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BIG CATCH Westmoore’s Brey Walker Expecting Moore Moore’s Winning Economic Development Called to Help Serve More Helping Those in Need A Legacy of Luxury Artesian Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
February | CONTENTS
2018 ISSUE 4 - VOLUME 1
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mark Doescher
MANAGING EDITOR
Chip Minty
SENIOR EDITOR
Lindsay Cuomo
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Doescher
CONTRIBUTORS
Lindsay Cuomo
Marla Freeman
Emilia Hart
Chelsey Kraft
Chip Minty
Chris Plank
Catherine Poslusny
26
Sarah Rogers
Paige Uhr
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com
Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com
Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com
PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon
6 by Chip Minty
Expecting Moore
Moore plays major economic development hand, walks
away a winner.
10 by Lindsay Cuomo
Fighting the Flu, Together SportsTalk Media
2020 E. Alameda
Norman, Oklahoma 73071
Norman doctor highlights the dangers of influenza and Phone: (405) 321-1400
E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com
the importance of prevention.
Copyright © SportsTalk Media
Any articles, artwork or graphics created by SportsTalk Media or its contributors are sole property of
SportsTalk Media and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in
14 by Paige Uhr
Ready for the Storm
SportsTalk are not necessarily that of SportsTalk management.
Local architecture firm designing shelters for Moore
schools.
18 by Catherine Poslusny
Called to Help
Rebuild and renew: Serve More assists Oklahomans in
need.
22 by Marla Freeman
Success Story
Business Development Center offers resources to area
entrepreneurs.
26 by Chris Plank
Big Catch
Westmoore’s Brey Walker anchors bright future for
Sooners’ offensive line.
38 by Sarah Rogers
Growing Presence
30 by Emilia Hart
A Legacy of Luxury
Zaxby’s finds new homes in Norman,
Artesian Hotel celebrates fifth anniversary of rebirth in Moore and Oklahoma City metro.
Sulphur.
34 by Chelsey Kraft
Game Changer
High-Tech pro shop helps golfers improve swing
4 | February 2018
COM M U N I T Y BY: CHIP MINTY
Expecting Moore
City of Moore Director of Marketing and Economic Development Deidre Ebrey.
Moore Plays Major Economic Development Hand,
Walks Away a Winner
F
or Deidre Ebrey, economic devel- munity into a regional magnet for shop-
opment is a high-stakes game. One ping, dining and entertainment.
wrong move or one missed oppor-
Cities depend on retail sales taxes to
tunity could cost her city millions of
fund services, such as police and fire
dollars a year in sales tax revenue. Play
protection, street maintenance and
the right hand, though, and her town is
parks. So, attracting retail business is
on easy street.
a competitive game, and Moore is sur-
The Moore native has been sitting at rounded by formidable adversaries, she
the table since 1999, pitting her mod- says.
est-sized community against some of
the stiffest competition in the region, There have been a lot of years that
giants such as Oklahoma City and Nor- Moore has been overlooked by major
man. She’s in the business of mediating retailers like Walmart, Target and oth-
deals that lead to commercial develop- ers who ended up moving to Norman
ment and economic prosperity for her or Oklahoma City. Losing a business
community. that is the size of Target probably cost
Moore $1 million in annual state sales
When she started, she had a formidable tax revenue and losing Walmart repre-
hand, filled with prospective properties sented losses that were three times that
in great locations that were ripe for the size, she said.
taking. Today, she says she’s almost out
of cards to play, but looking back on it After the 1999 tornado, the city devel-
all, she feels like she and her city have oped a marketing plan designed to at-
come out on top. tract more retail development and oth-
er types of commercial investment, and
Ebrey is director of marketing and they took advantage of two powerful
economic development for the City of assets to help them accomplish their
Moore, and she has been at the center of mission, Interstate 35 and the area’s
a massive series of retail development rapid residential growth.
projects that have transformed the com-
6 | February 2018
Since 1999, Moore’s population has in- In addition to increased sales tax rev-
creased by more than 20,000, pushing enues, the quality of life in Moore has
the city past 62,000, and a record of improved, she said. The crime rate is
growth that has outpaced Oklahoma down, and incomes are rising.
City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City
The city has money it needs for its
and Broken Arrow. Given the city’s rel-
parks, and it can afford to pay police
atively small circumference, Moore has
competitive salaries. Moore also has a
become the state’s most densely popu-
quality school district that is attractive
lated community.
to young families.
