Leaving history in the past and grasping for the future: the state of Lawton’s Downtown
Lawton's downtown strip is small but it's almost entirely made up of local businesses. While businesses have struggled to survive downtown and community opinions of the area aren't particularly favorable, some hope changes and new plans will revive it.
Many who live in Lawton, or have visited, know that the downtown area is small. Aside from visiting the businesses on its main strip, not many people have a reason to frequent the area. While it’s a small section of the city, it’s almost entirely made up of local businesses.
However, local businesses haven’t always been able to survive in Lawton’s downtown. Some residents claim it’s because the city favors and promotes certain businesses, while others feel the addition of Central Plaza is to blame.
Dark Roast’s Reanna conducted a community poll to get residents’ opinions on the Downtown area. 235 residents participated in the poll. Of those, 74% feel it’s struggling, and needs a lot of work. 10% feel it’s growing and has potential. 15% believe it was better before Central Plaza. 0% believe it’s a nice, community spot. Comments on the poll ranged from encouraging others to support local businesses downtown, to urging others not to go downtown because it’s not safe or worthwhile.
“I remember downtown before the central mall. It definitely needed some major rehab, but tearing it down — all that history — was a big mistake. My friends and I went downtown one night to see the movie Killer Grizzly, and that downtown was different,” one participant said.
Central Plaza’s impact on the downtown area
Central Plaza is a large part of why Lawton’s downtown strip is so minimal. It’s also largely to blame for there being fewer historical structures on the strip than there once was. Before Central Plaza was added, that side of C Avenue was also lined with businesses in buildings that had been erected much earlier in the city’s existence. These historic buildings were demolished to create space for Central Plaza during the 1970s.
While the mall performed well for a few decades, it was soon phased out by online shopping. Being a mostly barren building, the City of Lawton (COL) began using the space for other needs, most notably, to house FISTA. However recently, the city’s been equipping the building with more to try to make use of it, such as being a temporary home for the Library and a storage space for the Museum of the Great Plains’ relics, while these buildings are being repaired. Some in the community, especially those from older generations that knew the downtown area before Central Plaza, have criticized the city for tearing down part of the downtown area to add a building that they feel isn’t serving the community as it should to justify such an alteration.
While some in the community question the logic of demolishing the original downtown to build the mall, the reality is that what’s done is done. The city can do nothing to bring back the original downtown but some feel they can make active efforts toward historical preservation in the present. This could be addressed through partnering with the Museum of the Great Plains to pinpoint areas with historical relevance, and sparing older structures from being demolished to obtain financial backing to repair them. Of course, whether or not COL pursues such efforts is reflective of their financial priorities.
Low traffic leads to businesses closures
For others in town, the best way to presently address Lawton’s struggling downtown is to provide more support and opportunities for local businesses located there. There have been several businesses in the last few years that have left the downtown area due to a lack of business, issues with the location, or issues with the buildings.
The owners (who wish not to be named) of Ranazonce Gallery, which was located on C Avenue, said they were drawn to the building because its large windows would be perfect for displaying art. They rented the building after it had served as an escape room that didn’t last. They said they had to put quite a bit of work into the space by painting, fixing floors, changing lighting, and adding security cameras. They added that it didn’t take long for them to learn that the building had a flooding problem, which created considerable issues for housing art. Additionally, they soon realized that downtown wasn’t as ideal a spot as they’d expected for foot traffic.
“Being downtown, we thought, would give the artwork a chance to be seen. There were thousands of cars, trucks and motorcycles that passed the corner everyday, so in that, we were correct. But that expectation turned out to be old school. People no longer view something new with curiosity and stop to find out about it. They expect to find it on the internet, be told about it there, and then if they get around to it, then show up,” they said.
The owners of Ranazonce said they’ve lived in Lawton for 25 years and opened the gallery with the sole purpose of providing a platform for community artists. That’s why they were so discouraged when people didn’t show up to support it. They mentioned that they tried to find hope through downtown events, such as “Open Streets” but said even those proved to be disappointing.
“The city of Lawton seems to not have anyone checking in on how their planned events on C Street or elsewhere are going to affect the local businesses at all. No prior notification is given to the businesses except by city maintenance crews. The first clue of a street-blocking event are the orange cones in the street. The truly sad part is, for Open Streets, where they do things in the street with children, they never ask the businesses to join in the planning,” the owners said.
The owners went on to explain that most days, not a single person came into the gallery and not a single purchase was made. They said that didn’t stop them from trying their hardest though. They used the gallery to host giveaways, kids’ craft events, writing groups, open mics, and open houses for the artists who had work in the gallery. They said each of these efforts made little to no difference for the gallery. They added that not even the holidays boosted sales. They said they believe that if they’d sold art online, they would have successfully sold many pieces, but it would have defeated the purpose of their goal to create a community-centered gallery.
They said that once their lease was up, they felt their time and money would be better spent elsewhere. They admitted that while they personally liked the location, people just weren’t shopping in person like they used to. They pointed out that there’s a clear need in the community to rally behind local businesses so they can’t stay afloat.
Hope for a hub of local businesses
Despite some businesses leaving, others are still coming into the area. One such new business is Curiosity Avenue, owned by Jason Poudrier, who also serves as the city’s Arts and Humanities Administrator.
Poudrier said he always wanted to open a business but didn’t feel it was financially feasible. Being a veteran, he said one of his greatest passions was connecting other veterans with the arts, which is what led him to pursue his position with the city and settle down in Lawton. Having a Masters in education, he also has a passion for stimulating creativity among kids, which planted the interest in creating Curiosity Avenue.
