Bank and restaurant added to ex-dealership

St ride Bank and a Hal Smith restaurant are set to join a mix of financial services, high-tech and creative firms moving to the redeveloped former home of Mercedes of Oklahoma City along Automobile Alley.

The Mercedes showroom and an ad joining Volvo dealership marked an end to a century of car sales along Broadway, which at its peak in the 1920s was home to 52 of the city's 76 dealerships.

Tenants in the sprawling former dealership already include First Rate Title, which occupies the former Mercedes used cars showroom at Broadway and NW 13, and Hogan/Taylor, the audit firm that anchors the main Benz building.

The vintage Classics Building to the west of the main Benz Building is home to Mass Architects and the software firm Ex apt ive. Meanwhile, a second phase of redevelopment of former “make ready” buildings has been completed along NW 13 just west of Robinson Avenue that are being leased to entrepreneurial startups.

The development is at the crossroads of Automobile Alley and Midtown and in an area considered an extension of the innovation zone east of Interstate 235.

The Benz Building is the center of the development, and the bank and restaurant are set to occupy the south half of the Benz building where the curved two-story glass showroom was located.

KevinGua rn era, Oklahoma City market president at Stride Bank, said the new location will feature a range of banking services, including commercial lending and wealth management, and will also house the bank's human resources, legal and administrative staff.

“This is just a perfect part of town for us. Just like Automobile Alley, we have an extensive history in this state,” Guarnera said. “We've been around for over 100 years, helping Oklahomans fulfill their needs. And like the Innovation District, we're also very forward thinking and constantly on the forefront of the banking industry.”

Chris Fleming, partner at Midtown Renaissance Partners, said the addition of Stride Bank and the yet to be named restaurant bring the Benz Building to 70% occupancy. The only building not yet renovated or leased is the former Volvo showroom to the south of the Benz Building.

“Not only is this part of town a perfect mix of what the bank itself represents — a long history of solid service and an innovative spirit — the employees and clients they will bring with them make this a solid win- win f or the entire district,” Fleming said.

“We can't wait for them to move in. If you look at everybody in there to date, we have good established companies with innovative edges.”

All but one of the buildings that were part of the Mercedes Benz of Oklahoma City dealership when it was downtown have been redeveloped with the building on the right now home to a title company, the main buid ing home to an accounting firm, a bank and restaurant, and the older building to the rear home to an energy company. Only the furthermost building, previously home to a Volvo dealership, awaits redevelopment. [DAVE MORRIS/THE OKLAHOMAN]