918 Coffee, known for repurposing a vintage gas station along Route 66 in Tulsa, closed in late June after a decade because the owners were retiring.
Morad El-Raheb and his wife Annie, who opened the coffeehouse at 2446 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) in 2013, made the announcement on Facebook its last day would be June 30:
“Ten years ago, we set out to invest in an area that we had a personal connection with, and to provide jobs for our fellow Tulsans. We are delighted to see the growth in the area. We’ve had a great run, but now it is time to retire and say goodbye to all the friends we have met on this journey. It’s been our pleasure to serve you.”
Asked through Facebook Messenger what the plans for the property were, the reply was: “We are in the early stages of interviewing prospective tenants.”
El-Raheb, a general practice physician from Egypt who has lived in Tulsa for 35 years, bought the former George Tune Auto Shop, which included a 1928 cottage-style service station.
He used old tools found inside the building to add to the decor, and the coffeehouse played up its location on Route 66.
According to an archived Tulsa World classified ad from 1950, the station was a Texaco.
The coffeehouse’s numerical name came from the telephone area code for the Tulsa region.
(Image of the cottage-style service station attached to another building at 918 Coffee in Tulsa by Shannon T. via Yelp)
I was in Tulsa on July 1 and 2. I took a picture of the lit curbside neon sign at this business on the night of July 2nd. I hope they find a tenant quickly. Usually it is more optimal for both seller and buyer to transfer the business while it is open.