What's happening to the former home of Brown's Bakery in Midtown? A major restoration

Steve Lackmeyer, The Oklahoman
·3 min read
The facade of the former Brown's Bakery at 1100 N Walker Ave. hints at the restoration to come as the shopping center's new owners prepare to renovate the Midtown landmark for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
The facade of the former Brown's Bakery at 1100 N Walker Ave. hints at the restoration to come as the shopping center's new owners prepare to renovate the Midtown landmark for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The former home of Brown’s Bakery is set to be restored to its original mid-century design with long empty spaces to be cleaned up and redeveloped by the Midtown Renaissance Group.

The building at 1100 N Walker Ave. is in the heart of Midtown and was originally built in 1946 for Clyde’s Grocery and TG&Y. Since being acquired by Midtown Renaissance Group last month, workers already have removed plywood and paint that covered the grocery’s original clear glass frontage.

“With this being at such an important intersection at the NW 10 and Walker roundabout and the visibility of the two buildings, they’ve been hidden for a long time behind paint and plywood,” said Chris Fleming, a partner in Midtown Renaissance. “We felt it would be an injustice to the neighborhood to keep them hidden.”

Chad Fleming, of Here to Help and Haul, clears out debris from the ceiling of the old Brown's Bakery located In Midtown.
Chad Fleming, of Here to Help and Haul, clears out debris from the ceiling of the old Brown's Bakery located In Midtown.

What to know about the history of the building that once housed Brown's Bakery

Author Lynne Rostochil, an expert on the city’s mid-century architecture before she died in 2019, was the first to bring attention to the building after researching its design by architect Joseph Boaz.

“The grocery was one of the first in the U.S. to incorporate modern aesthetics, such as large windows and a revolutionary barrel roof in its design,” Rostochil wrote. “The store was such a stunner that it was featured in several architectural publications of the day and may have been an inspiration for the Quonset hut style of the future Safeway chain.”

Clyde's grocery operated at 1100 N Walker Ave. from 1946 to 1968. The building was last home to Brown's Bakery.
Clyde's grocery operated at 1100 N Walker Ave. from 1946 to 1968. The building was last home to Brown's Bakery.

Clyde’s remained a part of the neighborhood until 1968, when he sold to a new operator, Frank Hayes, who then sold it in the mid-1970s. The grocery, renamed Family Foods, closed as the neighborhood went into a long decline.

Brown’s Bakery bought the building in 1992 and remained an anchor during the district’s darkest days when most of the surrounding buildings were flop houses or abandoned commercial structures.

More: Transit-oriented development in OKC? Brown's Bakery future? Your questions answered

Fleming said Midtown Renaissance is looking to get the shopping center added to the National Register of Historic Places. One challenge to be overcome by architect Brian Fitzsimons is the steep grade change of the property, which changes by 10 feet from the north to south ends of the block.

The shopping center consists of the main grocery building, which spans 5,500 square feet, and the TG&Y building, which spans 6,600 square feet over two floors.

The originally exposed barrel roof of the former Brown's Bakery is visible again after removal of drop-top ceiling tiles.
The originally exposed barrel roof of the former Brown's Bakery is visible again after removal of drop-top ceiling tiles.

What to expect from the renovations

Renovations over the past few weeks are designed to improve curb appeal and redevelopment will not be quick, Fleming said.

“We will be following historic preservation standards to preserve both buildings, which means that the redevelopment timeline could be a little longer than typical because of more detailed planning and approvals throughout the process,” Fleming said. “Sara Werneke and Matthew Pearce at the State Historic Preservation Office have been super helpful and encouraging.”

Architect Joseph Boaz drew up plans for Clyde's grocery that were later published in architectural magazines as an example of cutting-edge design for supermarkets emerging across the country. The building, built in 1946, was later home to Brown's Bakery, which closed earlier this year.
Architect Joseph Boaz drew up plans for Clyde's grocery that were later published in architectural magazines as an example of cutting-edge design for supermarkets emerging across the country. The building, built in 1946, was later home to Brown's Bakery, which closed earlier this year.

The neighborhood surrounding the shopping center has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past 20 years. Construction is well underway on the five-story Phillips Murrah building along NW 10 between Walker and Hudson avenues.

A mix of apartments and retail, though delayed, is still planned for the triangular block to the west of the shopping center. Construction also is set to start next year on the MAPS 4-funded $42 million, three-story new home for Palomar at NW 11 and Hudson Avenue. Fleming said the restoration of the shopping center will add to the momentum.

“It’s still too early to know the the exact future uses and future tenants of the buildings, but we suspect it will be a mix of restaurants and retail,” Fleming said. “Looking forward, I think people will be amazed by the continued transformation of the neighborhood, and it will further solidify the district as Oklahoma City’s premiere mixed-used urban destination to live, work, shop, eat and play.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Brown's Bakery, once a showcase of mid-century design, being restored