Another Owasso Restaurant Shuts Down

Another Owasso eatery bites the dust.  Steak 'N Shake announced its closing on Wednesday.  It joins half-a-dozen other restaurants that have closed in the suburban town in just the past year.  The News On 6's Steve Berg reports the closings might not be so noticeable if they weren't so close together and so soon after the restaurants had opened.

It's not as if Steak 'N Shake didn't have any customers.  Several drove up just while The News On 6 was there, like Truman Lingren.

"We pull up here, and it's closed," said Truman Lingren.  "It hasn't been here that long, or I don't think it's been here that long."

And, a disappointed Terri Weber also pulled up.

"We had our hearts set on it all day," said Terri Weber.

Steak 'N Shake is just the latest shake-up.  Fuddruckers was a dud.  And, even a popular local brand like Camille's Sidewalk Cafe got its walking papers.  Also gone are Wings to Go, Te Kei's, and 3 Tomatoes and a Mozzarella.

Chamber of Commerce president Gary Akin says the closings haven't gone unnoticed.

"Trust me, when a business leaves, it concerns us," said Chamber President Gary Akin.

But, he says with nearly two dozen new restaurants hitting the market at the same time, a few closings are not unexpected.  And, he says that rapid expansion didn't happen by accident.

"Retail growth is growing.  Professional growth is growing.  Residential growth is growing.  Our property values here are appreciating," said Chamber President Gary Akin.

Akin says he might worry if there weren't other restaurants moving in to replace the ones that have left, but the fact is there are.  In fact, he says when everything shakes out; there will probably be a net gain of restaurants in Owasso.

"A new Olive Garden is breaking ground.  In that same area, there's going to be another new restaurant.  Around the corner from here, Baja Jack's, a new special restaurant opening," said Chamber President Gary Akin.

Even the Steak 'N Shake building might not be empty long, just 48 hours after it closed.

"There's already been two inquiries on that location by other restaurants," said Chamber President Gary Akin.