According to the World, Casa Bonita has shut their doors. There was a sign on the door saying that they have closed for good, according to the report.
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=17082.0 (http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=17082.0)
Welcome to the Forum.
Yes, welcome. And it's not unusual to find news here well before local media. :)
Again? No big loss. Maybe they should try it again in 5 years to see if it will work then. That seems like a reasonable business model.
If you want crappy buffet mexican food served at the raising of a flag, go to Poncho's. Either way your intestines will hate you.
Tulsa World is reporting that they are currently trying to raise $450,000.00 to reopen & remodel.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110510_53_E1_CUTLIN592994
I have no favorable memories of the place.
Quote from: stageidea on May 10, 2011, 03:53:14 PM
Tulsa World is reporting that they are currently trying to raise $450,000.00 to reopen & remodel.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110510_53_E1_CUTLIN592994
I have no favorable memories of the place.
If at fourth you don't succeed, beg beg for money!
If the business model was such an abysmal failure that it would take $450K to go back into business, I suggest you find another line of work.
Not sure if anyone else watched the latest cooking competition on Food Sunday night. It's a smoking competition. First one cut was a gal who needed the $50K first prize to keep her business afloat. She was facing eviction, etc. Either she was:
1) under-capitalized to start with
2) had a big cocaine habit
3) her food sucked
Or all three.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 10, 2011, 04:05:33 PM
If the business model was such an abysmal failure that it would take $450K to go back into business, I suggest you find another line of work.
Not sure if anyone else watched the latest cooking competition on Food Sunday night. It's a smoking competition. First one cut was a gal who needed the $50K first prize to keep her business afloat. She was facing eviction, etc. Either she was:
1) under-capitalized to start with
2) had a big cocaine habit
3) her food sucked
Or all three.
I thought "Famous Dave" was going to get cut.
I thought Famous Dave was going to be shown the door as well.
Quote from: guido911 on May 10, 2011, 04:09:10 PM
I thought "Famous Dave" was going to get cut.
He's about a goofball isn't he? Didn't we get one of those here? I don't care to try it now that Gaspar lifted the lid on corporate BBQ joints using sodium nitrite and all sorts of other crap in their food.
I know there was one in OKC across from the Quail Springs Mall. I tried it once and it was o.k. Not that exciting.
There is (was?) a Famous Dave's east of 71st and Memorial where I think Zodiac used to be.
Quote from: guido911 on May 10, 2011, 04:28:04 PM
There is (was?) a Famous Dave's east of 71st and Memorial where I think Zodiac used to be.
Sure you aren't thinking of Tony Roma's? I don't recall that and don't remember what building Zodiac was in. Must have been real memorable, huh?
Quote from: Conan71 on May 10, 2011, 06:17:31 PM
Sure you aren't thinking of Tony Roma's? I don't recall that and don't remember what building Zodiac was in. Must have been real memorable, huh?
Famous Dave's is still there, in what was the
Kodiak steak house.
Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=famous+davs+in+Tulsa,+OK&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.509065,67.148438&ie=UTF8&hq=famous+davs&hnear=Tulsa,+Oklahoma&ll=36.061623,-95.883865&spn=0.125447,0.262299&z=12&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=36.061623,-95.883865&panoid=QGL9GjcH6Kc-iH2yb5VEeQ&cbp=12,166.78,,0,0.35)
To the east of Woodland Hills Mall one can find the former "Al's Bistro" which before that was Tony Roma's
Quote from: stageidea on May 10, 2011, 03:53:14 PM
Tulsa World is reporting that they are currently trying to raise $450,000.00 to reopen & remodel.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110510_53_E1_CUTLIN592994
I have no favorable memories of the place.
I think that he's a little too north east for this Mexican concept to work again..you gotta put them where all the white people are that like medicore semi chain Mexican food and cheesy decor..like Jenks or Broken Arrow....
Quote from: zstyles on May 11, 2011, 12:53:07 PM
I think that he's a little too north east for this Mexican concept to work again..you gotta put them where all the white people are that like medicore semi chain Mexican food and cheesy decor..like Jenks or Broken Arrow....
