Bricktown Businesses Boom

While most of America cuts back, Oklahoma's own Bricktown is expanding. Business is booming and developers owe a big part of their success to the NBA.

Wednesday, December 3rd 2008, 7:08 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- While most of America cuts back, Oklahoma's own Bricktown is expanding.

Business is booming and developers owe a big part of their success to the NBA.

Bricktown was already booming, but with the addition of the NBA out-of-town developers are starting to take notice.

Don't let the For Lease signs fool you, as soon as one business closes there's likely a line of buyers waiting to get in.

"People from out of state, certainly from outside of Oklahoma City, have now shown interest in Oklahoma City because we don't have a temporary team like with the Hornets, we have a permanent team," Jim Cowan, Executive Director of the Bricktown Association, said.

And those developers see a future, like the owners of one soon-to-be sports bar. They've already staked their claim in the heart of Bricktown. Construction is underway and managers plan to have Brix open after the beginning of the New Year.

"We're hoping this is the place everyone will go to watch a game or just come to have a good meal," Mitchel Haynes, General Manager of Brix, said.

And it doesn't hurt that the Ford Center is within walking distance.

"Whether it be the Thunder, the Redhawks or any sporting event, the Big 12 Tournament, we're excited to get all kinds of people in," Haynes said.

A few blocks south, the owner of one restaurant offers a different kind of atmosphere.

"We do original Spanish food, not Mexican food," restaurant owner, Curtis Barmlett, said.

Bolero has been open for a month now and business is good, especially on Thunder game nights.

"The NBA team has helped out a lot, not going to lie, and I think we've had a good reaction to where we've set up," Bramlett said.

Bramlett isn't the only business owner to see the many opportunities Bricktown offers.

"I would say in the next six months, we could see at least an additional six to seven businesses open up in Bricktown and that's not counting the office space," Cowan said.

Cowan said out-of-state developers have their eyes on some real estate on the canal. Several sites will be up for public auction Thursday at 2 p.m.

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