If the secret of real estate success is lo-
“Everything is going in the right direc-
cation, location, location, then the City
tion from a retailer’s perspective,” she
of Moore recognized in 1999 that it was
said.
sitting on an undeveloped gold mine,
and it has taken full advantage of its But, Ebrey said the large swaths of open
riches. land available for development within
the city are just about gone. Most re-
For Moore, I-35 was more than just a
maining development property has
major interstate bisecting their commu-
been spoken for and projects are either
nity. It represented an enormous mar-
underway or plans are pending.
keting engine that would deliver tens of
thousands of potential retail customers Examples include the Integris Commu-
to the city’s doorstep every day. nity Hospital construction project near
SW 34th Street and I-35 and the near-
It was no accident that drivers passing
by 44,000-square-foot office complex,
through Moore can clearly see every
where 85 Western Farmers Electric
restaurant, shop, store and entertain-
Cooperative employees will soon be
ment venue on either side of the high-
working.
way. And, each customer that stops to
spend money, contributes sales tax rev- She is now focused on a few of the re-
enue to the city and helps support jobs maining smaller development opportu-
for people in the community. nities left in pockets along 19th Street
and elsewhere.
Finally, Ebrey and the City of Moore
rolled out the red carpet to commer- Now that the Moore development
cial developers and retail businesses frenzy is almost over, Ebrey says she is
of all shapes and sizes. Ebrey said she proud to have been part of it. Most of
worked hard to facilitate relationships the time, she’s too close or too busy to
between key landowners and develop- consider the accomplishment, but from
ers and to remove barriers that could time to time, it hits her, especially at
stand in the way of projects. night when she sees the lights.
As a result of all of the effort, revenues “I’ve lived in the middle of it happen-
from Moore’s base sales tax have nearly ing, but when my friends come back to
tripled from $9.1 million in fiscal year Moore, see it all and are in awe, then I
1998-99 to $25.6 million in 2016-17. get the enormity of it.” – 19SM
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 7
LU N C H D I N N E R B R U N C H TA K E O U T
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W W W . H O L L I ES S T E A K H O U S E . CO M
COM M U N I T Y BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
Fighting the Flu,
Together
Dr. Rohitha Inturi, Family Medicine Physician, Norman Regional Health System
Norman Doctor Highlights the Dangers of Influenza
and the Importance of Prevention
C
old and flu season typically stretches But, have we reached the peak? Inturi
from October to March, but some- says that is hard to tell.
times can extend all the way up to
mid-May. February sits right in the heart of “Since the first of the year, I have seen at
the season. Oklahoma communities have least one flu case every day.”
been hit hard this year. Since Sept. 1, well The dreaded fever-induced body aches
over 1,000 people have been hospitalized paired with congestion, a sore throat and
due to complications from the flu, more cough are all hallmark signs that you may
than 70 in Cleveland County alone. have the flu. The influenza virus attacks
“The frequency in which we are seeing the delicate respiratory system making
patients diagnosed with the flu is high it particularly dangerous for those with
this year,” confirmed Dr. Rohitha Inturi, a compromised immune systems.
Family Medicine physician with the Nor- “The risk of hospitalization from the flu
man Regional Health System. “We were is high among young babies, elderly and
hit hard around the holidays and are still others with immunity-compromising
seeing a high frequency.” health conditions,” explained Inturi.
10 | February 2018The Oklahoma State Department of Health If you do find yourself with the flu, Inturi
reports that there have been more than 20 says time is of the essence. To be effective
influenza-associated deaths in our state so in reducing the severity and longevity of
far this season. This increase makes doing the virus, you must start taking the medi-
what we can to keep those vulnerable, and cine within two days of when your symp-
ourselves, healthy very important. To do so, toms begin.
proactive prevention and virus quarantine
are vital to stop the spread of flu and pro- Hydration is also extremely important to
tecting our community. help your body fight the flu. Over-the-
counter medicines can help to alleviate
“Good hand hygiene and immuni- some of your discomfort and your doctor
ty-boosting foods rich in Vitamin C can can help determine which would be best
help you stay healthy,” offered Inturi. for you and your symptoms.
“But the bottom line is that everyone
needs to get vaccinated to protect those “Over-the-counter medications are best
who are the most vulnerable.” determined on a case-by-case basis so it
is best to see your doctor for help with re-
Even if you have been vaccinated, or even if lief,” Inturi said.
everyone around you has been vaccinated
you still need to take precautions. As the number of flu cases rise, doctor ap-
pointments tend to fill up as well. In order
“An annual vaccination will protect you to accommodate that need, Inturi’s office
as the vaccine helps you build up your offers walk-in hours during their regu-
immunity levels to the most commons lar business hours from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
strands of the flu.” explained Inturi. “But, Monday through Thursday. Dr. Christi-
there are new emerging viruses all the na Highley, a family medicine physician,
time. Cover your cough, wash your hands also sees patients at the clinic, which is
and stay home if you are sick so you don’t called Norman Regional Primary Care –
spread your germs.” NW Norman.
