Commercial Roof Repair in Tulsa, OK

Stephen Brocks says Empire Bar knows what it means to be a "soccer bar."

When the World Cup is on, it’s playing on every TV in the bar, with the sound up. Scores of fans — oftentimes, from the countries playing — crowd the floor to watch.

Between goals, the fans banter, yell at the referees and share beer. And when a goal is scored, the floor erupts.

Brocks, who moved to the United States from Portsmouth, England to play soccer in college, was one of several fans who went to the bar on Dec. 9 to watch his country’s national team play France in the World Cup. England lost, 2-1, but he still shared in the excitement when Harry Kane scored on a penalty kick.

Brocks said the bar in Tulsa’s Cherry Street neighborhood not only serves as a great place to watch soccer — it’s also a place he can meet other English Tulsans.

“It sounds silly, right, to say, ‘All English people know each other,’ but we all do kind of know each other around town, right? You play football with each other, we went to college with each other, so in there, you meet the other people who are in there for other reasons, other than school or sports,” he said.

Over the last 12 years, Empire has established itself as arguably Tulsa’s most prominent soccer — or, as the rest of the world calls it, football — bar. It’s drawn fans from Europe, Africa, New Zealand, South and Central America.

The bar gains the most exposure during the World Cup, but their support for soccer is year-round, every year — something manager Larissa Darnaby says isn’t changing anytime soon.

“We definitely just want to support the culture and support the teams, and continue to be that destination spot for people who live here and don’t live here alike,” Darnaby said.

‘They would refuse to have any other sport play’

Empire Bar opened in the mid-1990s. It’s in a gray stone building on Peoria Avenue just south of 15th Street.

The bar’s soccer theme began in 1997, when regulars Jimmy Mills and Dennis Donnelly consistently made the bartenders play the sport on what was at the time the only TV in the bar. The late Mills and Donnelly now have their photos on the wall behind the bar.

“They would refuse to have any other sport play,” said Darnaby, who said the pair also played soccer in a local league.

Darnaby also believes the bar’s European influence lent itself to eventually becoming a soccer bar — she says they were the first in Tulsa to serve Guinness on draft.

Empire has been a soccer bar for decades, but its reputation and popularity took off during the 2010 World Cup with the help of social media, Darnaby said.

Today, the bar is adorned with soccer jerseys, team scarves and flags hanging from the ceiling, an inflatable soccer ball and European beer signs. The flags of the countries competing in the World Cup fly from the facade during the tournament.

And when the World Cup is on, it shares similarities with neighborhood pubs in England, Brocks said.

“Pubs are closer to their neighborhoods, so people have locals where they’ll go two or three times a week to watch football in general. So then when the World Cup comes around, everyone goes to someone’s local to watch the football, right? And then it becomes more packed, because more people are in there,” he said. “This is similar, in a sense, that Empire during the week for regular premier league games doesn’t have a ton of people but when the World Cup comes on, everyone comes out to watch it.”

‘It’s like time didn’t lapse at all’

The bar has been a soccer destination for years, but Darnaby says Empire’s reputation has risen to a new level during the 2022 World Cup.

The U.S. team’s presence in the tournament has driven up attendance, Darnaby said. She also said the fact that the tournament is held during a different time of year than it usually is could have also helped.

The bar’s popularity for watching soccer was especially obvious Nov. 26, when the U.S. played England. During that match, fans were packed out onto the patio, where the bar had set up a TV for viewing.

“It was shoulder to shoulder. There are some videos out there. It was crazy. It was electric for sure,” said Darnaby.

The bar also made shirts with Queen Elizabeth II and Betty White going head to head for the event.

Darnaby looks forward to continuing Empire’s legacy as a soccer bar for years to come. She said regulars who had small children are now bringing them to the matches, where they sit and watch with their parents on the patio.

And during the World Cup, the bar will bring people together who hadn’t seen each other in four years.

