace the artificial turf on which all shots from the three-story driving range land and come to rest and for disagreements about the rental agreement.

GolfSuites had contested in court that OneFire was responsible for repairs to the turf for not disclosing the extent of repairs needed at the time the lease was signed. However that plays out, the company also said Wednesday that it was clear it was time to end its relationship with OneFire and maintains the larger story is that the future of the building as a golf facility and indeed the future of all of Riverwalk Crossing is in doubt.

"The story behind the story is they are going to bulldoze it down," said Gerald (Jerry) D. Ellenburg, chairman and CEO of GolfSuites, Inc. "That's why there was no replacement for us announced. That's what I would do if I was the tribe. When you look at the land and what's going on in Jenks, south Tulsa, Broken Arrow, it's probably worth $1.5 billion if you put up condos."

Along with the Mexican restaurant Los Cabos located at the southern end of Riverwalk Crossing, FlyingTee/GolfSuites has been one of the few anchor tenants to consistently bring large numbers of people to the shopping center which has never had a retail anchor.

Calls to Jenks Mayor Cory Box were not immediately returned. An outlet mall, Tulsa Premium Outlets, is scheduled to open this summer in Jenks just minutes from Riverwalk Crossing. Whether that would help enhance Riverwalk as a nearby dining and entertainment option or further cement its irrelevance as a shopping center is another question city leaders are surely debating.

https://golfoklahoma.org/golfsuites-eviction-with-no-announced-successor-casts-doubt-on-riverwalk-crossings-future/

[dbacksfan 2.0]

From further in the link:

Indeed there are limited groups in the country that have proven they can successfully run these type of facilities. TopGolf, the pioneer of large outdoor golf and entertainment facilities with 80 facilities in the U.S. including one in Oklahoma City, has built all of its own buildings to its custom designs and never retrofitted an existing facility. However the company did this year sign an agreement with River Spirit, also owned by the Creek Nation, to provide two Top Golf Swing Suites in the $17.5 million creation of Gridiron, a deluxe sports bar and lounge inside what formerly was a buffet style restaurant area in River Spirit Casino Resort. Gridiron will position the Creek Nation ideally if and when sports betting becomes legal in Oklahoma.

Ellenburg declined to provide exact numbers of visitors to GolfSuites or revenue and how that compared to recent years, but put a ballpark figure on 2023 revenues at $5 million and said business was good in terms of corporate sales and events and walkup traffic, also confirmed by several sources among former employees. It is certainly a place enjoyed by thousands of golfers and non-golfers alike and many made their first swing with a golf club at GolfSuites in Jenks.

Ellenburg said GolfSuites tried unsuccessfully to buy the building from OneFire in 2021. The legal battle between the two began in 2022 and involved who was going to pay for needed turf repairs in addition to rent amounts under the "participating rental agreement" which included various incentives.

Ellenburg conceded the company had held back some rental payments in an effort to reach agreement on the turf repairs but said it was apparent to him in 2023 that OneFire was more interested in getting GolfSuites out.

"There was nobody there that we dealt with when we signed the agreement and it had turned into an acrimonious relationship," he said. "In my opinion, they want to bring in the bulldozers. We love Tulsa and we love our customers and employees. But it was clear it was time to go."

So it sounds like GolfSuites tried to buy the property, but OneFire/Muscogee Nation refused to sell, and GolfSuites are in breach of contract for withholding rent payments over who is responsible for maintaining the facility. To me the maintenance issue would be GolfSuites because of the specific use for the facility but that's just my opinion.

But it also sounds like Muscogee sees it as a losing business once TopGolf builds a facility at River Spirit that will also, depending on passage of sports betting, include a sports book along with the driving range.

[Red Arrow]

I am not a golfer so my opinion probably doesn't matter but...

I think the whole thing is an eye-sore with the huge fences required to contain the golf balls and lighting for night time use.  I will not be sorry to see the whole thing go away.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

I am not a golfer so my opinion probably doesn't matter but...

I think the whole thing is an eye-sore with the huge fences required to contain the golf balls and lighting for night time use.  I will not be sorry to see the whole thing go away.

I play a couple of times a year and I'm not that great at it, but I have not been to one of the TopGolf locations here. I have some friends that have been and they will go in the afternoon to hit some balls, but in the evening they won't go because it's more like an arcade with a bar.

The one near me is literally right off the freeway and at night is a distraction with lighting for the range and the big screens at the end of it that show various sports games going on. It's in an ideal location because it's across the highway from State Farm Stadium, Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Glendale Arena home of the Coyotes for several years) and the new VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park.

