New Vision for 9th Street Brings Revitalization

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There is no doubt the face of Oklahoma City, downtown specifically, is changing and one street in particular is making major progress.

When Oklahoma City developer Steve Mason first bought property on N.W. 9th Street and Broadway, he intended to use it for parking space. He has since traded it for a bigger dream that has people wanting to park on the small street that was once run down with old buildings.

Mason's vision is coming together fast. In just 18 months, a number of businesses have sprung up on the street.

It began with Iguana Grill which opened its doors about a year and a half ago. Sara Sara Cupcakes followed with an opening a year ago.

BD Homes opened up 30 days ago, and the soon to be Pachinko Sushi Parlor is expected to open next month.

"It used to look very bad. It was abandoned. People living here were homeless," Mason said.

That's the 9th Street that Chef Eric Smith remembered from his days in Oklahoma City before he moved to Chicago for 12 years.

"My family was talking about this spot on 9th and Broadway and I was like '9th and Broadway? I remember it being run down.' It was a disaster," Chef Smith said.

But one of the rundown buildings is his new business. Smith said he never anticipated the amount of business he would get at Sara Sara Cupcakes on the 9th Street location. He will also be the chef at Pachinko Sushi which he said will be an Asian fusion restaurant that will put a twist on the sushi roll.

"It's amazing to me, literally amazing to me how Steve is putting his vision together and it works," Smith said.

It's a vision not everyone was betting on when Mason first started investing.

"It was 50-50. Was this a good idea? Normally if it's 50-50 it shouldn't work, but now everyone says it's worked. My dream is that it's an area like other urban streets where you can park your car, walk around, and visit," Mason said.

His vision is working. Mason is already in talks with another furniture store, restaurant and bar for other buildings on the same block. That has Smith thinking the metamorphosis of 9th Street hasn't stopped.

"If we come back here one year from now it's going to look just as much different as it did a year and a half ago," said the Oklahoma City Developer.