“It’s like time didn’t lapse at all. Nothing’s changed,” Darnaby said. “You still have this jovial spirit in people, and it’s great.”

TULSA, Okla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parkway Corporation, a Philadelphia-based real estate developer, investor, and best-in-class parking operator, is pleased to announce the acquisition of an entire block in downtown Tulsa. The acquisition was completed by a Parkway affiliate, Parkway U.S. Land Carry Fund I, LP.

Located in the vibrant Tulsa Arts District, the 90,000-square-foot surface lot includes 306 parking spaces and is in close proximity to the Tulsa Theater, Cain's Ballroom, the BOK Center, Guthrie Green, and numerous bars, restaurants, museums, apartments, and office buildings.

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"Having studied markets across the country, we're thrilled to make our first acquisition in Tulsa," said Robert Zuritsky, President and CEO of Parkway Corporation. "The city and region have seen significant economic investment and talent recruitment over the past several years. Increased opportunities for remote work have attracted thousands to the high quality of life and affordable cost of living Tulsa offers. Everyone at Parkway is looking forward to making our mark on the city and contributing to the continued revitalization of downtown Tulsa."

Parkway U.S. Land Carry Fund I, LP was established to make acquisitions in primary, secondary, and tertiary markets that have mature or emerging paid?parking characteristics, a multiplicity of parking demand generators, and demonstrable economic momentum and business growth. This platform is focused on acquiring surface parking lot facilities that have current operating cash flows where a higher or better use may be achievable over a longer time horizon.

About Parkway Corporation

Parkway is a full-service real estate developer, investor. and operator with deep expertise in property and parking management. Founded and headquartered in Philadelphia, Parkway Corporation has been an industry leader for nearly 100 years in combining operational excellence and innovative technology to deliver exceptional products and customer experiences. More information about the company is available at www.parkwaycorp.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contact:Sara McGovern, Slice Communicationssmcgovern@slicecommunications.com610-914-5977

SOURCE Parkway Corporation

New store will be the second location in state

SEATTLE, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a store in Tulsa, Oklahoma in spring 2024. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics.

"We look forward to helping the community get outside and being a closer destination for existing REI members who have been driving to our store in Oklahoma City," said Kristen Engels, REI regional director. "We're also excited to connect with local nonprofits that are protecting natural places and supporting people to achieve an active lifestyle."

Store Facts

As the country's largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to tap into the expertise of REI's store staff and online resources such as its Expert Advice library to learn or advance skills, plan adventures, and more. Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program called Re/Supply; discounts on shop services and experiences; a share of the co-op's annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the co-op's bike shop, REI co-op members receive free flat-tire repair (labor only).

REI actively partners with nonprofits across the nation to steward and maintain local trails and public lands to connect more people to the outdoors. Last year, the co-op invested $7.1 million in more than 450+ nonprofits across the country. Since REI's entry into Oklahoma in 2019, the co-op has granted more than $44,000 to nonprofits including Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship, RIVERSPORT Foundation, and Scissortail Park Foundation.

The co-op also operates the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-supported public charity that partners with and provides financial support to organizations that promote justice, equity and belonging in the outdoors to strengthen the health and well-being of people and communities.

Join the REI team REI expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Tulsa. Candidates interested in joining the REI team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and a general timeline for hiring is here. Candidates can set up a job alert on the co-op's career site to be notified when positions post. New employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, such as two paid annual "Co-op Way Days" that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to encourage all employees to #OptOutside. REI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables a life outdoors for everyone. The co-op seeks candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.

About the REI Co-opREI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 21.5 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 179 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn't just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI's active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.

SOURCE REI Co-op

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

The son of the notorious drug lord known as El Chapo has been captured in Mexico. Ovidio Guzman has worked with his father's cartel since he was a teenager. He is wanted in the United States, which has offered $5 million for his capture. As NPR's Eyder Peralta reports, his arrest has unleashed major violence. And we should warn you in advance of the sound of gunfire throughout this story.

