Elmer's Uptown

Where Consistency is Key

“In the beginning, it was Elmer,” said Carl Kemp, Sr., brother of Elmer Kemp, founder of Elmer’s Uptown. The concept was conceived after Elmer opened The Top Hat inside the historic Bryant Recreational Center. “Elmer and I, we worked together at the country club,” said Carl. “And he just one day decided he was going to try it and it worked. It really worked.”

Opened by Elmer Kemp in the 1960s and located on the northwest corner of 39th and Lincoln Boulevard, Elmer’s is known for its loyal clientele, great vibes, tasty food, and margaritas. On any night, the kitchen is ready to serve chicken wings, ribeyes, t-bone steak, catfish, grilled chicken salad, hamburgers, and their world-famous green beans.

In 2010, Elmer’s nephew Carl Kemp Jr. took over ownership and Mario Long, a former regular customer, joined him as co-owner in 2018. Carl Sr. remains an advisor. After taking the reins, Carl Jr. soon realized that ownership comes with many responsibilities. “I’ve been the bartender, the cook, the maintenance man,” said Carl Jr. “Mario fell right in and learned real fast.”

“I used to be a ‘regular’ customer,” said Mario. “It was a place where you could come and be comfortable. It was safe. It was a notch above the rest. You could tell they cared about the experience.”

The team recognizes that as times change, people change. “The clientele kind of changed and a different generation came in and you couldn’t talk to them the way you did everybody beforehand, so he adapted a little bit and I’ve had to adapt to a different clientele since I’ve been here,” said Carl Jr.

In spite of a few changes, Mario credits consistency as the reason the business has been successful. “You’ve got to be consistent,” says Carl Jr. “You have to have a loyal fan base for starters and you got to have something that people want.”

“That is paramount in any business,” says Mario. “We appreciate our customers. We’ve got customers that are in here three and four times a week, every week. It’s that type of support that keeps things going.”

“Sometimes Mario and I just kind of sit and watch,” said Carl Jr. “Uncle Elmer brought this to my attention a long time ago. He says, ‘look around, son.’ I said, ‘Yeah, we got a house full.’ He said, ‘Yeah, we got a full house, but look, everybody’s having a good time. You got people laughing and talking. It’s just a joyous occasion and that means a lot.’ And Mario and I were sitting here the other night and I said, ‘Look around. This is what we accomplished. We’re in the business of showing people a great time.’”

> Elmer’s Uptown, 3925 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City; (405) 525-5367; facebook.com/ElmersUptownBarandGrill