The flu may not be instantly recognizable For more information about Dr. Inturi or
since symptoms are often mistaken for a Norman Regional Primary Care’s NW Nor-
common cold. There are several strands man office, call 515-0800 or visit 3201 W Te-
of the influenza virus and each presents cumseh Rd, Ste 230 in Norman. – 19SM
themselves differently during the stages
of the illness.
“It is important to be knowledgeable
about the symptoms of the flu versus the
common cold like cough and congestion,
plus fever and body headaches, and ad-
ditionally any gut symptoms. Influenza B
presents mostly in the gut,” Inturi added.
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 11COM M N I T Y BY: PAIGE UHR
Ready for the Storm
The front entrance of Southlake Elementary will serve as a storm shelter for the entire
school population in the event of severe weather this spring. It was designed by Moore-
based architecture firm Abla Griffin Partnership.
Local Architecture Firm Designing Shelters for Moore Schools
M
ike Abla and his partner Clay and within a year, the district had struc-
Griffin used to have a pretty typ- tured a bond issue that would be af-
ical practice, designing shopping fordable for the community, said Moore
centers, warehouses, schools and other Public Schools Superintendent Robert
large structures. But then, another dev- Romines.
astating tornado hit Moore in 2013, and A $209 million-dollar bond issue was
their focus began to change. overwhelmingly approved by voters in
Today, their Moore-based firm, Abla October 2015 and AGP began working
Griffin Partnership LLC (AGP), designs on the project in early 2016. The firm
and develops storm shelters for Moore and school district decided that exist-
Public Schools. ing buildings would receive add-ons
that incorporated a shelter, rather than
After the May 2013 storm hit the Moore
retrofitting current spaces.
community, the school district decided
changes needed to be made to protect “We determined that we are in a grow-
the safety of the district’s students, and ing school district, so let’s look at all
that opened new doors for Abla’s firm. of the different sites and their individ-
ual needs, whether that be more class-
“They determined every new facility
rooms, media centers or gymnasiums,”
would have a storm shelter and existing
Romines said. “By doing that, we were
sites would be upgraded, whether ele-
then able to come in and build the storm
mentary schools, high schools, alternative
shelters within that new construction.”
schools or administration building,” Abla
said, the firm’s principal architect. “Every- Abla said add-ons would be much
one was going to have a safe place to go.” more cost effective and easier to design.
Additionally, the shelters would be du-
The district first established a plan for
al-purpose.
how to approach the massive project,
14 | February 2018Abla Griffin Partnership LLC specializes in designing storm shelters for public schools,
such as this shelter, under construction at Central Elementary School in the Moore School
District. Its concrete walls are up to a foot thick and its roof will be concrete as well. Once
complete, the room will house the schools Pre-k program.
“There may be four or five classrooms The costs of building a shelter vary
in a shelter, so you have no idea you based on the space and what goes into
are in one,” Abla said. “They are large it, but one typically costs $200,000 to
enough that the entire space can hold $300,000.
the school’s population.” While design takes about six months,
To make the structures secure and with- construction can take 10 to 14 months,
stand forces such as wind and projec- depending on the size of the project.
tiles, most of the shelters are made Romines said many of the projects have
using cast-in-place concrete walls and either started or are already complete.
concrete roofs. There are still 10 projects that are slat-
Abla says this process is more efficient ed to be started, and all the projects are
and easier to inspect for reinforcing. expected to be finished by March 2019.
The walls are typically made with 10 to “This community has learned when in-
12 inches of concrete, and further sup- clement weather is approaching, parents
ported by an outside material that cov- typically want to check out their kids.
ers the concrete, such as brick or stone. But at the end of the day, not every par-
Openings are kept to a minimum and ent can pick up their children, and we
are typically special doors that are rein- now have a place they can go,” he said.
forced with bolts that go into the frame
and floor to hold them in place. That gives the community a good deal
of comfort and relief, he said. – 19SM
The Highland West Jr. High gymnasium was built strong enough
to withstand the forces of the most severe weather.
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Called to Help
Every Saturday, from 12:00-4:00pm, Your Pie on 19th Street in Moore donates 10 percent of
their sales to Serve More. Since last July, Martin and Your Pie have presented Serve More
with more than $2,000.
