How Art, Music, and People Drive Oklahoma City’s Growing Restaurant Empire 84 Hospitality

Why It Matters

By prioritizing immersive, community‑focused experiences over pure efficiency, 84 Hospitality shows how independent operators can compete with chains and fuel regional restaurant growth.

Key Takeaways

• Rachel Cop built 84 Hospitality from a laundromat pizza concept.
• Atmosphere is prioritized; restaurants are called “hangouts” for community.
• Five passions—people, art, music, booze, food—drive each concept.
• Diverse portfolio includes pizza, ramen, Mexican, fine‑dining Italian.
• Curated art, playlists, free prosecco create memorable, non‑transactional experiences.

Summary

The Takeaway podcast features Rachel Cop, founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality, a fast‑growing Oklahoma City restaurant group known for turning ordinary spaces into vibrant "hangouts." Cop’s journey began with a laundromat‑turned‑pizza shop in 2013, evolved through a series of concept experiments, and now spans four distinct brands, including Empire Slice House, Goro Ramen, a Mexican eatery, and the fine‑dining Italian Alysetta.

Cop attributes the group’s success to five core passions—people, art, music, booze, and food—and to an obsessive focus on atmosphere. She curates playlists, installs community‑sourced posters, and offers complimentary prosecco to encourage guests to linger and interact. By treating each venue as a social hub rather than a transactional stop, 84 Hospitality creates memorable experiences that foster loyalty.

Memorable moments from the interview include Cop’s "figure it out" tattoo mantra, her rapid ascent from server to general manager, and the decision to learn New York‑style pizza at Tony’s International School of Pizza after a failed laundromat contest. The brand’s signature postered walls echo New York subway aesthetics, and each new location invites local artists to contribute, reinforcing the community‑first ethos.

For restaurateurs, Cop’s model demonstrates that differentiated, experience‑driven concepts can thrive even in mid‑size markets. As Oklahoma City’s culinary scene expands beyond the NBA’s Thunder, 84 Hospitality’s emphasis on atmosphere and community offers a scalable blueprint for building loyal customer bases and diversifying revenue streams.

Original Description

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Rachel Cope, founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality, which has four concepts in its portfolio, including the eight-unit Empire Slice House. Rachel — who NRN recently named to the Power List of restaurant founders, and who was also named a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur — opened the first Empire in 2013, and every restaurant that she’s opened since has been imbued with the five things she’s passionate about: people, art, music, booze, and of course food. In fact, 84 Hospitality is so committed to the atmosphere of their restaurants that they don’t even call them restaurants; they call them “hangouts,” because their main goal is for customers to enjoy themselves on site and plug into their community. Rachel joined the podcast to talk about the details that go into a great restaurant atmosphere — from a curated music playlist to free prosecco pours — and about how she’s positioning Empire Slice House and its counter service offshoot, Empire Slice Shop, to be a major growth opportunity.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

The best leaders figure out how to adapt to their situation

A carefully tailored restaurant atmosphere can be the difference between a good time and a great time

Creativity must be balanced with practicality

Quirky real estate is a great characteristic — until you need to scale

The restaurant industry must resist becoming too transactional

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at [e-mail].

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00:00 - Podcast Introduction & Guest Preview

02:16 - Interview Start and Origin Prompt

02:55 - Rachel's Origin Story and Empire Launch

07:00 - Early Consulting and Concept Development

11:10 - Creating Community Hangouts and Empire Launch

12:32 - Portfolio Expansion: Ramen and Mexican Ventures

14:10 - Launching Elisabetta: Fine Dining Italian Concept

21:55 - Oklahoma City Culinary Landscape

25:24 - Inside‑Out Expansion Strategy

28:20 - Future Vision and Scaling Plans

33:23 - Growth Discussion and Diversification Ideas

39:30 - Consumer Experience and Hangout Model

46:49 - Addressing Value and Competition

48:06 - Leadership Overload and Operational Challenges

52:25 - Introducing Key Takeaways

53:31 - Takeaway: Atmosphere Elevates Experience

54:48 - Takeaway: Balance Creativity with Practicality

56:21 - Takeaway: Quirky Real Estate vs Scaling

58:08 - Takeaway: Avoid Over‑Transactional Operations

1:00:12 - Closing Remarks and Thanks

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