Historic Industrial OKC Business Moving Out Of Bricktown As Company Expands

Bricktown used to be a warehouse district, but over the years the downtown Oklahoma City district transformed.

Owners of a business that has been there since the early days said it's time to move on. 

Many people from Oklahoma recognize Federal Corporation’s historic building. While moving is bittersweet its owner says it’s for the best. If history can teach survival, Federal Corporation's walls have plenty of lessons to share.  

“It’s gone through four generations of Loefflers,” said Alan Loeffler, third generation of the Federation Corporation family. 

“Half the job is showing up,” Loeffler said. “Business is based on character.” 

Loeffler’s grandfather Louis Loeffler built the iconic OKC business front. “Which he did in 1918 with his brother,” Loeffler said. “Just a lot of appreciation for their dedication.” 

People can look back through photos on their business walls to see how far they’ve come. Oklahoma native John Lippe owns the business today after he bought it in 2020 right before the pandemic. However, he managed to grow the company despite the obstacles that plagued many businesses. 

“Bricktown’s evolving,” Lippe said. “Our company’s growing which I think is really exciting.” 

Loeffler mentors Lippe and the two have a close relationship. “I’m president of the John Lippe fan club,” Loeffler said. 

Lippe learns to adapt as they’ve outgrown East Main Street.  

FC will move to the old KP Supply location on Pennsylvania Avenue on the west side of downtown Oklahoma City. “We’ll have some space,” Lippe said. “I want to still be close to downtown to keep that history, but I wanted more space for our team to innovate.” 

Locations move and owners come and go, but their company’s historic mission stands the test of time. 

“Learning and building off the great history that we’ve been blessed with,” Lippe said. 

Lippe and Loeffler don’t know what will replace their old building, but they hope whoever buys it will preserve its history. Federal Corporation is in the early stages of its new planned location development.