The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

The giant autobank (and recent parking lot) that was once going to be Plush Martini Lounge is now slated to be a new restaurant from the folks that brought you Elote.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vault/364286043589343?sk=wall

DRAT!  I thought I scooped TNF on the other thread.

Saw work being done in there today (as in there was actually someone inside working)... tearing out the stage that Plush had put in and some other whatnot.

Edit:  I wonder what the concept's going to be?

TW article:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=371&articleid=20120215_46_0_Theown736597

Libby Auld, owner of Elote Café in downtown Tulsa, said Wednesday she is planning to open a second restaurant, to be called The Vault, at 624 S. Cincinnati Ave.


“The building was constructed in 1958 and once was the largest auto bank in the nation,” Auld said Wednesday. “It’s all glass and concrete, a cool building. It has been vacant 20-plus years.”

Auld said The Vault, which will be open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, will feature traditional American fare, including some old favorites.

“We will have things like Green Goddess dressing, all the yummy stuff from the ‘60s,” she said.

Auld said she hopes to open the new restaurant in four to six months.

A bank themed restaurant.  Because people love banks.

We have one themed on the back side of a building, one themed around a fictional mexican mobster and one themed on fat balding man gorging himself.

Stranger things have worked.

Actually, I've always thought utilizing a bank's old drive-thru tubes to deliver your fast-food burger would be pretty neat.
Unfortunately this autobank has individual little teller booths for each lane, so no tube delivery here.

It would work great for sliders, not so much for hub cap-sized burgers.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the building. Love that it is going to be occupied.  I was just pointing out that Banks and Bankers are not high on the list of "most popular institutions/people" as of late.

I get it...might as well call it "The TARP"

You already paid for TARP, at least now you can enjoy it.

Should be open by mid-August, according to TW.

What's the status on this project?

Shelves are filling up:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vault/364286043589343

According to Tulsa World, opening next Wednesday.

just checked their facebook page...
they just might be open NOW

  Yep they have been having some "soft opening" nights lately.  Was nice seeing all the people going there and walking by the shop as we were working on it tonight. 

I'm sure you can always use some more $ for the museum.  How desperate are you presently.  I have sent a few donations in the past.  Speak up, get a few more TNFers to open their checkbooks.

Thanks indeed, we can always use a few more bucks.  Right now we are working on having a little event this fall towards the end of October to possibly create an "acquisition fund".

 Right now all my money is going into opening my shop (this shop is different from the museums shop) so am unable to plop down any decent sized chunks of money to purchase artifacts for the museum and I really want us to upgrade and broaden our display items.  We have some stellar collectors that have items on loan to the museum, but often their collections are specific, one type of deco, one or two types of items (this person collects one type of deco picture frames, the other cast iron deco lamps "not chrome", etc.) which limits what you can do.  Plus it's just easier all around when an object belongs outright to the museum.  Occasionally I will see something online and am like, aaargh, if only I had the money right now that would be sooo wonderful as a dispay item for the museum.  

 So, this next fundraiser will be to raise money for an Aquisition Fund so that we can purchase another Wow! would ya look at that! item for display in our museum.  Stay tuned, give us a couple more weeks to iron out the details, and keep your wallets ready lol.

Slightly back on topic... We feel lucky to be getting the space  for our shop at 6th and Boston at this time.  The Vault will begin to pull traffic further south on Boston Ave.  That will help us out a bit I am sure.  And hopefully since we are right next door people will see us, come by and check us out, and also then walk on up Boston to the other shops and such.  Our shop will be Moderne from Deco to Contemporary (need to work on a good tag line) so will also have some 50s Mod type stuff to play up the Vault.  May even take some photos of the vault and make some postcards and prints to sell.   Most of our stuff will be new items that will have that Deco to Contemporary feel, but we will also sprinkle in some fun, authentic "antique" moderne items as well, and of course my own Art Deco artwork.    

Sit in front of the store with an open guitar case...

