Applebee's is now open next to Olive Garden and across from Target. 2nd BA Location.
Here is an article that ran in last week's BA Ledger regarding the success of the new Cinemark Theater:The effect the newly opened Cinemark, multi-screen theater complex on Hillside Drive has had on the Broken Arrow community may have as much to do with increasing business in Adams Creek as it has in showing movies.
That, according to several restaurant operators co-located along Hillside Drive.
Officials with Olive Garden, Chili’s and IHOP each said that they have seen a noticeable increase in sales since the Cinemark began business two months ago. Sante Fe Cattle Co., adjacent to Hillside Drive on 1100 N. 20th St., is also seeing benefits from the big screens.
“We definitely have seen a continued stream of customers at our location,” said Matt Taylor, manager at Santa Fe. “There is a slightly longer wait time to be seated on Saturday evenings and a steady flow of customers later into the night.”
Apparently, movie-goers are not skimping on wings, either.
“Since the Cinemark has opened we have seen a substantial increase in traffic,” according to James Allen, district manager of Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill at 1511 N. 20th St. “We have large groups of people coming in before and after movies are shown.
Applebee’s has just opened in the area and more eating establishments are slated for the spots near the Target store.
Sales tax
climb continues
While Broken Arrow’s larger neighbor on the west continues to struggle with sales tax, BA has seen increases in monthly distributions from the Oklahoma Tax Commissions for five months now.
“Miscellaneous retail was the largest contributor to the increase in sales tax receipts in September 2010 over 2009 at $82,426 or a 34.72 percent increase in this category,” said City Manager Dave Wooden.
Broken Arrow received $2.736 million for the last half of July’s business and estimated returns from the first half of August 2010.
For the same period in 2009, the city received $2.497 million.
“Electric, gas and sanitary services is up $48,138 or 20.55 percent over the prior year and general merchandise stores are up $44,059 or 7.90 percent.
“We are very pleased. It appears that the increase is due to new businesses that have come online,” Wooden said, referencing retailers and restaurants in the Adams Creek area, while also admitting the increases are being compared to a year when sales tax revenue was down and has lowered the target for showing an increase.
Tulsa’s check continues to show decreased returns.
It received $16.276 million this September, compared to $16.666 million for 2009.
Other cities showing increases were Owasso, Wagoner, Jenks, Sapulpa and Bixby.
Coweta and Sand Springs showed decreases.
