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There’s no shortage of activity going on in Lower Bricktown these days. With the most recent addition of KD’s, an upscale Southern cuisine restaurant owned by Kevin Durant of the Thunder, it appears the final piece of the puzzle has been placed.
“KD’s spot was vacant for five years. KD’s sort of completed the area,” says restaurant owner and executive chef of Bolero, Curtis Bramlett. “It was the last piece of land to develop along the canal in Lower Bricktown.”
Bolero, known for its exquisite Spanish tapas, is housed on the ground floor of the Centennial building and has been in place for six years. Bramlett has watched the development of Lower Bricktown and remembers what it was like from the beginning.
“Randy Hogan built the place: it goes from Bass Pro to us here in the Centennial on the canal. Starbucks, Marble Slab, and Toby Keith’s were all here from the start.”
The area has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, and now includes a host of eating establishments and plenty of entertainment. Whether watching movies at Harkin’s, bowling at Red Pin, or enjoying free concerts in the Lower Bricktown Plaza, there’s always plenty to do and a little something for everyone.
Bramlett says the competitive climate of fellow merchants has recently evolved into a spirit of unity, now focused on advancing the area as a team. “I want us to be an area. We are the first extra area that was outside of Bricktown, so we need to start capitalizing on that. At first we were all fighting for position; now we’re all ready to work together.”
The use of social media is proving to be a valuable tool in this effort. Lower Bricktown merchants are able to post photos, promote events, and conduct giveaways on both Facebook and Twitter accounts, allowing them the opportunity to stay engaged with customers on a continual basis.
Bramlett also emphasized the importance of listening to customers and just ‘going along’ with emerging trends. “Someone called the other day and said, ‘Is your patio dog friendly?’ And I thought, ‘Well, it is now. Come to think of it, it’s super dog friendly, so bring your dogs down.’” He immediately began brainstorming promotional ideas, like offering half-price tapas and drink specials on the patio for folks accompanied by their pets.
But perhaps the hidden gem, according to Bramlett—and something that many folks may not realize—is the fact that Lower Bricktown offers free parking in nine different locations. “If you eat [at Bolero]or at any of the other Lower Bricktown vendors, it can save you ten or twenty bucks. It’s a really good deal; especially for game nights, concerts, stuff like that. You can totally save your parking, just by getting one beer. I think people just assume that it’s paid parking, so they go searching around and try to find something else.”
Visit lowerbricktown.com for a complete list of vendors and a map of free parking locations. Also, follow Lower Bricktown on Facebook and Twitter for the latest on promotions, specials, and events.
Photography by Emily Brashier
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