story by Ryan Saylor
rsaylor@thecitywire.com
The building at 318 Garrison that was the home of Varsity Sports Grill for more than 20 years may have not served up a cold brew and a hot meal in months, but it does not mean the site was without activity as crews did a more than $500,000 renovation of the building in preparation for the opening of Bricktown Brewery on Monday (Oct. 27).
Plans for the restaurant were first announced in June, when Managing Partner Buck Warfield of BT Concepts revealed during a Central Business Improvement District meeting that his Oklahoma City-based company had purchased Varsity and was planning to invest dollars in both renovations and jobs in the heart of downtown Fort Smith.
The Fort Smith location is the first outside of Oklahoma for the company, which also has locations at the Remington Park Casino in Oklahoma City, as well as locations in Edmond, Owasso and Shawnee.
The renovations, which began in August, made several changes to the building on the corner of 4th Street and Garrison Avenue, including adding an entrance on Garrison, as well as adding a concept similar to beer gardens on the west side of what is currently the pool room.
"As I stared at the footprint of the building, it became apparent to me that what is now an existing … west side pool room … it seems natural to me to punch through that wall to create that indoor, outdoor dining experience," Warfield told the CBID commissioners June 17.
That outdoor space includes an area Warfield billed as a "music space," which he said has become an important part of the Bricktown Brewery developments.
"We'd like to relocate the planters (trees, bushes, etc.) and pour that and create a natural stage. It's just a perfect place for it," he added at the time.
The expansion of the building to the west included matching brick on the building addition, as well as replanting all landscaping currently in place. New landscaping was be added, as well as garage-like doors to allow the addition to have open air.
The changes also included the iconic neon Varsity sign that has been a fixture of Garrison since the 1990s coming down and being replaced with a similar sign for Bricktown Brewery.
General Manager Kathy Young said Wednesday (Oct. 29) that changes to the facility are more than just structural, noting that tables throughout the restaurant are made from repurposed 130-year-old wood salvaged from numerous downtown buildings, namely those owned by Griffin Properties. Griffin owns the building that houses Bricktown Brewery, as well as a series of buildings across the street under renovation and set to open next year as luxury apartments.
Young also said artwork on the outside and interior of the building had been completed by an artist named Ace Parker, a former baseball player who is working with the company to create unique art that will only be seen at Bricktown Brewery locations.
She said the former Varsity staff were all offered their positions and staff was increased by as many as 50% to 60%, with a final opening staff of 100 employees Monday.
The biggest change, Young said, will be the addition of local brews from Arkansas and Oklahoma. She said the beers include Bricktown Brown, brewed at the original Bricktown Brewery location in downtown Oklahoma City. Additional local beers on tap include flavors from Ozark Brewing Company and brews with names like Sing Strong Stout and Blues Berry. Another tap special will be a Remington Red renamed Red Griffin Ale in honor of the family that owns Griffin Properties. Attempts to reach Griffin Properties executives Wednesday were unsuccessful.
In all, she said 75 beers would be available with a focus on "Bricktown Brewery's own" beers, then other local beers and finally beers from surrounding states. Young said while the Fort Smith location would not house a brewery in the near future, space was available following renovations to add a brewery based on business demands.
And while Bricktown Brewery is known for its selection of beer, she noted that the restaurant had a full menu for adults and children.
The final major change will be Adelaide Hall, which Young said would now operate as a standalone operation with its own website and booking. Previously, she said bookings were done through Varsity staff and Adelaide Hall shared a web presence with the restaurant.
While Fort Smith is the first location outside Oklahoma, Young said it would not be the last as the company has its sights set on Wichita, Kan., for its next location.
Bricktown Brewery is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday's schedule is "open ended," Young said, adding that closing times were based on business needs.