Rebuild and Renew: Serve More Assists Oklahomans in Need
W
hen the 2013 tornado devastat- needed help with available volunteers.
ed the Moore community, there That desire led to a groundbreaking
was an outpouring of people disaster relief program that has rebuilt
from all over the country eager to do- houses and sheds, moved countless
nate their time and money to help those pounds of debris, built wheelchair-ac-
affected by the disaster. cessible ramps, painted houses and
helped schools, churches, and neigh-
The EF-5 storm destroyed entire city
borhoods when they needed it the most.
blocks and affected thousands of lives,
but it didn’t destroy the spirit of the With the assistance of an Oklahoma
people. Hours after the tornado ripped City company, Rehash, Serve More was
its way through central Oklahoma, able to coordinate the efforts of several
leaders from five local churches started nonprofits as well as individual volun-
putting a plan in motion. They went to teers to most effectively assist in recov-
social media, reaching out to anyone ery efforts. The team at Rehash created
and everyone to come #ServeMoore. a custom web application, called Paris,
specifically for this type of coordination.
More than 3,000 people showed up
the following day, ready and willing The combined efforts of everyone in-
to start hauling away debris. Over the volved were so successful that Serve More
next few days, the volunteers num- and Rehash have donated new versions
bered more than 10,000 and Serve More of Paris to other relief efforts, including
(then named Serve Moore) was born. those following Hurricane Harvey.
The organization began with the simple When recovery efforts for the 2013
desire to match people and areas that Moore tornado were drawing to a
18 | February 2018close, there was a brief
moment where Serve
More Executive Di-
rector Chris Fox won-
dered what the future
held for the organiza-
tion, but both he and
the people of Serve
More knew that there
was more that they
could do for the com-
munity. There were a
lot of needs that existed
before the tornado, and
now they had the per-
fect platform to start
affecting real change in
Central Oklahoma.
Since then, the organi-
zation has completed
hundreds of commu-
nity renewal and ser-
vice projects around
the area. From adding
wheelchair ramps to
local houses, to fixing
code violations for sin-
gle parents or elderly One night, Martin was inspired to find
residents, to improving parks and public a way to turn the weekly tornado siren
spaces, Serve More is always looking for tests into something more positive for
ways to make Central Oklahoma a bet- the community. In July of 2017, the Sat-
ter place to live. urday Siren Salute was born. Every Sat-
urday, from noon to 4 p.m., Your Pie on
With a focus on mobilizing people to 19th Street in Moore donates 10 percent
love and serve Central Oklahoma, the of their sales to Serve More. Since last
group continues to perform both large July, Martin and Your Pie have present-
and small-scale service projects, includ- ed Serve More with more than $2,000.
ing relief efforts after the 2015 Moore
tornado. They jumped into action to Through their efforts to coordinate with
clean up debris and gather resources the community and give people a mean-
and supplies for those in need, while ingful way to give back, Serve More has
also serving as a central meeting point transformed the work of thousands of
for residents and businesses in need of individuals into a truly powerful move-
recovery assistance. ment. It’s no wonder that a particular
quote from Hellen Keller has always
Moore businessman Jason Martin first been near and dear to the organization.
heard about Serve More during the
2013 tornado relief efforts. He remem- “Alone we can do so little, but together
bers being impressed by the group of we can do so much.”
people that stood up to take charge and
coordinate the multitude of volunteers For more information on how to donate
and donations that poured in after the or get involved with Serve More, vis-
disaster. Years later, when he opened it servemore.com.– 19SM
his own pizza restaurant, Your Pie, he
knew that he had to find a way to give
back to the community, and Serve More
immediately came to mind.
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Success Story
Sean Akadiri, President and CEO of Agric-Bioformatics, explains his AgBoost software
Business Development Center Offers Resources to Area Entrepreneurs
O
n the west side of Interstate 35, St., the BDC is one of about 30 business
situated in one of the only linger- incubators in the state. It’s currently
ing voids between Norman and home to nine clients in industries rang-
Moore, is a campus that about 400 stu- ing from software and landscaping to
dents call home. archeology and textbook publishing.
Clients pay monthly rent for office space
Moore Norman Technology Cen-
that is all-inclusive, covering utilities, in-
ter’s Business Development Center
ternet, local phone lines, even coffee.
(BDC) offers free and discounted work-
shops, access to advisors, office space Toby Coats, owner of Hortico, a turf man-
and other resources to prospective small agement and landscaping company, has
business owners throughout south been growing his business at the facility.
Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman. “I know landscaping and irrigation, but
It’s a program that benefits both entre- like most small business owners, we
preneurs and the local economy, said needed help with the business side of
Gina Bertoletti, BDC assistant. things,” Coats said. “From the time we
came into the BDC, they were ready to
“New business owners are trying to do
help with everything we needed, coach-
all things themselves, and the failure
ing us on topics like insurance, taxes,
rate is exceptionally high,” Bertoletti
human resources, legal, you name it, so
said. “If we can get them in, we can sup-
we could focus on our actual jobs.”
port them, so they don’t hit those walls.”
The BDC boasts 20 offices and four large
Located at the Moore Norman Technol-
manufacturing-type wet bays in its
ogy Center’s South Penn Campus on
14,000-square-foot facility. To become
south Pennsylvania Avenue and 134th
a client, business owners must present
22 | February 2018Hortico owner Toby Coats, and office manager Lori Coats work in their BDC office space.
their idea to the incubator coordinator homa Department of Commerce, which
and submit an application. means clients are eligible for certain tax
Bertoletti said they look for businesses breaks.
one to three years old, with the excep-
“I can’t say enough good things about
tion of software start-ups, which take
all the help we received at the BDC, and
up to five years to get off the ground.
for the network of great businesses that
The thought is that after three years,
work with their clients,” said Kevin Sut-
companies should be ready to earn rev-
ter, founder and owner of GreenOkie.
enue and hire employees. Some leave
sooner because they outgrow the space. Sutter is a former BDC client, and his
custom-built pergola and pavilion busi-
“We want companies with unique char- ness continues to grow.
acteristics,” said Bertoletti. “We’re a
mixed incubator, so we’re not looking “I still do business with so many of the
for specific industries. We just want people I met there,” he said.
business owners who are going to hire
more people to generate jobs that will The BDC’s success is apparent when
help the health of our economy.” you look at the growth of the compa-
nies that started there. Two current
Partnering with SCORE, a nonprofit as- clients were recently recognized at The
sociation dedicated to educating entre- Journal Record’s Innovator of the Year
preneurs and helping small businesses awards – Sean Akadiri, president and
succeed, the BDC can offer a valuable CEO of Agric-Bioformatics, and Vance
network of resources and business Fried and Rob Reynolds of EdBooks.
counseling.
“These determined business owners
“What people don’t realize is that the are putting their lives on the line, sac-
BDC is funded by tax-payer dollars,” rificing everything to start a business
she said. “So, entrepreneurs have ac- because they believe in it and are de-
cess to high-quality services for min- termined to make it go,” Bertoletti said.
imal cost. Essentially, they’ve already “They run at a speed most people can’t
paid for it.” comprehend, and the energy here is
amazing.”– 19SM
Another advantage of using the incu-
bator is that it’s certified by the Okla-
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 23S P O RT S BY: CHRIS PLANK
BIG CATCH
Westmoore’s Brey Walker Anchors Bright Future
for Sooners’ Offensive Line
B
rey Walker is everything you State Cowboys. Star quarterback Baker
would want in an Oklahoma Soon- Mayfield was throwing blocks, running
er offensive lineman. He’s huge, backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon
incredibly focused, has excelled as a were running wild, and, when all was
wrestler and developed a reputation as said and done, the Sooners rolled to a
an incredibly hard worker in the weight 58-23 victory.
room. But the celebration between then offen-
But perhaps most importantly, Brey sive coordinator Lincoln Riley and Bill
Walker always wanted to be a Sooner. Bedenbaugh was for more than just an
The evening of Nov. 28, 2015 is a night on-the-field win.
many Sooner fans will never forget. The Sooners, in the midst of celebrating
The Sooners rolled into Stillwater and their Big 12 Championship, received
absolutely dominated the Oklahoma word that they had got their guy. On
26 | February 2018that Saturday night, Westmoore soph- and that was an important step for us.”
omore Bray Walker committed to play As excited as Riley was with the signing
for the Sooners. of Bray Walker, offensive line coach Bill
“We were already celebrating and go- Bedenbaugh was equally as ready for
ing crazy,” said Riley, recalling that No- Bray to get on campus and get to work.
vember night. “Bill and I checked our “He’s a guy that for the past two or
phones. His dad had sent us a message three years, looked like a college of-
on Twitter, letting us know he was com- fensive lineman,” Bedenbaugh said.
mitting to Oklahoma.” “I think physically, he will be ready to
Brey Walker’s size is what immediately play right away. So, we’re really fired
catches your eye. Checking in at 6-foot, up to get him on campus.”
