The Downtown Food Scene

Where did the downtown food scene come from and where is it headed? Find out from this powerful panel of incredible food entrepreneurs from right here in Tulsa. Hear about their journeys to owning and operating some of the most successful and well-loved restaurants in downtown Tulsa! Check out the lineup below.

Panelists:

John (Chip) Gaberino is the owner and CEO of GB Provisions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2002, he started Topéca with his wife, while completing his Masters in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University. He has been managing, growing, and shaping Topéca for the last 19 years into the brand it is today. Topéca supports over 100 employees at their concepts including Topeca, Hodges Bend, Lowood, Open Container, Saturn Room, and Ninebar.

Jeremy Diamond is the co-founder of Welltown Brewing. He’s a big idea guy who can't stop innovating and rethinking how to push the limits of a business. He’s greatly encouraged and motivated by turning a vision into a reality.

Austin McIlroy is the Master Brewer and CEO of Cabin Boys. He graduated from the Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy Master Brewer’s program in 2016. He has a passion to see the world and to bring Oklahoma flare through the ales he will make, influenced by what he has experienced.

Julia Johnson is a chef with et al., a collective of chefs working collaboratively to build a more delicious and equitable future for the food and beverage industry in Tulsa. They cook weekly, monthly, and one-time pop-ups out of Foolish Things Coffee across a variety of cuisines and service styles. Full profit distribution and equal pay are among the core values that make their collective unique. Et al was a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant 2023 by the James Beard Foundation, along with 30 other restaurants from across the country.