DIY Downtown Business...

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by 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? []

What kind of dinner theatre? Hopefully not like the one in Connie and Carla [].
It was good seeing you at the tour--I didn't know you were TURobY, but I sometimes wondered!

What's the inside of the Abundant Life building like???  Granted, it's empty and falling to pieces, but is it a bunch of offices?

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by circassia

I've always wanted to open a Jazz club downtown. I'd do the decor in the 30's glam of the time, lots of stainless steel, blues, etc.

I'd serve a menu comparable to something like Flemings, with an extensive wine list and full bar.

I'd try to do the glasses in an art deco design and have the entire restaurant feel like you're back in the heyday of downtown.

I'd love to do it in the Tulsa Club building. I'd renovate the entire building and take the top two floors for my space. The rest would be converted into lofts with the lowest floor a jazz club/restaurant.

All I need to do now is win the lottery.

Damn, that was my idea.  I;d like to have a place like the Continental that also serves an exquisite menu.

On to idea #2:
I would love to open a bohemian movie theatre/restaurant/bar in an old warehouse in the Brady district or perhaps the Blue Dome area.  It would specialize in indie films as well as old classics, such as Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's.  There would be a Continental American menu featuring reuben sandwiches, gourmet salads, and even steak and salmon choices.  There would be appetizers like calamari, bruschetta, and gourmet artichoke nachos.  The bar would be full service, with a great wine selection, and feature a street side entrance separate from the theatre seating.  Waitstaff would cater to you at your seat throughout the movie.  Low, ambient lighting would provide a good movie-watching atmosphere and just enough light for a perfect dinner setting.  The decor would have a 1930s Hollywood theme, and the exterior of the building would have an old time movie theatre sign like The Brook does.

[hoodlum]

The Ponca City Savings and Loan as it was originally called was designed by Tulsa Architect Robert Buchman in the 50's.

The Autobank was designed by Tulsa architects McCune and McCune. It was featured by portland cement in several architecture magazines of the period.

there used to be a Bertoia sculpture in front of the Autobank, it has since been moved.

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85


On to idea #2:
I would love to open a bohemian movie theatre/restaurant/bar in an old warehouse in the Brady district or perhaps the Blue Dome area.  It would specialize in indie films as well as old classics, such as Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's.  There would be a Continental American menu featuring reuben sandwiches, gourmet salads, and even steak and salmon choices.  There would be appetizers like calamari, bruschetta, and gourmet artichoke nachos.  The bar would be full service, with a great wine selection, and feature a street side entrance separate from the theatre seating.  Waitstaff would cater to you at your seat throughout the movie.  Low, ambient lighting would provide a good movie-watching atmosphere and just enough light for a perfect dinner setting.  The decor would have a 1930s Hollywood theme, and the exterior of the building would have an old time movie theatre sign like The Brook does.

Sounds like you and I have a very similar idea (just located in different buildings). If either of us stumbles across some money, we'll have to promise to call each other. []

[dsjeffries]

Since this thread is dedicated to downtown, and parking seems to be an omnipresent issue, I thought I'd sadly share this map I've created of parking lots in downtown... Note:  It's not 100% accurate and the lines don't exactly match up--I was working with an overlay of a Google satellite image.

Maybe we should first decide which parking lot we're going to replace with our fantastic businesses []

It's a sad thing to look at though... [V][V]


View it larger here.

[TheTed]

Great map.

There's a surface lot missing along the south side of 6th just west of Elwood.

Also, isn't there a garage just east of the Community Care building, (just west of Cheyenne and south of 6th)?

There's also a surface lot at the bank at the southeast corner of Fifth and Boulder.

And another surface lot along the west side of Boulder in the middle of the block between 4th and 5th.

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

Great map.

There's a surface lot missing along the south side of 6th just west of Elwood.

Also, isn't there a garage just east of the Community Care building, (just west of Cheyenne and south of 6th)?

There's also a surface lot at the bank at the southeast corner of Fifth and Boulder.

And another surface lot along the west side of Boulder in the middle of the block between 4th and 5th.

Thanks...

I'd hoped that I'd added some that weren't there instead of having too few [V]

[just_like_new]

I love this thread.  I have always wanted to open a bakery/ cafe downtown.  There is this place called Cafe Lalo in New York City that I love.  Picture the cafe where Meg Ryan meets Tom Hanks in "You've Got Mail".  They have a dessert counter that goes on for yards with every kind of sweets you can imagine.  They also serve mamosas and irish coffee, etc.  I think that a place like this would be great downtown to draw people in after they go see a show at the PAC or BOK Center.  It could also sell soup and sandwiches for the lunch crowd.  If they stayed open late, then they could also serve the bar crowd who get hungry late.  

I have also always wanted to open a donut shop that serves cheap but good diner-style coffee in the small attendant's area with the large glass window front in the Mayo parking gargage between 4th and 5th and Cheyenne.

[Kashmir]

It would be great to take some of the vacant buildings on Harvard we were talking about a while ago and have a Italian Deli/Grocery like Jimmy's in Dallas, a Hispanic Market, a bakery (NOT Panera)a butcher (like Perry), an Amish Jelly/Jam/ Dessert(?), and a Farmers/Produce Market all in a row...within walking distance.  Then some of the storefronts could be renovated into mini cafe's that guest chefs could use to try out concepts.

