DIY Downtown Business...

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates

quote:Originally posted by Conan71


Does anyone know what the odd white house is right on the NE corner of 15th and I think it's College or one of the Florences.  It's got very high, small windows, and I never see anyone coming and going.  Reminds me of some sort of headquarters for a weird cult.

If it's the one I'm thinking of, at 1449 S. Florence Ave., in 1957 it was the "I Am Sanctuary of Tulsa reading rooms," according to that year's Polk Directory.

That is the one.  I looked as I drove past this evening- white building green shingles corner of Florence Ave & 15th.

I never see anyone around there, yet it is not run-down nor overgrown.

What sect or religion is it related to- anyone have an idea?

[brunoflipper]

my dream is to find any suitable old brick warehouse and make it into indoor soccer fields for league and pick-up games...

basically, a downtown version of soccercity...
people play out there night and day, 365 days a year... all ages and all walks of life...

should be relatively cheap retrofit...
would be a great draw...

[we vs us]

Smith Brothers Abstract and Title Co. needs to become an upscale steakhouse if there's enough square footage; if not it should be a martini bar.  

So:  gut rehab with an eye to modernizing the excellent deco shell. The inside would need the most work (installing a full kitchen is crazy-expensive), and of course all the design elements should be deco as well. 1950's ad-man chic. In tone, it has to take itself seriously; no kitsch allowed.

Food should be upscale and expensive (sorry guys, trying for a very specific crowd here), with an emphasis on beef, maybe buffalo, and as fresh fish as can be found here.  Going as local as possible is imperative, both for product and for dishes.  Local and regional.  

Question:  will the city give you a liquor license if you're across the street from a church?

Marketing will be crucial for this to work.  There's no natural foot traffic, and as yet no one really living downtown.  So to start, lunch and happy hour biz would drive profit.  You'd have to align with as many of the downtown companies as possible -- "The Business Lunch is Back!", "Schmoozing at tables only!" "Gentlemen, leave your fedoras at the door" -- that kind of thing.  The idea would be to make people downtown feel like swank business folk again, rather than going to Mazzio's for a quick desultory meal.  Maybe emphasize that a proper sit down lunch is back in style.  Tall order, I know, but important to the idea of the place.  

Big thing would be to be part of the arena crowd and the upcoming Driller's stadium.  Perhaps package dinner at The Title Co. with box seats?  or something?  There's a way to leverage that new business, but I haven't thought it through yet.  

I'm serious about this, too:  send gift baskets to each new condo owner downtown, at least through 2009. Something completely over the top.  Make people feel like you're being a good neighbor.  

Ok, that's all I've got for now.  I took these pics this morning:

[waterboy]

Is that Deco? I thought it was 60's modern. Love the idea though. When I worked downtown in the 70's we used to love "the Cog" (Incognito) bar and restaurant.

[inteller]

I know one thing, I want to be goofing off one night very late downtown and catch that 'Bebop' ****er and commit various acts of vigilante justice on his/her donkey.

that is a very sweet building.  I never get into that part of town because construction is horrible.

[ttownclown]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

I know one thing, I want to be goofing off one night very late downtown and catch that 'Bebop' ****er and commit various acts of vigilante justice on his/her donkey.

Make sure you send out the bat signal - I'll be the first one there to help.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Is that Deco? I thought it was 60's modern. Love the idea though. When I worked downtown in the 70's we used to love "the Cog" (Incognito) bar and restaurant.

I stand corrected. It is in fact 60's modern.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by ttownclown

quote:Originally posted by inteller

I know one thing, I want to be goofing off one night very late downtown and catch that 'Bebop' ****er and commit various acts of vigilante justice on his/her donkey.

Make sure you send out the bat signal - I'll be the first one there to help.

actually there is a company now that makes a camera that can be hidden.  When it detects motion it will send a text message to authorities (or in my case a vigilante) who can then respond quickly.