7-inches and 320 pounds, it is pretty While Brey became a ballyhooed recruit
easy to understand why. Even after on the football field, he also carved
committing during his sophomore sea- out a legacy on the wrestling mat. The
son, Walker continued to excel on the life-long wrestler won a state champi-
field. In fact, he continued to climb the onship during his sophomore season
recruiting rankings. Walker was con- in the incredibly competitive world of
sidered a 4-star recruit by 247 Sports, Oklahoma wrestling. Walker’s work in
ESPN and Rivals. He was considered wrestling has helped prepare his foot-
the third best offensive tackle recruit in work, hand placement and leverage as
the country by Rivals. His high school an offensive lineman.
play earned him a trip to the Army
All-American Game, an honor that “He was determined to win state. When
meant a lot to the Sooner commit. he was a freshman, he went undefeat-
ed, but he ended up losing a match,”
“This is definitely the best feeling I’ve his father Corwin Walker said of Brey’s
ever had and the biggest accomplish- commitment to the mat. “That loss
ment I’ve ever had,” Walker said when drove him to come back and win. I
presented with his Army All-American didn’t have to say anything.”
Bowl jersey.
His father noted another benefit of Brey
“They don’t just give this jersey to any- competing and training as a wrestler.
body, so to be able to play in a game like
this is a great feeling.” “It taught him how to bend and how
to dominate and put people on the
Despite the early and long-term com- ground. Wrestling exposes your flaws,”
mitment to the Sooners, rumors started Corwin Walker said.
to swirl on the days leading up to sign-
ing day that Walker might be heading “It helped me a lot with balance as a
elsewhere. Despite concern from Soon- big guy,” Brey Walker said of his work
er fans on social media and rumors out on the mat. “A lot of the techniques in
of College Station, Walker was merely football for an offensive lineman can be
seeing the sights. strengthened by wrestling, so it defi-
nitely helped me a lot.”
“It was just a deal where I just want-
ed to go out and experience some oth- His commitment on the mat and his
er schools,” Walker said of the trip to focus on the football field has allowed
College Station, Texas. “It’s not that I Brey Walker to become one of the most
wasn’t going to OU in the first place. impressive athletes on and off the field.
I just wanted to take more visits, get And now the Westmoore product is
more free trips and do stuff like that.” ready for the next step, competing for a
starting spot for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Walker followed through with his com-
mitment and eventually signed with “OU’s offense line is not going to fall,”
Oklahoma on Dec. 20. Walker said. “We’ll be good the next
four years and probably end up com-
“He’s physically one of the most gifted peting for a national championship for
offensive linemen we’ve signed in the Lincoln. That’s all you need is some
last few years,” Riley said of Walker. guys in the trenches to sustain that
“He was our first commit in this class greatness.”– 19SM
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 27B U S I N E SS BY: EMILIA HART
A Legacy of Luxury
Artesian Hotel Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
of Rebirth in Sulphur
T
ucked in the lush Arbuckle Moun- “The locals say it smoldered for weeks,”
tains of Chickasaw Country lies an Williams said.
Oklahoma icon. The historic Arte-
sian Hotel, known for elegance and lux- Rebirth of an Icon
ury, is celebrating the fifth anniversary After the loss of the original hotel, it
of its rebirth. was rebuilt and refurbished, first as
“The hotel was originally built in 1906,” the Artesian Motor Hotel, then as the
said Justin Williams, the area general Chickasaw Motor Inn. Neither had the
manager for both the Artesian Hotel grandeur of the original.
and the Chickasaw Retreat and Con- Then in 2013, the Chickasaw Nation
ference Center in Sulphur. “In the ear- reopened the landmark hotel as part of
ly 1900s, there were lots of tourists in their Phoenix Project – a project to revi-
the area and a great need for lodging. talize the town of Sulphur - modeling it
It originally opened as the New Win- after the original Artesian.
ston Hotel, then became The Artesian
because of the springs.” “Architecturally, it’s a mirror image,” Wil-
liams said. “Most people think it was just
According to Williams, the hotel hosted refurbished. Many of the details inside
many celebrities including Dale Evans, the hotel are reminiscent of the original
John Wayne and Roy Rogers. as well, from the wood details to the tile
But in 1962, the hotel that had helped choices, and there are many artifacts lo-
put Sulphur on the map, burned to the cated throughout the hotel that were once
ground. in the original, like the old record-player.”
30 | February 2018The revitalized hotel boasts 81
rooms, four suites, a casino,
restaurants, several shops, a spa,
a pool and a gym.
