COOP Ale Works bought the historic armory building on Oklahoma City’s 23rd Street corridor for $1.3 million and will convert it into a brewery, hotel, events center and restaurant.
The Oklahoman newspaper reported the purchase included five adjacent buildings:
The former Veterans Affairs building to the east will be converted into 12 villas with a basement speakeasy while the second east building will be cleared for a beer garden and pool.
The Armory, meanwhile, will include about 18 hotel rooms on the floors overlooking the production floor with the opposite side of the building to be home to a restaurant and event venue.
Mercer said new construction estimates are being calculated to account for inflation on materials and labor costs. Financing is expected to take about two months, with an expected timeline that includes two years of demolition and construction.
That would put the opening of the complex at 2025 — one year before Route 66’s centennial. The entire project is projected to cost $55 million.
COOP Ale Works CEO David Mercer said it will be a unique destination. The fast-growing brewery, based in Oklahoma City, has grown its beer distribution from seven to 35 states.
According to The History Exchange, the 72,000-square-foot, Art Deco-inspired armory at 200 NE 23rd St. (aka Route 66) was finished in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project. It’s just west of the Oklahoma Capitol building.
This video by The Oklahoman from five years ago provides a good look at the armory’s interior. Check out the original phone booth.
(Excerpted image from Google Street View of the Oklahoma City armory building on 23rd Street)