VZD's Restaurant and Bar to close, owners exploring other options

The Oklahoman
Updated ·2 min read

Popular Western Avenue mainstay VZD's Restaurant and Bar announced Friday morning it is closing its doors in September.

"It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share this information with you, but it looks like our chapter at 4200 N. Western is unfortunately coming to a close. Ownership of the building we call home has changed as of the beginning of 2023, and while we’ve explored every option to try to remain tenants, our new landlords will be exploring other options for our current space," the restaurant's Facebook post said.

Popular Western Avenue mainstay VZD's Restaurant and Bar announced Friday morning it will close its doors in September.
Popular Western Avenue mainstay VZD's Restaurant and Bar announced Friday morning it will close its doors in September.

For decades, the sign at 4200 N Western Ave. has read VZD's, an homage to the Veazey's Drug Store that anchored the tiny conglomeration of storefronts under one roof on the doorstep of Crown Heights.

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The venerable gathering place encouraged people to continue to come out through the summer.

"You can have some time to come by, eat, drink, listen to our wonderful local musicians, and enjoy what remains of the last iteration of VZD’s as we know it…as our last weekend of business will occur Friday 9/1 and Saturday 9/2 with hometown favorites Wakeland graciously giving us a proper send off with two back to back shows," the Facebook post said.

The restaurant, which recently hosted a competition to find Oklahoma City's best burgers, wrote it would be announcing more special shows and engagements to coincide with the closing and owners are working on potential next steps.

Mindy Boone, chef-owner of Mindy's Fat Stacks Grill, works in March preparing burgers for the crowd during the "OKC's Best Burger Competition & Tasting at VZD's Restaurant and Bar in Oklahoma City.
Mindy Boone, chef-owner of Mindy's Fat Stacks Grill, works in March preparing burgers for the crowd during the "OKC's Best Burger Competition & Tasting at VZD's Restaurant and Bar in Oklahoma City.

A look back at VZD's

Back in 1976, decades of filling prescriptions, shilling analgesics and jerking soda to a couple of generations of Crown Heights residents ended and a new club was born, according to The Oklahoman Archive.

It survived the disco years, living off the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” crowd flocking to the Will Rogers Theatre. In the early '80s, VZD's played host to up-and-coming bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a young Alejandro Escovedo, The Flaming Lips and classic performers including Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, Alex Chilton and Joe Ely. Years later, it became a regular stop for the original lineup of the Dixie Chicks.

Popular Western Avenue mainstay VZD's Restaurant and Bar, seen here Friday, announced that it is closing its doors in September.
Popular Western Avenue mainstay VZD's Restaurant and Bar, seen here Friday, announced that it is closing its doors in September.

When “M.A.S.H.” went off the air in 1983, VZD's offered a free martini and kimchee to those who paid a $1 cover to watch the finale on a big-screen television.

VZD's is open 4 p.m. to 1:45 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 405-602-3006 or go to https://www.facebook.com/VZDsOK/.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: VZD's Restaurant and Bar in OKC to close its doors in September