I live in that area. Midtown is my bike store. I drive by at least once a day. I often bike past or walk past.
I have never seen the front lot more than half full. I have never, ever, seen more than 3 cars in that back lot. I suspect from time to time employees get "reminded" to park in the back - and a few comply for a short period of time. Ridiculous to require that extra parking.
On the bright side, it is a great place to test ride a bike.
Just think, instead of a medium box store, we could have had a mini strip mall with a California Nails, T-Mobile, Subway, and H & R Block.
The property used to house the Harvard Club which was a swim club we went to when I was a kid. Seems like they also had a restaurant and lounge which is one of the reasons for the large parcel size.
Swim clubs were apparently a thing back in the 50’s & 60’s when they were built. I believe it was also a way to get around liquor by the drink restrictions.
Blaze Ruins Vacant Harvard Club
A fire started by children playing with fireworks Tuesday
gutted the closed Harvard Club, 2717 S. Harvard Ave.
Fire Capt. Jim White said a Tulsa police officer driving
on Harvard around 1 p.m. noticed youths near the club shooting
Roman candles at passing cars.
As the officer pulled up to the club, he noticed smoke coming
from the building, White said.
By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had worked its
way to the attic, he said.
"It was in a high degree of involvement when we got there,"
White said. "Once it got to the attic, it made it tough."
The children suspected of causing the fire had not been
apprehended as of late Tuesday.
Ten fire companies responded to the call. About 35 firefighters
fought the blaze, working in shifts, White said.
One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was taken to
Hillcrest Medical Center.
"This is a dreaded nightmare, to be working a structure
like this in the months of June, July and August," White
said. He estimated that the temperature inside the building
neared 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Tulsa Transit bus was called to provide an air-conditioned
resting place for firefighters taking a break from the fight.
The property, which according to the Tulsa County Assessor's
Office is valued at $470,000, is owned by lawyer Gary Richardson
and Jo Bob Hille.
"We were looking to build a new facility anyway," said
Tony Lombardi, a real estate broker representing the property.
"It didn't meet county codes to be a restaurant."
The Harvard Club closed in May 1991 after 38 years because
of financial difficulties. A club manager blamed changing
liquor laws, economic recession and a lack of member support.
Lombardi said he did not know what would be built on the property.
"We're still in the initial bidding stage," he said.
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