Last Updated on October 22, 2023, 2:31 PM | Published: October 22, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — Anyone who has driven down NW 10th through the Midtown “circle” in recent weeks and months has been greeted by some major building and expansion projects, with lanes blocked off, foundations being staked, and at least one brand new building rising up to block out the sun.
Midtown is changing, not only with new buildings and businesses aiming to fill in the neighborhood’s few empty spaces, but with a rash of closures seeing the exits of longtime district residents Cafe Do Brasil, Louie’s, 1492, and even local favorite Brown’s Bakery.
With so many changes and new buildings – many of which are set to house upscale office spaces and law firms – questions are swirling about Midtown’s ability to hold onto its distinctive character and community identity, arguably exemplified by its walkability, economic diversity, and locally owned, small-business focus.
“It’s on the verge of change, and there’s a lot happening all at once,” said Julia McLish, owner of the long-established Barkeep and more recent addition Lunar Lounge. “And I, for one, think that it’s wonderful. I think the more, the merrier.”
New 5-Story Building
Without a doubt, the most visible and intriguing new development in Midtown is the construction of a massive new five-story, multi-use building on NW 10th between Walker and Hudson that is already changing the landscape and skyline of the district.
The new building will house business-oriented law firm Phillips Murrah, who intend to relocate their headquarters to Midtown, with the building’s ample remaining space filled out with leasable office spaces and a full-sized restaurant unit.
“Midtown is particularly attractive to us because of the unmistakable energy and vitality of the community,” said Dawn Rahme, President and Managing Partner of Phillips Murrah. “The new office complex will be easy for our clients to visit, and our attorneys and staff will benefit from working in a vibrant, walkable area full of great restaurants, unique retail experiences, and attractive housing options.”
According to business-minded real estate agents like Allison Barta Bailey, this is looking to become a common move by businesses hoping to get their employees back into the office more consistently following the remote-work era spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These businesses are wanting an environment for their employees that is a little bit more fun, and they’re using that as a way to encourage people to stay in the office a bit more,” Bailey said. “Midtown seems to offer that.”
Rahme agrees but hopes that Phillips Murrah’s presence in the district can be just as good for Midtown as they expect Midtown to be for them.
“We view our relocation as being mutually beneficial,” she said. “Phillips Murrah will enhance the exciting energy of Midtown and help drive future growth, and we look forward to contributing to the momentum already present in the area.”
Palomar Family Justice Center
Another longtime Midtown resident that still finds the district’s charms impossible to ignore is social and domestic violence services provider Palomar, who recently saw approval for a $38 million new Family Justice Center in the district.
Having been headquartered in Midtown since the organization’s establishment in 2017, Palomar, under the direction of Founder and Chief Visionary Officer Kim Garrett, searched all over the city to find a location for the new facility, eventually landing on the perfect space remarkably close to their current home.
“It’s literally right across the street,” Garrett said. “Midtown Renaissance is donating the property for us to build on, so we’ve been working really closely with them, with the city, and with the architects to build a facility that is trauma-informed and safe, but also that fits the community of Midtown.”
That kind of support and encouragement from developers in a bustling, potentially upscale neighborhood is surprising for a business with a clientele demographic that many developers might prefer to sideline, downplay, or edge out altogether.
Garrett believes that’s because development leaders like Midtown Renaissance understand the importance of making the kinds of services and resources that Palomar offers visible and available to a growing community.
“Their vision for Midtown is pretty impressive,” she said. “I think it’s really holistic. You can’t just have great restaurants and new housing. A whole community represents more than just that. There’s a human component that’s really valuable and integral to human well-being.”
Small Business
Midtown has long been known for its focus on small, creative, locally-owned businesses – the shops lining the N. Walker stretch that Barkeep shares with Insomnia Cookies and Nhu Avenue are all locally woman-owned – and owners like McLish hope to see that focus remain.
“When they put all of this money into investment and development, I do get concerned that they’re going to raise prices,” McLish said, noting that a specialty boutique like Barkeep would be hurt the most by inflating rents and property valuations. “But I just kind of have to trust that they have a vision and know what might be best for the district. And I think that they care about it just as much as we all do.”
So far, McLish says the increased activity and development around the district hasn’t seemed to affect the demographics or foot traffic that businesses like hers rely on, and she’s hopeful that Midtown will hold onto that part of its identity.
“The district itself is so walkable,” she said. “People will just stumble across your business, and if you were somewhere else, that wouldn’t happen for you.”
Like many Midtown business owners, both present and future, McLish feels heartened by the community-focused approach seen from groups like Midtown Renaissance, with their willingness to listen to and support owners or to restore and renovate existing buildings, rather than demolish them.
The former Brown’s Bakery building, for example, is being restored by Midtown Renaissance to more closely resemble its original, mid-century design, removing the paneling on the building’s facade and restoring the originally intended floor-to-ceiling windows.
The small businesses that have made up so much of the district’s character all see a bright future for Midtown, and they just want to be a part of it.
“I can’t really say what’s going to happen in the next few years, but we just hope to maintain our identity and hold on to our friends and our clients,” said McLish. “I love Midtown. I wouldn’t ever want to have to move, and I hope I don’t ever have to.”
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
