After years of collecting dust and rumors, one of Norman's most infamous empty buildings finally has a new name in the window. Uncle Julio's, the national Tex-Mex chain, has quietly posted a sign inside the long-vacant Wayne's Waterside Grill space, hinting that the long-idle waterfront building could see life again after nearly two decades of sitting dark.
According to OU Daily, company spokesperson Dani Perales confirmed that Uncle Julio's is planning a Norman location and is aiming for an August opening. The outlet also reported that the company did not immediately spell out exactly where inside the sprawling property the restaurant would land.
Long Vacant Waterfront Building May Finally Reopen
The Wayne's Waterside Grill structure, roughly a 10,500 square foot shell on about 2.1 acres along Ed Noble Parkway, was begun in 2008 but never opened to the public. The Oklahoman reported that the site has cycled through multiple owners over the years and that the property sold at a discounted price in late 2020, only to be announced as changing hands again to an out-of-state buyer group in January 2026. Brokers involved in that deal told the paper the buyers control several restaurant brands and have the money to finally push the long-stalled renovation across the finish line.
Corporate Backing Could Make a Tricky Rebuild Work
Sun Holdings, which acquired Uncle Julio's out of bankruptcy in late 2024, has been steering the brand toward expansion, a strategy that helps explain why the chain might be willing to tackle such a complex project. Company information and industry coverage note that Uncle Julio's already operates locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and the chain's corporate site lists those markets. That footprint and financial muscle could be what finally turns the long-empty shell into a functioning restaurant.
Local real estate brokers sound cautiously hopeful. Emily Duncan Belusko, a sales associate who helped market the waterfront property, told The Oklahoman that the interior shows a full restaurant buildout and that "nothing was overlooked" in the original construction. City permits, hiring details and a firm schedule beyond the August target have not been outlined by company representatives, so for now Norman residents are left watching to see whether that simple window sign really does turn into busy service counters and margaritas by late summer.
