Jenks Market To Serve Up Food, Music, And Movies Next To The Aquarium

Jenks is set to expand its family-friendly attractions with a new food hall and outdoor entertainment venue called Jenks Market. Planned beside the Oklahoma Aquarium, the project will launch with a 12,000-square-foot footprint, feature outdoor seating, and center activity around a jumbo screen for films, concerts, and community events.

Key Takeaways

• New food hall and entertainment hub, Jenks Market, planned beside the Oklahoma Aquarium.

• Initial 12,000 sq. ft. build with a potential 18,000 sq. ft. expansion.

• Outdoor seating and a large screen for movies, live music, and sporting events.

• Parking expansions and a proposed hop-on, hop-off micro-transit service under discussion with the city.

• Part of broader economic momentum in Jenks, including nearby retail development.

What Is Jenks Market

Jenks Market is envisioned as a curated food and entertainment destination featuring multiple eateries and flexible programming. Developers are recruiting a mix of local and out-of-state restaurant concepts. The outdoor plaza will anchor community gatherings, with the jumbo screen enabling movie nights, live music, and watch parties for big games.

Location And Timeline

The venue is planned between the Oklahoma Aquarium and the Holiday Inn Express, steps from downtown Jenks and near the riverfront. Backers indicate the first phase is targeted to open within months of groundbreaking, with the option to add up to 18,000 square feet if demand warrants. The design aims to complement nearby attractions and encourage longer visits.

Parking And Mobility Plans

To accommodate visitors, developers say the city has approved additional parking on aquarium-adjacent land. They are also exploring a hop-on, hop-off micro-transit service to circulate guests through the area, funded by the operator via a maintenance-style fee, pending city approval. Visitors are encouraged to use rear-lot parking downtown to ease congestion on Main Street.

Economic Context And Community Impact

Jenks Market arrives amid a broader surge in local investment and placemaking. The Ten District, a data-driven nonprofit, partnered with Frisbie Lombardi Commercial Real Estate on the project and is working with existing businesses to leverage city incentives for upgrades. The project builds on downtown revitalization efforts—such as the Downtown Commons—that have drawn comparisons to Tulsa’s Guthrie Green for their role in boosting foot traffic and small business vitality. Supporters say the goal is to add new amenities while preserving Jenks’ welcoming, small-town feel.

Sources

• Jenks getting new food and entertainment venue, KJRH.

• New Entertainment Venue, Market Coming To Jenks, News On 6.

• New Attraction In Downtown Jenks Being Compared To Guthrie Green, News on 6.