I can't help there.  My musical talents consist of playing a stereo and I'm not so sure I even do that well.  A guitar case is out of the question.   :D

The wife, kid and I went Saturday afternoon.  Good food, good beers on tap.  No Guinness.  (Bronx cheer)

The rooftop bar is very cool.  Enclosed in glass.  "largest panes of glass in Oklahoma" on the main floor.

It's all done up with a 60's style and is easily the coolest place in town for ambiance.

It's very mod. Bring your best Connery Bond.

Tough to do with vomit on your shoulder.

I didn't say anything about a guitar.

Menu looks interesting. I'm cheap so don't know if I'll ever go.

Where'd you find a menu?

http://www.vaulttulsa.com

My only problem with that menu is the part at the bottom about serving Pepsi products. The dinner pricing isn't really out of line. Lunch pricing may be, but I don't often eat lunch, so I can't say for sure.

Stop drinking that crap.  Beer's healthier.

I save the alcohol for after the meal. ;)

You fool!  Don't ruin a good buzz with food.

I knew there was something wrong with Nathan.  He must not be Irish English German Russian er well, one of us.

That's why I drink after the meal. If I drink before or during the meal, the meal just sops up all the alcohol and wastes my money. As far as my heritage is concerned, your guess is as good as mine.  ;D

Dinner menu does look a bit on the pricey side if you are used to the prices at Elote'

I can't wait to try the place. My friend Bonnie got a job there and raves about the food.

The comments on tulsafood.com are an interesting read
http://tulsafood.com/downtown/the-vault-restaurant-downtown

Nutshell:   somewhat unflattering review... no biggie, the place had just recently opened.. I'd still like to try it
It's Libby's response and handling of the review and ensuing flame war...  yikes

I've been several times, it was great each time and Libby appeared and chatted with us each time I was there. I've never had a hassle, the hostess, and Bar keeps (Eric and Brian etc) have always been more than accommodating. Its a new place but I've been to new places that didn't have it together nearly as well as this place does.

Yikes on the link there. This Jeremiah Ramey and Libby seem to have some history.

I want to side with Libby on the flamewar, but a few of her statements bothered me:

"This “critic” came in claiming he had a reservation when he in fact did not. "
His claim was that he called and the person who answered said they had call-ahead but no reservations. Unless Libby was the one he talked to on the phone, how would she know exactly what the employee said. (or say definitively that he didn't call)  That should not have been stated as fact.

"A food critic should never review a business with in the first week"
Stories are written ALL THE TIME about businesses during their first week. He seemed to do a decent job of mentioning that he expected things to improve.

"Then to be harsh online in the review and facebook seems so cowardly."
Welcome to the internet.

The 'no reviews during the first week' is ridiculous. Are the prices lowered during the first week? If customers are paying full price, then the business is putting itself out there for criticism.

I haven't yet made it to the Vault, but I do dislike the trend that seems to be happening downtown: more focus on creating an atmosphere than actual quality of food/drinks/service. I hope the vault isn't another example of this.

Have been a couple of times now and enjoyed the food and drink.  The pricing seemed perfectly fine to me and the service was good.  Of all the restaurants I have been in at this early a stage, I think they had their act together better than most. 

Now on the negative side, was quite chilly the second time I went, especially in the lower level, but fortunately we got a space upstairs which wasn't as chilly.  The first time when we sat in the lower level I noticed the space was extremely "echoey" creating a loud atmosphere in which it was difficult to talk. I looked around and noticed there were a couple of spots where some sound absorption panels could be placed that would help with that.  Course the rub is, costs money, and I know they have likely shelled out quite a lot as it is.  Then to get really picky, the upstairs area needed just one or two more pieces of artwork of some sort to flesh out the look and feel of the place. I know it's supposed to be minimalist and modern, but still could use something more imho.

We went to the Vault tonight. The food was delicious (they were four for four on that count), the weird margarita was delicious, and the atmosphere was great. Unfortunately, it took about an hour for the food to get out of the kitchen, so we ended up having to wolf it down to make Louis CK. It's mildly expensive, but still under $50/pp with drinks and tip, which isn't out of line with my expectations given the quality and presentation of the food and drink.