I can say from experience that the lights and the big screens are a distraction at night on the freeway, and I don't think I would stay at the Holiday Inn right next door.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7HqiD1UfTdk1Ycx7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6viMAi3i4Tq4jn5w6

https://www.matteladventurepark.com/

https://www.vairesort.com/

[patric]

So it sounds like GolfSuites tried to buy the property, but OneFire/Muscogee Nation refused to sell, and GolfSuites are in breach of contract for withholding rent payments over who is responsible for maintaining the facility. To me the maintenance issue would be GolfSuites because of the specific use for the facility but that's just my opinion.

But it also sounds like Muscogee sees it as a losing business once TopGolf builds a facility at River Spirit that will also, depending on passage of sports betting, include a sports book along with the driving range.

Le Belle Restaurant & Events, which was one of the Tulsa World's top new restaurants of 2023, announced Friday that it is closing.

The restaurant, located at 400 Riverwalk Terrace in the Jenks Riverwalk Crossing, is the latest business in this complex to close in recent weeks.

A letter signed by "Le Belle Management" and posted Friday to the Le Belle Facebook page stated: "After careful consideration and evaluation of various factors, including challenges with our landlords over commitments made to us that were not achieved, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Le Belle Restaurant & Events on the Riverwalk Crossing."

Le Belle Restaurant & Events opened in the spring of 2023, taking over a space that had been occupied by Maryn's Taphouse & Raw Bar.

Another popular restaurant in the Jenks Riverwalk, The Bramble Breakfast & Bar, announced its closure in February.
https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/jenks-riverwalk-crossing/article_f2d709fa-095f-11ef-80a4-e33459b854be.html

[heironymouspasparagus]

We drove thru Jenks about a week ago and see there may be some restaurants to go try!   Getting way big!!

[patric]

Le Belle Restaurant and Events was told to leave on May 1 because they didn't honor the lease. However, Le Belle co-owner, Tylisha Oliver-Thompson, argues that the Riverwalk Crossing didn't honor the lease.

She said after signing the lease with OneFire — the landlords and funded by Muscogee (Creek) Nation — she discovered an inoperable commercial kitchen with severe HVAC and plumbing problems.

"We had to consistently pour thousands of dollars just for plumbing to make sure everything was brought up to speed," she said.

Her cell phone video shows leaks and temperatures on the thermostats, ranging from 91 in the kitchen to 82 in the dining area.

She said contract warranties were not met, and what should have taken a few months to open took over a year.

Months before close, Oliver-Thompson said her costly signage was painted over and that the landlord repeatedly, proverbially "moved the goal post" on requirements.

OneFire's CEO knew about problems when investing in the property, telling TulsaPeople in 2017 everything was "a disaster."

https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/another-riverwalk-crossing-tenant-evicted-amid-lease-disagreements

[dbacksfan 2.0]

So, how are Burn Co, Andolini's, Melting Pot, and Los Cabos doing amidst the issues with Le Belle and GolfSuites? Were they there when the Muscogee and OneFire took ownership?

Maybe it's a Steve Kitchell curse. 

[Hoss]

So, how are Burn Co, Andolini's, Melting Pot, and Los Cabos doing amidst the issues with Le Belle and GolfSuites? Were they there when the Muscogee and OneFire took ownership?

Maybe it's a Steve Kitchell curse. 

Oh jeez there's a name I haven't heard since my days at the Caravan...

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Oh jeez there's a name I haven't heard since my days at the Caravan...

That's one of those names that even if you ask people that played hockey with him and his brother or knew them back inthe late 60's to the mid 70's you get that exact same reaction. Last time I mentioned his name to my oldest brother a couple of years ago he said "Is he dead yet?"

I just remember reading about the issues he had there in late 00's and just wondered if there was still some leftover bad mojo from his business there.

[In_Tulsa]

I just saw the people behind the 10 district will be on Cliff and Carly tomorrow on 92.9. It will be interesting to hear what's a happening.

[Red Arrow]

I just saw the people behind the 10 district will be on Cliff and Carly tomorrow on 92.9. It will be interesting to hear what's a happening.

I think the name "The 10" is kind of lame but that might be my age showing.  What if someone wants to do something west of the railroad tracks?  Would they be "The 10+1" or maybe "The 10+3 or 4" or "The West of the Tracks"?  Need a bunch of districts similar to Downtown Tulsa?  I think "our" fascination with "10" has more to do with our fingers, thumbs and toes than anything else.

Whatever.  I just hope they don't run any more of the antique stores out of business.
 
After you get past the marketing, resume type action verbs and so on, looks like they might have some good ideas.

https://www.thetendistrict.com/about-5-1

[dbacksfan 2.0]

I see that the Muscogee tribe is now going to pump $9 million into the old GolfSuites for a new venture called Suite Shots Golf.

https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/suite-shots-golf-to-fill-golfsuites-spot-on-jenks-riverwalk