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7 better places to build a new Braum’s…

4:16 PM EDT on August 8, 2017

It's been a month since news leaked that Braum's wants to destroy the Donnay Building on Classen Circle to make way for a new ice cream and dairy store location that nobody asked for, so I guess we should provide an update on things.

Last week, Braum's sent a letter to the city requesting to push back a hearing that would decide if the ice cream moguls have the free rein to demolish and clear the land. They requested the delay so they can throw a "community meeting" to discuss the plans and insincerely pretend to care about residents concerns. There's no word yet if they're going to give away free ice cream and/or 1/3-pound... errr.... 1/4-pound burgers.

Here are the details via NewsOK.com:

Consideration of an application by Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Stores to rezone the Donnay Building at Classen Circle for demolition is being delayed one month as the company prepares to host a community meeting about the proposed new store.

The block, bordered by Classen Circle, Military Avenue and NW 50, is home to Classen Grill, Charlie's Records and the Hi-Lo Club. The building historically is best known as the site of The Patio Grill, which is now The Drunken Fry. The building, built in 1948, also has apartments on the upper floors.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the Oklahoma City Planning Department, attorney David Box requested the hearing scheduled for Aug. 24 be delayed to Sept. 28.

Box and representatives of Braum's declined to comment.

The request to rezone the one residential lot on the block is the only potential challenge to the site being cleared for a new Braum's; the remainder of the property is zoned for commercial use and it is not in a design review district.

Yep, Braum's retained David Box. That's a shrewd move. He knows a thing or two about wanting to demolish beloved local buildings to make way for boring, lifeless chains.*

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'm not a fan of the Braum's plan. I think even the Braum's girl would agree that razing a charming, culturally significant building that's home to several well-known and established businesses to build another unhealthy fast food restaurant is a bad idea. Not only do we have plenty of poorly managed fast food restaurants to choose from already, but there are better locations to build a new Braum's instead.

Here's a list of seven of them. They are all located within minutes of Classen Circle:

1. Discount Tire (2701 Northwest Expy, Oklahoma City, OK 73112)

Distance from Classen Circle: 1.8 miles

Okay, they still haven't finished construction on the new Discount Tire that's being built where the Charcoal Oven was located, but why get lost in technicalities? The former home of one of Oklahoma's most iconic burger places would be a great fit for a Braum's, and with construction on Discount Tire still not completed, it will lower Braum's demolition costs.

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2. Braum's - 4020 N Pennsylvania Ave (39th and Penn)

Distance from Classen Circle: 1.8 miles

This eyesore of the Gayborhood needs to be demolished, and I can't think of a better replacement for an old Braum's than a new and improved Braum's.

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3. Gold Dome Building

Distance from Classen Circle: 2.1 miles

As I mentioned earlier, Braum's attorney David Box purchased the Gold Dome building in 2013 for $800,000 and then promptly announced plans to demolish it. The community got mad, he cancelled plans, and then flipped the building a few years later for $1.1-million. Now it sets empty.

*TLO Fail Alert: Apparently there are two David Box's in Oklahoma City that are associated with real estate development. Per the Ogle Mole Network, the David Box representing Braum's is not the same David Box who wanted to destroy the Gold Dome. Sorry about the fake news!

Maybe the Braum's family could acquire the spot, tear it down, and build some futuristic Braum's concept there instead. Hehe. Just kidding. Braum's fears the future. As their commercials remind us, they prefer to be stuck in the past.

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4. Braum's - 6200 N. May (63rd and May)

Distance from Classen Circle: 2.6 miles

This prime spot along N. May Ave. is currently home to dated 1990s Braum's that's similar to the one in the Gayborhood. They could tear it down and build two new Braum's in its place.

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5. Deep Fork Grill Building - 5418 N Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Distance from Classen Circle: 0.5 miles

Deep Fork Grill, a former TLO advertiser that helped keep this site afloat in our early years, sadly closed its doors a few months ago. Considering it's literally half a mile from Classen Circle and in an easier to access location that doesn't require a background in cartography to navigate, it would be a great fit for Braum's. The Nichols Hills folks who are too lazy to drive to 39th & Penn or 63rd & May would love it.

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6. Braum's - 4104 Nw. 39th (39th and Tulsa)

Distance from Classen Circle: 4.5 miles

This is home to one of the ugly new Braum's monstrosities that was designed by either Art Vandelay or some interior decorator that Drew Braum was trying to hook up with. They should do everyone a favor and tear it down and start over.

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7. Milk Bottle Building - 2426 Classen Blvd.

Distance from Classen Circle: 2.3 miles

If you're going to destroy a weird, quirky structure with an odd traffic layout that everyone loves, you might as well go all out and pick the most iconic one in town, especially if it already has your name on it.

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