“The Chickasaw Nation had a vi-
sion to commemorate the original
glory of the hotel. The original
was synonymous with luxury,”
Williams said. “We are trying to
capture that.”
Legacy of Luxury
The hotel prides itself on the luxury it ties, or “sparties”, for kids’ birthdays or
provides its guests – from the ambiance other special events.
and small details in the architecture to “This is a perfect ‘spa-cation’ for an
their friendly customer service and wel- overall fun family experience,” Pitmon
coming gestures that make guests feel said. “Guests get away from stress, stay
appreciated. For example, this upcoming in this beautiful hotel, experience the
Valentine’s Day weekend, every room fine food and our spa services. It’s an
will receive a complimentary basket with amazing place to get away.”
a bottle of wine and Bedre chocolates. Planning Your Stay
“We want our guests to have a smile on For Norman and Moore residents, the
their face, and then go home and tell Artesian’s proximity makes this hotel
their friends about us,” Williams said. an ideal spot for either a quick roman-
Adding to the hotel’s legacy of luxury tic getaway or a fun weekend with the
are the award-winning Sole’renity Spa family. Just an hour away, visitors can
and Little Soles Children’s Spa. These experience all the hotel has to offer, as
two spas see roughly 5,000 visitors per well as numerous outdoor adventures
year from all over the country. like the Chickasaw National Recreation
“Our guests get a great spa experience,” Area and Turner Falls.
said Rhonda Pitmon, owner and oper- “The Chickasaw Recreation Area is just
ator of the two spas. “We provide our across the street, and then there are
guests a holistic treatment, promoting the Arbuckle Mountains with horse-
tranquility and relaxation. Guests say back riding and hiking,” Williams said.
there is a tangible sense of peace in our “There’s also the ARTesian Art Gallery
spas, which sets us apart.” and the Cultural Center where you can
Pitmon, who started Sole’renity Spa spend a half to a full day and hear the
in Gainesville, Texas, was recruited by stories of the Chickasaw tribe.”
the Chickasaw Nation to be part of the The hotel is part of Sulphur’s historic
hotel because of her years of experience downtown, and is just down the street
and unique approach to wellness. from the Plaza, which hosts movies and
“We promote self-image while promot- events, including the upcoming Ar-
ing well-being,” she said. “And we love tesian Arts Festival on Memorial Day
to incorporate the healing mineral wa- weekend.
ters from the sulphur springs here.” The hotel also hosts numerous events
The spas have numerous services to of its own throughout the year, includ-
choose from. At Sole’renity, there are ing their upcoming Spring Fling, their
salt and sugar scrubs, mud wraps, sev- Fourth of July celebration and their fifth
eral types of massage, manicures and anniversary celebration in August.
pedicures, oxygen treatment and medi- To book a stay or to learn more about
cal spa services. At Little Soles, kids get the hotel’s history, amenities and
to experience mini spa services includ- events, visit www.artesianhotel.com
ing chocolate frosting facials, and they or call 1-855-455-5255. To learn more
can create their own sugar scrubs and about Sole’renity and Little Soles spas,
mud scrubs. The spa also hosts spa par- visit www.solerenityspa.com. – 19SM
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 31Now booking dream weddings IN THE NEW EV ER EST OUTDOOR PAV ILLION Book your dream wedding by calling (405)325-6716 The finest OU sportswear Visit our shop at 4 Ransom Dr, Norman OK 73019
B U S I N E SS BY: CHELSEY KRAFT
Game Changer
High-Tech Pro Shop Helps Golfers Improve Swing
W
inter will soon loosen its grip wide, holds a simple mission: “to help
on central Oklahoma, and it’s a people play better golf,” according to the
perfect time for golfers to tune company’s website. This is accomplished
up their game before spring arrives. through a wide array of technology.
GOLFTEC, an indoor training center That includes a motion measurement
located at 1619 S I-35 Service Road in machine, a split-screen monitor that
Moore, provides golfers with an oppor- golfers can use to see angles from two
tunity to improve at their sport anytime different video cameras, a launch mon-
of the year. itor and the ability to pull a PGA Tour
player up on the screen to help custom-
David Lisle, who owns the Moore loca- ers visualize proper technique.
