Wouldn’t It Be Great?
… if the Toy and Action Figure Museum moved from Pauls Valley to Bricktown? That’s pretty much the thought expressed on Twitter earlier this week by Jim Cowan, director of the Bricktown Association. And quite frankly, I can’t agree more.
This isn’t about the big city trying to steal away an attraction from a small town. Instead, it’s about helping a great venue reach its true potential. Having visited the museum last year with my kids, it was amazing to ponder just what a great place this was – and how many more would visit it if it were located in an area with more traffic.
No offense to Pauls Valley – it’s just not a place I would have visited otherwise. And there wasn’t much else to do in its downtown. The museum needs bigger digs, a location with more traffic, and more visibility.
Bricktown could offer all of that and more. I’m amazed some entrepreneur hasn’t figured out how to make this a reality already. Imagine not just the museum open in Bricktown, but also a toy-themed restaurant next door. Maybe even a small theater where visitors could watch old Superman and Spiderman cartoons (my favorite Spiderman is the version from the 1960s).
It’s doable for sure. And having visited with the founder of the museum, I think this is a girl that is open to being asked out by a new suitor to go to the prom. I can’t think of several places that would work well for such a venture – the old Sherman Iron Works on Main Street, or the old tomato warehouse across the street. Or maybe one of the Brewer nightclub buildings on E Main, across from the Hampton Inn.
Parking in this case wouldn’t be a big deal. Parking is scarce is where the museum is now. And if people are willing to travel to Pauls Valley to go to this wonderful attraction, I think it’s not too difficult to imagine visitors paying a few bucks to park to enjoy this wonderful trip back to our childhoods.
All it takes is some imagination, vision, and yeah, maybe a tweet from Jim Cowan.
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Comments
From my understanding, both would work in terms of layout.
I am hoping to take my son down there during Spring Break and hope to talk with Kevin again.
By the way, I liked the 60′s Spiderman cartoon better as well. TV was much different when I was a kid!
You buy the rope, I’ll buy the duct tape, and maybe we can kidnap Jeff Moore along for the ride.
(attention to readers with no sense of sarcasm or humor: this is just a joke aimed at showing how great it would be to get one of these Bricktown property owners to see the museum with his own eyes. I do not really advocate kidnapping as a way to promote economic development).
Come to think of it, the Okie Noodlin Festival would be a great family friendly activity in Bricktown
I love this idea Steve and Jim. Best of luck and if you need a van (cough) to help, just let me know. =)
Steve:
I have met with Kevin and given him a tour of Bricktown. His place would be a great addition to the district. It’s all about finding the right space. He needs very high ceilings and quite a bit of square feet.
The Toy and Action Figure Museum would bring what we treasure in Bricktown, diversity, a business that shares customers as well as specifically drawing visitors.
Maybe the biggest draw to having it would be that it would be yet another “family friendly” attraction for Bricktown.
Jim Cowan