“Blake fits into this in creating direction and creating a built environment, which will help us now that the building design is done,” Moore said. “Also, it will be important to look at what the role of OKPOP is in the state and in the city of Tulsa and the region as a tourism draw.”

During Ewing’s nearly decade on the City Council, the financial difficulties of his restaurant business mini-empire drew public notice, which he acknowledged in saying his new gig may seem like a bit of a departure to those who don’t know him.

“The public saw me for the most part as a politician first, or maybe as a restaurateur or businessman first, but in reality, I’ve always been a creative person first,” Ewing said. “This job is more appropriate for my skill set and passions than maybe anything I’ve done in the past.”

Ewing explained that his favorite part of being a restaurateur was also his downfall as a businessman. But being part of a team at OKPOP will allow him to use his greatest strengths full time with none of the downsides, like being “ultimately responsible” for everything.