EYDER PERALTA, BYLINE: The operation began before the sun came up. Mexican security forces surrounded a group of heavily armed members of the Sinaloa cartel. A video shared on social media shows a helicopter trading heavy gunfire with armed men on the ground.

(SOUNDBITE OF HELICOPTER HUMMING)

PERALTA: According to the military, Ovidio Guzman was captured amid this exchange.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

LUIS CRESENCIO SANDOVAL GONZALEZ: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez hailed the arrest as a bruising hit on the power structure of the Sinaloa cartel. But as he spoke, Sinaloa state burned. Videos on social media showed the narcos blockading roads and armed men moving through the airport. One video shows narcos shooting at a military plane.

(SOUNDBITE OF GUNSHOTS FIRING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: Guzman was flown to the capital in Sinaloa. The regional airports were closed, and the authorities asked people to stay home. Mexican security forces actually briefly detained Ovidio Guzman in 2019. But back then, the Sinaloa cartel unleashed even greater violence, and within hours, the government let Guzman go. Carlos Perez Ricart, a professor at the Center for Economic Research and Training, says that was a huge embarrassment for the government.

CARLOS A PEREZ RICART: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: "The government's weakness was on display. The capture of Guzmán is redemption," he says. But it might say more about how the Sinaloa cartel has changed.

PEREZ RICART: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: Today, the cartel is fighting on multiple fronts, and it may not be able to muster the same kind of violence to make the government capitulate. Still, it's a huge win for Mexico ahead of a visit by President Biden next week. Guzman's father, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was extradited to the U.S., where he is serving a life sentence. Eyder Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.

(SOUNDBITE OF BADBADNOTGOOD AND GHOSTFACE KILLAH SONG, "GUNSHOWERS") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

An outfielder at Oklahoma State from 2015-17, Garrett McCain was a part of the Cowboys' 2016 College World Series team and posted a .338 career batting average in 130 games.

A native of Wylie, Texas, McCain capped his career with a junior season that saw him earn first-team All-America honors after leading the Big 12 with a .388 batting average to go along with four homers, 14 doubles, five triples, 19 stolen bases and a .549 slugging percentage. He led the Cowboys to the Big 12 Championship title and was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player.

Drafted in the 10^th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by Detroit, McCain played 138 games over two seasons in the Tigers' organization.

Since retiring from baseball, McCain, who earned his degree from OSU in business management, has enjoyed a successful career in the financial services industry and currently works for FortySix Venture Capital in Tulsa.

Garrett McCain Investor Relations Associate FortySix Venture Capital Tulsa, OK

You were drafted and played two seasons of pro baseball. How gratifying was that experience and what made you decide baseball was over for you? GM: As a kid all I could dream about was playing professional baseball. From a young age, I decided that was the profession I wanted to pursue and was willing to put everything I had into trying to make that dream a reality. While not reaching the ultimate level that I had dreamt of and hoped for, getting to say I had the opportunity and getting to forever have the label of "professional baseball player" is something that I am incredibly grateful for and owe a lot of thanks to those that helped along the way.

Walking away from the game I loved for so long was obviously an incredibly tough and thought-out decision. I know everyone must hang them up at some point, and oftentimes it is sooner than they had hoped. That definitely was the case for me. However, when assessing where I was in my career and mapping out the personal life I desired to have, my wife and I felt that stepping away and pursuing things in a different profession was going to be the best option for us as opposed continuing to chase my baseball dream with another organization.

What have you done since retiring from pro ball? GM: After baseball I lived in Dallas a bit until I got married at the end of 2019. My wife and I moved to Oklahoma City and lived there for almost 2 years. While there, I got into the financial services industry helping clients manage their investment and insurance portfolios. I began that career path with a firm in Stillwater in the beginning of 2020 and then switched to an OKC based firm at the end of 2020.

My wife and I moved to Tulsa in May of 2021 at which point I moved my practice again to a Tulsa-based firm and began servicing and growing my clientele with a Tulsa focus.