I think we need to write 'sucks' under Bebob everywhere we see it and then hide one of these cameras nearby.  When he/she/it comes back to paint over the sucks we can catch them.

[Wingnut]

quote: That is the one. I looked as I drove past this evening- white building green shingles corner of Florence Ave & 15th.

If it's the place I'm thinking of, I think it was originally a gas station way back in the day. As of several years ago, it was an automotive upholstery shop. I think it was also a tv rental place a long time ago. I could be wrong on that and have buildings mixed up.

[restored2x]

I'd love to open a real diner. You know, the 40's and 50's kind of diner. Buy an old one, refurbish and set it downtown near the new stadium, indoor dining and outdoor dining - with a drive-up.

PowerBall is up to 62 mil now - maybe, just maybe.

[si_uk_lon_ok]

Right at the top of the Philtower are some unused floors. I think they no longer meet safety regulations as you have to walk up to them or change lift, but inside they still have all the original wood paneling and fireplaces. I think it would make a really nice private members bar, something very discerning, quite quiet and real find for the right people.  

A bit like this place I've been to:
Milk and Honey

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by we vs us

Smith Brothers Abstract and Title Co. needs to become an upscale steakhouse if there's enough square footage; if not it should be a martini bar.  

So:  gut rehab with an eye to modernizing the excellent deco shell. The inside would need the most work (installing a full kitchen is crazy-expensive), and of course all the design elements should be deco as well. 1950's ad-man chic. In tone, it has to take itself seriously; no kitsch allowed.

That building was originally (or at least back in the '70s) the home of Ponca City Savings and Loan, which later became (I think) Frontier Federal Savings and Loan.

Love the idea of '50s (or maybe early '60s?) ad-man chic.

Anyone know what will become of the old 1st National autobank on the east half of that block? The little branch bank attached to it is an interesting modern building, not to mention the "Tom Tom Room" -- the meeting room that sits atop the parking deck.

[dayzella]

quote:
Anyone know what will become of the old 1st National autobank on the east half of that block? The little branch bank attached to it is an interesting modern building, not to mention the "Tom Tom Room" -- the meeting room that sits atop the parking deck.

When we were house lease looking in November, on of the real estate agents told us about a studio apartment conversion on top of a downtown parking deck that would eventually be demolished.  We were mildly interested, but couldn't imagine how the dogs would react to it.  That might be your Tom Tom room.

I now desperately want to name something "Tom Tom."  Or maybe "Two Toms."  A boat.  A restaurant.  A dog.  Something.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates

quote:Originally posted by we vs us

Smith Brothers Abstract and Title Co. needs to become an upscale steakhouse if there's enough square footage; if not it should be a martini bar.  

So:  gut rehab with an eye to modernizing the excellent deco shell. The inside would need the most work (installing a full kitchen is crazy-expensive), and of course all the design elements should be deco as well. 1950's ad-man chic. In tone, it has to take itself seriously; no kitsch allowed.

That building was originally (or at least back in the '70s) the home of Ponca City Savings and Loan, which later became (I think) Frontier Federal Savings and Loan.

Love the idea of '50s (or maybe early '60s?) ad-man chic.

Anyone know what will become of the old 1st National autobank on the east half of that block? The little branch bank attached to it is an interesting modern building, not to mention the "Tom Tom Room" -- the meeting room that sits atop the parking deck.

That whole block really just reeks of mid-century awesome.  I have no idea what a drive through bank branch like that can segue into, but I wish it would.  It's still very pretty, and it's only used for parking right now.  Even the parking structure on the north end of the block isn't too shabby.  Actually, it is pretty shabby, but you'd think it could be restored easily to its former glory.

Does anyone know what's going on on the SW corner of Boston and 6th?  What are they building?

[TURobY]

My boyfriend and I were dicussing converting the Abundant Life building into a dinner theatre. Maybe place some yellow neon behind the yellow diamonds, etc. I was going to draw it, but I never got time. Maybe this weekend? []