Take a Bite into History!
Celebrating Delicious Sandwiches Since 1986
The first City Bites opened on October 16th, 1986, in a small 800-square-foot location off NW 23rd Street in Bethany, Oklahoma. The business idea, dreamed up by three brothers, who were landscapers by trade and looking to make extra money on rainy days, was simple: Build a restaurant between the local high school and the next closest lunch spot in town and serve the highest quality food possible. The only problem was none of them could cook…so they made sandwiches!
The brothers, Brad, Gary, and Eric Blevins, set out on the impossible mission of acquiring funds to turn their dream into a reality, but with only one car and one wallet shared between the three of them, it proved to be no easy task. With a little help from Grandma, a maxed-out credit card, and an advance on a “to be completed” landscaping job, the idea of a Sandwich Place With An Attitude came to life. The next step, design and build the concept, proved as difficult as the first. With little money and no formal training, the brothers began to design and remodel the first City Bites themselves.
The Theme? Well, if you ask them, it’s a no-theme theme. Anything that didn’t belong, belonged in a City Bites. A wacky interior was part of the plan to set them apart, and anyone who knows the brothers knows wacky is right up their alley. With wrecking balls crashing through walls, one-way glass in every bathroom, and a rhino watching over every meal, it was always easy to know what restaurant you were in! It was that quirky attitude, drive, and self-belief that took City Bites from concept to reality; however, it takes the entire family to run a successful business, and by 1990 the eldest brother Mark had joined the company too.
By 1991, City Bites had earned several awards and accolades, but none more prestigious than winning “Small Business of the Year,” which sent the Blevins brothers to Washington D.C. to meet with President George H.W. Bush. After only five years in business, the brothers found themselves in the Rose Garden with the President of the United States, being honored and recognized as outstanding American entrepreneurs.
The philosophies that took them there are the same philosophies the company is run by today: Provide an outstanding fresh-made product, and treat every customer who walks through our door as if they are the only customer to walk through our door. The brothers also worked elbow to elbow with all their employees, leading from the front, oftentimes having to run the business between the lunch rush and the dinner rush, where they would be found making sandwiches and running the register personally. For the first several years, they were the lowest-paid employees in the company, but they were always the hardest working. With attitudes like that, it’s no surprise that City Bites quickly became Oklahoma’s favorite Bakery and Deli!
In the decades to follow, City Bites would open several locations in the Oklahoma City metro, Tulsa, and even reach as far as Wichita, Kansas! The brothers have always believed in setting the example, be it with their employees or with the community. In 1989, City Bites was honored by the American Cancer Society as the first-ever completely smoke-free restaurant in Oklahoma. As our locations have expanded, so has our ability to positively affect the community we’re in, and we’ve always believed that a key to our success is a strong partnership with our community! The brothers have given back to local police and firefighters throughout the years and sponsored several events for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2019, City Bites even donated over $100,000 for local teacher appreciation.
With almost forty years in business and several restaurant concepts, the Blevins brothers have certainly left a positive mark on the Oklahoma restaurant industry. Not only by opening several successful locations but by passing down their knowledge to the next generation. Some of the employees who worked elbow to elbow with the brothers in the earlier years are still with us today, leading the company forward just as the brothers taught them to do those many years ago. We are still a family-owned company and we believe that feeling of family and community is what has separated us from the other guys for over thirty years. At City Bites, family always comes first, and everyone who walks through our door is a part of the family!
Remembering Brad, a Sandwich Legend and City Bites® Co-Founder
Brad Blevins, one of the founding members of City Bites®, passed away on October 29th, 2022, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, passion and kindness. Brad's humor and wit were integral in creating the quirky and unforgettable restaurant interiors that City Bites® is known for.
Brad's love for his family was unmatched. He was a devoted father to his son Beck, and a loving grandfather to his granddaughters Kaylee and Reyna. Brad's siblings Mark, Gary, Eric and Anne will miss their brother dearly.
Brad's passion for City Bites® was evident in everything he did. His dedication and love for the business helped shape it into the beloved sandwich shop it is today. He was proud to call Oklahoma home and was deeply invested in the local community. Brad's legacy will continue to live on through City Bites®, a company he poured his heart and soul into. His impact on the business and on Oklahoma will not be forgotten.
