Blog Post: Exploring Oklahoma City–Deep Deuce

Tucked away just north of Bricktown and east of the Downtown Business District lies the Deep Deuce.

Once a lively African American neighborhood, brimming with jazz music and locally owned businesses, today this district houses several mid-rise apartment buildings, along with a few restaurants and bars.

The area was largely abandoned from the 1960’s through the late 1990’s, when a successful attempt to revitalize Downtown Oklahoma City prompted developers to fill the region with urban living options.

While the Deep Deuce is once again filled with people and development, much of its original culture was during the reconstruction process. Just one African American owned business remains in the district.

Despite the changes, there are restaurants in the Deep Deuce worth paying a visit to.

To get here from Oklahoma Christian, you will head south on the Broadway Extension and exit at N.W. 6th street. Continue for about half a mile until you reach N.W. 2nd street, then turn right.

Pros:

• The area is clean and very walkable, with wide sidewalks and a low volume of traffic. When I arrived around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon, there was ample street parking available along the streets. I saw a few residents out walking their dogs and chatting, enjoying the calm nature of the area.
• While much of the Deep Deuce is master planned with buildings less than 20 years old, a few historical buildings from the 1920’s era remain, giving parts of the district a unique, rustic feel.

• Despite lacking in number, the available restaurants in the district offer a wide array of high quality cuisine. Those searching for traditional comfort food and American fare can find it at the Deep Deuce Grill in the center of the district. The Wedge Pizzeria, towards the southwest on N.W. 1st street, cooks up wood-fired pies and other Italian cuisine in a laid-back environment.

Cons:

• With only half a dozen restaurants and a couple of hotels, there simply are not enough businesses in the area to warrant multiple visits. It makes more sense to stop by the Deep Deuce on a visit to Bricktown or Automobile Alley, rather than making a whole trip dedicated to seeing the Deep Deuce.
• It was nice to walk around undisturbed, but the lack of foot and vehicle traffic made the area feel less vibrant. In many ways, it felt as if I was walking through a residential neighborhood rather than an urban tourist destination. Perhaps I felt this way because I visited in the mid-afternoon, but it was still noteworthy compared to other Oklahoma City districts I’ve visited.
• I noticed a lack of street art and creativity compared to districts such as Midtown, The Paseo and the Plaza District.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a decent bite to eat, the Deep Deuce presents you with several upscale options. Beyond that, look elsewhere. While in close proximity to entertainment options in Bricktown, the Deep Deuce presents few of its own. I imagine the Deep Deuce is a better place to live than to visit often.

This post is one part of a blog written for Dr. Philip Patterson’s Feature Writing class. 

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