Just after statehood, downtown Oklahoma City was booming and Broadway Ave was the primary artery feeding the young city. True to its name, Broadway was built wide – wide, because the avenue had to accommodate trolleys; and broad, so farmers and merchants coming to town could turn their horse-drawn wagons around, changing directions as needed.  

In 1911, an entrepreneur recognized the area’s potential and built a Buick dealership at the corner of NW 5th and Broadway, where Red Prime Steakhouse now resides. Several other automotive companies followed the lead, building dealerships along the busy avenue. By the time the 1920s really began to roar, almost all of the quarter million cars registered in Oklahoma were sold along the short stretch of Broadway – affectionately known as Automobile Alley.  

For the next 60 years, Automobile Alley boasted a wide selection of dealerships, featuring nearly 50 different car makes and models from Buick to Studebaker. As many customers began fleeing the inner city for the suburbs in the early 1970s, dealerships followed suit. This led to abandoned buildings and the area falling into disrepair.   

However, in the mid-1990s, investors recognized the area’s potential and began converting an abandoned Buick service garage on NW 13th and Broadway into loft apartments. The project was delayed by the bombing of the Murrah Building in 1995. In addition to damaging what would later become The Garage Lofts, the blast destroyed already decaying architecture – causing collapsed roofs and blown windows district-wide. Out of the ashes of the Murrah building disaster, Mayor Norick, the Urban Land Institute and city organizers were able to secure funding and establish the Automobile Alley Association with the goal of revitalizing the once-thriving district.

After over two decades of hard work, Automobile Alley is once again a thriving artery to the city. Park anywhere along the busy avenue and enjoy a pleasant walk past local shopping, incredible food, great bars and a vibrant community of small businesses. Whether it’s picking up a unique gift at Shop Good or Plenty Mercantile, savoring a slider at S&B’s, sipping gourmet java at Coffee Slingers or a craft cocktail at Sidecar, Automobile Alley serves up entertainment for all ages.