While still running my planning practice, in February of 2022, I helped start and run the NIL Collective at Oklahoma State formerly known as "Unbridled" now known as "Pokes with a Purpose." I now currently serve on the board of Pokes with a Purpose.

Lastly, in November of 2022, I began a new path in the financial services industry as an Investor Relations Associate leading the capital raise for a Venture Capital Firm based out of Tulsa.

What is your role with your current company and describe what you do? GM: In my current role with FortySix Venture Capital as the Investor Relations Associate, I am in charge of leading and running the capital raise for our venture fund. My day-to-day is spent meeting with eligible investors, educating them on what we do and how venture capital works, and then assessing if investing in our fund would be a good fit for their investment portfolios. Once in our fund, I manage the communications to and from our fund manager and maintain the relationship with the investor in hopes they will continue to allocate some of their investment portfolio to our future funds.

It is also my responsibility to update our fund investors on the deals we are seeing and investing in so I also sit in on pitch meetings with the potential founders our fund will invest in.

How did being a student-athlete at OSU prepare you for life after college? GM: Being a student athlete at Oklahoma State was a vital part to preparing me for life after college. Not only did it provide me with the skills to be able to efficiently manage my time, perform my responsibilities effectively and produce under pressure, but it also has provided me with incredible relationships that are the only reason I am where I am today. The Cowboy network is wide reaching and filled with incredible people who are willing to get to know you, hear your story and help in any way they can. I saw that as a student-athlete in Stillwater, and I see it every day in the business world with people all over the country.

What are your future goals as a business professional? GM: Professionally, I have some lofty goals for myself. I see myself staying in the world of private investments and desire to become partner and manage my own fund. Fortunately, the firm that I am with aligns with that vision, and I believe I will have every opportunity in this growing venture capital ecosystem to do just that. FortySix is one of the leaders regionally and plans on gaining a national presence in the venture space and getting to help build that from the ground up is inspiring.

Talk a little bit about getting involved with NIL and Pokes With A Purpose and what you do for that. GM: My NIL journey is quite interesting. I got in on the ground level before really anyone knew what collectives were and if they were going to catch on and be successful. I was approached and was a candidate to start one of the first collectives nationally for another university and once that didn't pan out, I brought the idea to Oklahoma State. Fortunately, I was paired with the right people who at the time aligned with the vision I had for NIL at Oklahoma State and together started Unbridled. As a co-founder and the Executive Director, I helped lay the infrastructure and put into place best practices for raising and distributing NIL funds to our student athletes.

In May of 2022, Unbridled merged with Pokes with a Purpose, and I joined as a board member. My role and day-to-day activities changed from making organizational and operational decisions to helping with strategies to raise money as well as organize and execute on the payments of our student-athletes.

Since the joining of my venture firm, I have passed up most of my duties to other board members, but I still plan on being as involved as I can due to my love and commitment to OSU athletics as well as having a good pulse and connections to all things NIL.

What is your favorite OSU baseball memory? GM: It would have to be our postseason run in 2016. At the beginning of each season, teams across the country set the goal of reaching Omaha, and to be one of the eight teams to accomplish that in 2016 was special. The path we took wasn't typical, and that added to the excitement and thrill of that postseason. Spending two weeks in South Carolina with your closest friends only to extend the season another few weeks in arguably one of the top sporting events in the world is something I will always cherish.

Is there anything else you want to add about your OSU experience on and/or off the field? GM: I can't thank everyone enough for making my college experience what it was. I am not the man, nor would I have been the baseball player I was, without everyone who helped me along the way. From coaches, to staff, to academics, to facilities, I firmly believe I had one of the greatest all-around college athletic experiences, and all the support and help along the way didn't go unnoticed. Oklahoma State Baseball brings a rich tradition, and it's an honor to have represented one of the most historic programs in college sports and to be mentioned alongside some of the best to play at the collegiate level.