It could be the "Foodevard" on Harvard.

(Hides as tomatoes fly...)[B)]

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by Kashmir

It would be great to take some of the vacant buildings on Harvard we were talking about a while ago and have a Italian Deli/Grocery like Jimmy's in Dallas, a Hispanic Market, a bakery (NOT Panera)a butcher (like Perry), an Amish Jelly/Jam/ Dessert(?), and a Farmers/Produce Market all in a row...within walking distance.  Then some of the storefronts could be renovated into mini cafe's that guest chefs could use to try out concepts.

It could be the "Foodevard" on Harvard.

(Hides as tomatoes fly...)[B)]

Hey, that's a great idea!  I'm sold on encouraging districts like that in Tulsa. . . there's a degree to which it naturally happens already (for instance, the aforementioned antique stores), but with some support from the city, it could really become something special.

And really, it's all about marketing more than anything.  Maybe a small tax break here or there, and some infrastructure support (new sidewalks!), but the lion's share would be helping to brand the district and advertise on it's behalf.

[Kashmir]

Thanks!

Maybe someone can come up with a better name...

[BierGarten]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

quote:Originally posted by circassia

Damn, that was my idea.  I;d like to have a place like the Continental that also serves an exquisite menu.

On to idea #2:
I would love to open a bohemian movie theatre/restaurant/bar in an old warehouse in the Brady district or perhaps the Blue Dome area.  It would specialize in indie films as well as old classics, such as Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's.  There would be a Continental American menu featuring reuben sandwiches, gourmet salads, and even steak and salmon choices.  There would be appetizers like calamari, bruschetta, and gourmet artichoke nachos.  The bar would be full service, with a great wine selection, and feature a street side entrance separate from the theatre seating.  Waitstaff would cater to you at your seat throughout the movie.  Low, ambient lighting would provide a good movie-watching atmosphere and just enough light for a perfect dinner setting.  The decor would have a 1930s Hollywood theme, and the exterior of the building would have an old time movie theatre sign like The Brook does.

A movie theatre with food and bar service at your seat is exactly something Tulsa needs.  Like Alamo in Austin (dirty and fun) or Magnolia in Dallas (more upscale).

Unfortutely, we will need to change Oklahoma law in order for this to happen.  Currently, one may not serve alcohol in a movie house.  Can you believe that's actually on the books?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by BierGarten

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

quote:Originally posted by circassia

Damn, that was my idea.  I;d like to have a place like the Continental that also serves an exquisite menu.

On to idea #2:
I would love to open a bohemian movie theatre/restaurant/bar in an old warehouse in the Brady district or perhaps the Blue Dome area.  It would specialize in indie films as well as old classics, such as Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's.  There would be a Continental American menu featuring reuben sandwiches, gourmet salads, and even steak and salmon choices.  There would be appetizers like calamari, bruschetta, and gourmet artichoke nachos.  The bar would be full service, with a great wine selection, and feature a street side entrance separate from the theatre seating.  Waitstaff would cater to you at your seat throughout the movie.  Low, ambient lighting would provide a good movie-watching atmosphere and just enough light for a perfect dinner setting.  The decor would have a 1930s Hollywood theme, and the exterior of the building would have an old time movie theatre sign like The Brook does.

A movie theatre with food and bar service at your seat is exactly something Tulsa needs.  Like Alamo in Austin (dirty and fun) or Magnolia in Dallas (more upscale).

Unfortutely, we will need to change Oklahoma law in order for this to happen.  Currently, one may not serve alcohol in a movie house.  Can you believe that's actually on the books?

Totally classic movie line exchange which came to mind due to your post:

"Vincent: Alright, well you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don't mean just like in no paper cup, I'm talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald's. And you know what they call a, uh, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?

Jules: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?

Vincent: Nah, man, they got the metric system, they wouldn't know what the **** a Quarter Pounder is.

Jules: What do they call it?

Vincent: They call it a "Royale with Cheese." "

[safetyguy]

quote: Currently, one may not serve alcohol in a movie house.  Can you believe that's actually on the books?

Nothing surprises me about the archaic liquor laws in this state anymore...

[TheArtist]

I would really like to see a bowling alley downtown.  It would be nice to have one more thing to do downt there on a night out with friends or a date.

I would have it so that all 4 outside walls were glass. At night driving by you could see all the action inside and even the machinery working behind the pins. I would put the whole thing on the second floor of a building, perhaps parking underneath with shops etc. on some of the street level. Would be neat to have it all kind of modern with a mix of art-deco. Lots of glitz, silver and gold. Would love to have it somewhere in the blue dome area so that when your inside you could see out and see the downtown skyline. On the rooftop, a put put course and wine bar (hows that for a combination lol) Have the put put course "upscale" with a dramatic "Metropolis" deco theme.  Perhaps have a special night with Jazz music and a dress code, a tux/suit and tie, evening gown or black tie, type affair. [8D]  People like to dress up, socialize, people watch, have a drink and have fun and its rare to have a place and time where you can really do that here.  

The waitresses should be dressed like the girls towards the end of this video []...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVxgLiNGBvI&feature=related

and if I could fit in that silver, deco stairway somewhere... lol   []