BRICKTOWN
Build It And They Will Come BY LAURA SPRIGGS
Former warehouse district has turned into quite the entertainment mecca. In the late 1800’s multilevel brick buildings popped up to fulfill the country’s shipping demand for goods and services. Frisco, Katy, Rock Island, and Santa Fe lines were are all major railroad playersbuilt distribution hubs in downtown Oklahoma City. The Great Depression stalled the economy and the transition from railway transport to trucks on major highways led to a serious decline of the area. Businesses shut down causing families to move further out to the newly developed outlying suburbs. By the 1980’s many of the once-thriving buildings sat empty, decaying, and abandoned. After losing a bid for a new airline maintenance facility, former OKC mayor Ron Norick toured the winning city of Indianapolis to try and catch a glimpse of why Oklahoma City did not measure up. Norick made the astute observation that OKC lacked a lively downtown area that would lure in both visitors and entertain residents. In 1993, Norick championed and persuaded citizens to approve a penny sales tax to invest in OKC’s future. The gamble paid off. The first project that was completed was the Bricktown Ballpark. Opening day was April 16, 1998, marking the beginning of the Bricktown rebirth. Today Bricktown is very much alive and well. Restaurants, bars, dance clubs, retail shops, and other various entertainment spots welcome guests to come visit. One of the first revitalization businesses to plant their roots is an Oklahoma favorite, Bricktown Brewery. Established in 1993 in a former candy factory, the Bricktown Brewery started as a microbrewery restaurant that is still going and is stronger than ever. Bricktown Brewery crafts their own beer onsite and patrons are able to select other beverages on the menu from other nearby breweries. Besides great beers, the Brewery elevates standard bar food by offering top-notch cuisine. Ales, IPA, ciders, hard seltzers, whatever your beer needs may be, Bricktown Brewery can accommodate your desires. The location is centrally located making it perfect before a Thunder game or attending a concert at the Criterion. After your time at the brewery, head on down Sheridan Avenue to JJ’s Alley. If you’re looking for a funky, hole-in-the-wall character bar with a personality all its own, you’ve come to the right place. Don’t let
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