“I decided that I would make Lawton Fort Sill my home. Why would I leave a community so densely packed with a population of veterans who I desired to serve? After three years in the position, and hearing so many people discuss the limited options for recreational activities for children in our community, I wanted to directly do something to answer the call, but it wasn't until I joined the Great Plains AMBUCs that I would join a network of philanthropic citizens who had the knowledge and resources to make my idea come to life,” Poudrier said.
Poudrier said a fellow AMBUC member had a space that would soon be available on C Avenue and that he decided to “take a leap of faith” and jump on the opportunity. He said he used every resource he had to secure the location, with the sole intention of creating a family friendly experience that was affordable to the whole community.
Poudrier explained that the building had all the potential to become what he’d envisioned, so he felt it was meant to be. He mentioned that he really appreciates being surrounded by other local businesses in the area. Additionally, he said he’s heard the complaints around town about Lawton’s downtown area and wanted to have a role in improving it.
“I wanted to make a positive impact on my local community beyond what I was capable of doing through my employment with the City of Lawton. Nothing truly makes me happier than seeing other people happy,” Poudrier said.
Curiosity Avenue has been open just a few months shy of a year now and Poudrier said he’s received an outpouring of support and positive feedback. He said business has been doing well, with his typical clientele being families with kids 12 and under.
However, he said the location does have its faults. He pointed out that the parking along SW C Avenue is limited. He said it’s difficult for a large number of people to enjoy the spot at once, without having to park a ways off and walk to Curiosity Avenue.
Still, Poudrier expressed hope that the downtown area would be revived and that such issues would be addressed to accommodate that growth. He said he hopes that more locally owned businesses will set up shop downtown to create a thoroughly community oriented area.
“My goal for Curiosity Avenue is to beat the odds of independent startups and become a staple downtown business like many of my neighbors,” Poudrier concluded.
Plans for improving the downtown area
As far as how the Ranazonce owners think the downtown area can be improved for present and future businesses, they believe small changes and better communication could go a long way. They believe adding more trees to line C Avenue would make it more aesthetically appealing and offer shade for those parking in the area. They also proposed planting more flowers and putting murals on blank walls to beautify the area. Lastly, they suggested leaning more into the city’s history and putting signs up to acknowledge historical sites, even for structures that have been torn down. They believe these adjustments would make the area more appealing for people to visit, making them more likely to shop downtown. Most importantly, they believe this would create more community cohesion.
“Some time in the near future the shops will all be gone and the children will have no concept of brick-and-mortar businesses,” the owners said. “Shop locally or what you drive by today may disappear tomorrow.”
Some affiliates of the city have begun making efforts to improve the downtown area, though progress has been slow with the city’s efforts focused more on Central Plaza. The lights strung over C Avenue are one recent example of a small improvement that helped beautify the space.
Barry Ezerski, who serves as the Chairperson for the Lawton Enhancement Trust Authority (LETA) said the idea for the lights originated in 2019 when some LETA Trustees observed similar lights in surrounding cities. The project was originally planned to be implemented in 2020 but was pushed back due to COVID.
“Some Lawton Enhancement Trust Trustees were visiting other communities in Oklahoma and saw how festive cross-street lighting made those downtowns. Chickasha was one of the communities mentioned. So the trust thought, why not Lawton?” Ezerski said.
After COVID, Ezerski said several obstacles got in the way of the project. These included changes in leadership, ownership discrepancies over the poles the lights would be attached to, and a rise in cost to have the lights installed.
The Wednesday before Christmas of 2025, they held the lighting ceremony to officially display the lights. Ezerski stated that the block on C Avenue between 4th and 5th Street was the first section to receive the lights. In order to accumulate the funds to cover the whole downtown strip, he said they plan to add a block a year that will eventually stretch from 2nd Street to 6th and then back around 2nd to Gore. Ezerski said they’ve already begun purchasing the remainder of the lights and are just waiting for the City’s okay to continue, though he hopes they’ll be adding more in the next couple months.
“Our goal is to have three blocks done by the end of the year and two more next year. Liberty National Bank, which is located between 6th and 7th Street on C Avenue, has volunteered to purchase the lights for an additional two blocks so we can take them from 2nd Street all the way to 8th Street on C Avenue,” Ezerski said.
Ezerski noted that the later part of the process may take longer because engineering work will have to be done to address some of the poles that are farther apart. He said he expects that to be completed sometime around 2028. Ezerski added that LETA is fully funding the project and that it’s taking time, in part, because the lights cost about $3,000-4,000 per block. He said he feels they’re a worthy investment though because they add to the atmosphere of downtown, making it more inviting to potential businesses and residents alike.
“Community feedback has been positive so far and, of course, everyone wants to know when the whole street will be done – they can’t wait! I personally feel the lighting project brings renewed energy to downtown and to the businesses along C Avenue,” Ezerski concluded.
Along with the plans that are already being implemented to make Lawton’s downtown more appealing, there are also future plans being discussed that are expected to breathe life back into the downtown area. Most notably, this includes a plan to add an amusement park to the downtown area under the direction of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.
Plans for the park were solidified in March 2026. It will be implemented in phases, with the first phase being expected to be completed by 2027. While the exact site for the park has yet to be confirmed, equipment for the rides is already being gathered. Supposedly, the park has been nicknamed “kids first” as a nod to Mayor Booker’s recent push to put children at the forefront of nearly every initiative the city is implementing.
While these plans do demonstrate a level of effort to revitalize the downtown area, it still leaves questions and gaps in planning that need to be addressed. These include how Central Plaza and FISTA will be involved in the downtown area’s growth, a need for adult options of entertainment, and a need for more local business involvement in the city’s events and plans for downtown. Based on community feedback, Lawton’s downtown area has a long way to go before it feels like an appealing place for residents to gather.
