The restaurant was packed to the brim.
It was fall of 2024, and The Standard was hosting seven bands on its patio over the course of two days for BluesFest, the second annual event celebrating local artists. The patio and inside dining area buzzed with laughter as live music drifted through the air. A record number of customers filled the space.
Seeing the joy on everyone’s face, The Standard’s managing partner Cameron Brewer knew one thing: this is why they were doing this.
Opening in 2022, The Standard is a restaurant and beer garden in the heart of Norman, designed for family and friends to enjoy exceptional food, 48 local beers and expertly mixed cocktails.
The Standard's pineapple-mango sour ale.
“There are so many memories we’ve created here,” Brewer said. “That’s my favorite thing. We’re constantly creating memories because there are always events or people having fun nights out here.”
Though there were plenty of places in Norman dedicated to college students, Brewer and his family, consisting of his mother and three siblings, noticed a lack of places for the overall community. They set out to find a place where they could change that, where every age was welcome.
“We wanted to fill the missing piece of Norman that we felt,” Brewer said.
The Standard is a refurbished version of what once was an automotive shop, originally built in 1938. The family loved every part of the building, from the ceiling to the patio, and sought to create a place all generations could enjoy.
“What’s been really cool is seeing that concept play out,” Brewer said. “We’ll have an older couple celebrating here and then a group of college students a table over. They’re all having fun. They’re all hanging out.”
Along with food and drinks, The Standard aims to be involved in its community. They host multiple events a week, partnering with different nonprofits and schools in the area to collaborate with the community. The restaurant’s event schedule is available on its website and caters to Norman residents, visitors and OU students.
“There are so many cool choices (students) have in Norman,” Brewer said. “This is one of those options, whether it’s to come here with friends, to host an event, or to just get away from campus. We’re not a bar that’s open late, but we’re one that we hope will feel like home.”