Wow.. you just described Los Cabos
Nah, CB is a destination place. For that kinda bank you could open it downtown where people won't mind paying $12 for cheap buffet food (or $9 for a sandwich)
Quote from: CharlieSheen on May 11, 2011, 01:39:58 PM
Wow.. you just described Los Cabos
Exactly my point lol
Quote from: sgrizzle on May 11, 2011, 02:10:35 PM
Nah, CB is a destination place. For that kinda bank you could open it downtown where people won't mind paying $12 for cheap buffet food (or $9 for a sandwich)
Be a good fit with Spaghetti Whorehouse.
I don't' see why that huge building is needed... Seems like a smaller place would work better. Obviously mega buffet isn't where its at.
Quote from: CharlieSheen on May 11, 2011, 08:36:28 PM
I don't' see why that huge building is needed... Seems like a smaller place would work better. Obviously mega buffet isn't where its at.
So they can have all of the themed areas.
Good planning can do multiple themed areas for less cost if they want to seat less than 1,000
No building is needed if you crave the food. Just go buy the El Chico brand Mexican food at the store in a box or can, a jar of Pace, a can of pickled jalapenos, and a bag of Tostitos. Same difference.
The "cool" factor the place had for years was the cave and treasure room as well as giving you the feeling of dining under the stars somewhere in Mexico. The one in Denver was even cooler with the cliff divers off the waterfall. Far as I know that was one of the earlier examples of a truly "themed" restaurant. I believe CB first opened in Tulsa around 1971. Back then, it was white people's interpretation of Mexican food before family-owned smaller Mexican restaurants started sprouting up everywhere to give us an appreciation of authentic Mexican cuisine.
South Park did an episode about Casa Bonita. Cartman refers to it as the "Mexican Disneyland".
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/176600/less-than-a-minute (http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/176600/less-than-a-minute)
Certainly, one of my favorite South Park Episodes.
Tulsa hasn't been very successful with family fun retail locations over the past decade. Celebration Station, Bell's, Casa Bonita, Crystal's Pizza, Golf World, etc.
Quote from: stageidea on May 13, 2011, 01:00:12 PM
Certainly, one of my favorite South Park Episodes.
Tulsa hasn't been very successful with family fun retail locations over the past decade. Celebration Station, Bell's, Casa Bonita, Crystal's Pizza, Golf World, etc.
But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.
Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case 8)
I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently. He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 13, 2011, 01:14:12 PM
But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.
Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case 8)
I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently. He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.
As much as I dislike Robbie from years past, I'm sad about that.
Quote from: Hoss on May 13, 2011, 01:55:13 PM
As much as I dislike Robbie from years past, I'm sad about that.
He's now employed as a security guard and the stress looks like it's been hard on him. IIRC, he's about 6 months older than me but you'd easily guess he's 10 years older.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 13, 2011, 02:06:47 PM
He's now employed as a security guard and the stress looks like it's been hard on him. IIRC, he's about 6 months older than me but you'd easily guess he's 10 years older.
He looks 72?
Quote from: Conan71 on May 13, 2011, 01:14:12 PM
But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.
Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case 8)
I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently. He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.
Incredible Pizza took the formula and did it well. They don't overcharge for games, let you come and go from your seats, and prizes aren't all complete crap. They also have different activities for different age ranges. I drove by there earlier and saw at least a dozen buses in the parking lot.
Quote from: sgrizzle on May 13, 2011, 05:17:11 PM
He looks 72?
(http://www.gifs.net/Animation11/Science_and_Body/Hands_and_Feet/Clapping.gif)
Amusing story about a burglary at Casa Bonita:
http://www.garyglanz.com/theprivateeye.html
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on May 12, 2011, 11:41:52 AM
South Park did an episode about Casa Bonita. Cartman refers to it as the "Mexican Disneyland".
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/176600/less-than-a-minute (http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/176600/less-than-a-minute)
It was because of that episode that I made it a point to go to that Case Bonita when I was in Denver. It was a decent experience.
That PI's press clippings make him sound like Bill Brasky.