tion, played golf at Centenary College
in Shreveport, La., before finishing his “In here, you can see what you’re do-
career at the University of Oklahoma. ing,” Lisle says of the technology used
He opened the center nearly four years in the lessons. “The visual feedback
ago, choosing Moore because of its lo- that you get from that increases your
cation between south Oklahoma City learning speed three to nine times when
and Norman and the accessibility that you can see what I’m describing to you
it would provide customers in the area. and you can see if you’re doing what
we’re asking you to look for. It doesn’t
Lisle brought with him a passion for lie. You can either tell you’re doing it or
teaching the sport of golf. Since 1976, you’re not.”
he has worked as a golf professional in
the Oklahoma City area, most recent- Customers can also access their ac-
ly at Westwood Park in Norman. At counts from home and review videos
GOLFTEC, Lisle says he teaches golf- created during their lessons, Lisle says.
ers with all levels of experiences, from They also learn drills they can prac-
those who are swinging a club for the tice at home and have access to short
first time to those with a zero handicap. instructional films that have been pro-
duced at the company’s headquarters
GOLFTEC, which was founded in 1995 in Denver, ranging from how to keep
and now has nearly 200 centers world-
34 | February 2018a head still during a swing or how to Without the indoor equipment, Lisle
keep hips from swaying too much. said he could use an iPad or a phone to
video a client, but the convenience of
“The visual feedback of being able to see having it right there on a large screen is
yourself and what we’re talking about is important. Golfers can see a front view
huge,” Lisle says. “If I were to just take and a side view, which are really helpful.
you outside, I wouldn’t be able to use
the motion measurement machine.” “Plus it’s always 70 degrees and no wind
in here,” Lisle adds with a laugh. – 19SM
HIT YOUR
TALK TO A COACH ABOUT YOUR #GOLFGOALS18
Now is the perfect time to set your golf goals and develop a game plan with your
GOLFTEC Coach to hit those goals. No matter if your goals are swing or equipment
related, GOLFTEC has the technology, Coaches and Club Fitters to make it happen.
golftec.com | 405.225.3494
©2018 GOLFTEC
19th STREET MAGAZINE | 35T he SPICY
HONEY BBQ
BONELESS W
IN GS MEAL
Hand-tossed in our savory Spicy Honey BBQ Sauce.
Served with Crinkle Fries, Texas Toast and a 22oz Drink.
Limited time only! Try it today!
2720 S. Service Rd. • Moore • (405) 703-2186
© 2018 Zaxby’s Franchising LLC “Zaxby’s” is a registered trademark of Zaxby’s
Franchising LLC. Each Zaxby’s restaurant is independently owned and operated under a
license agreement with Zaxby’s Franchising LLC. Dr Pepper is a registered trademark of
Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. © 2018 Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. 1190-1520 Cal.B U S I N E SS BY: SARAH ROGERS
Growing Presence
From left to right: Reginal Prince,
Shawnetta Wimes and Tyler Moore
Zaxby’s Finds New Homes in Norman, Moore and Oklahoma City Metro
W
When childhood friends Zach including stores in Moore, Yukon, Mid-
McLeroy and Tony Townley west City and the franchise is continuing
were frequently disappointed to build more.
with the selection of chicken restaurants With 28 stores in the pipeline, Sterling
in their hometown of Statesboro, Ga., Coleman, franchisee of the Oklahoma
they came up with the idea of Zaxby’s. City metro locations, will continue to ex-
The two set out to create a restaurant pand the Zaxby’s presence here.
that served fresh, quality chicken in a Coleman became a franchisee well be-
great atmosphere. fore his journey into Oklahoma. Being
One restaurant in Statesboro has now from St. Louis, originally and seeing
expanded into hundreds of stores across the opportunity in Oklahoma City, he
the United States, including the state of jumped on the chance to open restau-
Oklahoma. What started as two friends rants in the Oklahoma City area.
dreaming about better chicken has be- Now that Zaxby’s is here, they are not
come what we now know as the Zaxby’s quiet about it. The franchise has not only
franchise. brought their wings and chicken fingers
Zaxby’s menu has changed very little to Oklahoma, but they have also gotten
since the origin of the restaurant. Chick- involved in the communities, giving to
en is still the pillar of the restaurant, but local nonprofits and participating in the
they also serve a selection of items in- local chambers of commerce.
cluding sandwiches, salads and a multi- If you haven’t yet tried one of the Zax-
tude of sides and dipping sauces. by’s restaurants, stop by the Norman
The Oklahoma City area was introduced store, located at 1839 W Main St., or the
to Zaxby’s in July 2015, when the first lo- Moore location, 2720 S Service Rd. Both
cation in the metro opened in Norman. stores are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to
Not even three years later, Oklahoma 10 p.m. – 19SM
City and the surrounding communities
are now home to multiple locations,
38 | February 2018You can also read
