FILLING UP SPACE

What's in store for former Founders Bank property?

OnCue is set to build a new station on the block that was once home to the mid century landmark Founders Bank building.

The property has stood empty since the building at 5613 N May Ave. was torn down by Austin- based Schlosser Development Corp. in October 2018. The owners did not respond to any calls or inquiries when questioned months earlier or when the demolition was protested by preservationists.

The bank, built in 1964, was unique in that it was anchored by two 50-story exterior arches which eliminated the need for interior walls in the football shaped building. OnCue purchased the bank property for $2.65 million in October and then an adjoining parking lot that was attached to the nearby former Wyndham Hotel for $608,000.

Jim Griffth, CEO of OnCue, said OnCue had no involvement in the demolition.

“We got a flyer from Mark Inman with CBRE — the building was already torn down,”

Griffith said .“We had absolutely no interest in the property in tearing it down.”

Griffith said t he property does fit into OnCue's growth plans and requirements for expansion, including location, demographics and traffic count.”

“We had been looking in the area and north side and south side of Northwest Expressway for eight to nine years and nothing came up,” Griffith said. “This was a good location.”

The station isn't scheduled to be built until l ate 2021 and will follow several others ahead of it. The station, he said, will likely resemble one set to open soon at NW 178 and Western Avenue that will include a grill, indoor seating and an expanded coffee bar. He added the stations are all stocking up on craft beers, more, he said, than any other convenience store in the metro area.

Since opening the first store in Oklahoma City in 2006, OnCue has emerged as one of the leading gas station and convenience store chains in the city with about 50 locations so far and plans to expand to about 60.

“We'll keep growing as Oklahoma City keeps growing,” Griffith said. “We love the metro.”

OKLAHOMAN] OnCue is set to build on the site of the former Founders Bank and parking lot once attached to the former Wyndham Hotel, as shown in this drone image looking southeast from Founders Boulevard by Northwest Expressway and N May Avenue. [DAVE MORRIS/ THE

LANDSBERGER/ THE OKLAHOMAN Demolition started on the former Founders Bank the same a day a permit was requested from the city of Oklahoma City. Preservationists and midcentury architecture adovcates saw their inquiries about the landmark at 5613 N May Ave. ignored by the Texas owners for months prior to the demolition in October 2018. [CHRIS