Business Owners Credit Guthrie Green For Sparking Growth Of District

How could a park spur economic growth in a community?

Rain or shine, the Guthrie Green is the center for many activities in downtown Tulsa, and businesses owners said the 3-year-old park has had an impact.

Every weekend there's something new happening on the Guthrie Green - fundraisers, celebrations, marathons and bike races start and end there.

Built in the heart of the Brady District back in 2012, the park is now the anchor.

Businesses and city dwellers feel the pain just about every weekend because of closed roads and barricades, but it's the price you pay for being in the growing neighborhood.

"I had no idea that it would be this nice. You know, I knew it was going to be cool, but, I mean how nice it really turned out was really phenomenal," said Hey Mambo owner, Scott Moore.

Moore opened his restaurant around the time Guthrie Green broke ground.

"Before Guthrie Green I was closed on Sundays, and when they started doing events on Sunday we were open, and it worked out. It works out well," he said.

Moore's seen the park's free concert series and other events grow his business, especially the Tulsa Tough bike races.

"It's my best one-day sales out of all of the events that happen down here," Moore said.

The district’s Business Association President Bob Fleischman said places like the Guthrie Green and concert venues expose people to the area and keep them coming back.

"There is a recurring business that can take place from it," Fleischman said.

He said local businesses like his own hair salon and spa plan for the weekly road closures.

"We know about these things for weeks in advance, it's not like somebody put barricades on the streets this morning," he said.

Business owners said it's not the road closures that hurt their business, it's actually the weather; consider Guthrie Green is a park.