New Casa Bonita property owner details future of Tulsa landmark

TULSA, Okla. — The owner of the old Casa Bonita building in east Tulsa has big plans for the property, that’s currently being gutted inside.

Pictures have been circulating on social media of the interior of the former Tulsa icon in shambles.

“Our plan is we’re going to have like a mini mall, like a small little food court, plus have vendors inside here also,” said Thai Bliaya, with CGB Properties LTD.

FOX23 was allowed inside the building, near East 21st Street and South Sheridan Road, and saw debris littering the floors and structures demolished.

Bliaya did not specify an estimated opening date for the mini mall and said the gutting and construction process could go on for a couple of years.

Casa Bonita was a Mexican-themed restaurant and entertainment chain that opened it’s Tulsa location in 1971. The restaurant featured food, puppet shows, an arcade and man-made caves.

The Tulsa location closed for good in 2011. All other Casa Bonita locations are also closed, including the first one that was built in Oklahoma City.

The already notorious restaurant chain was made even more famous in a 2003 episode of South Park, titled “Casa Bonita”. The creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, announced in 2021 they bought the old Denver-area Casa Bonita restaurant, and plan to open that location again.

FOX23′s Julia Gorman will have a full report on FOX23 News at 5. You can watch live on the FOX23 News App or on FOX23.com.

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