Five facts about the new Wildcat restaurant opening in downtown OKC

1. The building has a rich history
2. The Social Order is leading the project
3. Wildcat aims to be an all-day destination
4. The design team is already in place
5. There's no opening date yet

1. The building has a rich history, 2. The Social Order is leading the project, 3. Wildcat aims to be an all-day destination, 4. The design team is already in place, 5. There's no opening date yet

An empty building at the corner of Main Street and Walker Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City is getting a new lease on life. The Social Order, a local restaurant group, is transforming the long-abandoned shop into an all-day restaurant called Wildcat.

The building has stood empty for nearly 20 years, except for a brief stint as temporary construction offices. Built in 1919, the 2,664-square-foot structure was once home to a photography studio and art gallery.

The Social Order, which owns several other restaurants in the city, purchased the building in 2022 for $725,000. CEO Brian Bogert said he had been interested in the art deco building since 2015. The new restaurant aims to revive the social atmosphere of downtown's Main Street, drawing inspiration from Oklahoma's history and European cafes.

Here are five facts to know about Wildcat.

1. The building has a rich history

The building at 434 W Main was constructed in 1919 and has seen various uses over the years. Most recently, it was used as temporary construction offices, but it has been largely vacant for the past two decades. In its prime, the building housed a photography studio and art gallery.

The Social Order, established in 2013, operates several popular restaurants in Oklahoma City, including The Jones Assembly, Spark, and local franchises of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Dave’s Hot Chicken. The group recently took over operations at Citizen House in the Citizen’s Building.

3. Wildcat aims to be an all-day destination

The new restaurant, Wildcat, is designed to be an all-day dining and hospitality destination. Bogert said the concept is rooted in reviving the communal spirit of downtown's Main Street. The vision is for the space to function as a European cafe by day and an intimate supper club or neighborhood saloon by night.

The name "Wildcat" is inspired by Oklahoma's wildcatters, risk-takers who drilled for oil based on instinct and nerve.

4. The design team is already in place

The architecture and design of Wildcat are being handled by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, with Modus Construction serving as the general contractor. Philadelphia-based Rohe Interiors is managing the interiors, and Trackmeet is handling the branding.

The Wildcat lounge is shown in this conceptual rendering.

5. There's no opening date yet

Although the project is moving forward, there is currently no announced opening date for Wildcat. The transformation of the building marks a significant step in revitalizing the area and bringing new energy to downtown Oklahoma City.

This story was created by digital audience director Diane Pantaleo, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more: https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/