Downtown Revitalization Turns Parking Garage Into Shopping Center

Every time you turn around there seems to be something new opening in downtown Tulsa. The newest is an old parking garage that's now home to a deli, restaurant and a boutique; and more shops are on the way.

"Really, before we even open for lunch, we'll probably make anywhere from like 100 or 200 sandwiches," said Shelly Hayslett of Lambrusco'z

Lambrusco'z downtown location's been open since St. Patrick's Day. It's the anchor tenant in Jeff Scott's Blue Dome Market at 2nd and Detroit. He bought the building three years ago.

"When it was built in the 1920s is was a blacksmith shop, or a livery stable," Scott said.

Most recently it was a small parking garage, but, if you mix in a little imagination, you get the Blue Dome Market with the restaurant, "Simply," a dress shop and boutique, and the third place will house Sculpt Tulsa, an exercise studio.

Scott said Sculpt Tulsa is set to open in mid-summer. There's one more small space on the end, what's going in there is still a secret.

I asked about the covered patio, and Scott told me all the sidewalk seating at Utica Square was his inspiration.

"I stepped of the sidewalk in front of Queenies and Starbucks and Wild Fork, they are about 15 feet," he said.

He created a nearly 15 foot wide covered patio in front of the market, plenty of room to sit and eat or just relax.

The Blue Dome Market, proof once again every old building doesn't have to be leveled for a parking lot.