🏢 What Is the OC in Forney? Breaking Down Opportunity Central

If you've driven past 680 Innovation Blvd. and wondered, “What is the OC?”, you're not alone. Locals often confuse it for a mall, a high school, or even a private building — but it’s none of those. Officially known as Opportunity Central, the OC is a first-of-its-kind, multi-story facility created by Forney ISD to blend education, entrepreneurship, workforce training, and public use under one roof.

This is where high school students run real businesses, the public shops and dines, and large-scale events happen — all in one dynamic space.

🛍️ What Else Is Inside the OC?

The OC is three stories tall, with each level serving a different purpose:

🧡 First Floor – Open to the Public

Think of this like a local marketplace and food court — but built by students, run by students, and supported by real business owners.

Food & Drink:

• White Rhino Coffee – artisan coffee + breakfast
• Mary Sue’s by Eddie Deen – Southern classics
• Taqueria Forney – authentic tacos
• Tony’s Pizza, Southern Social Eatery, and The French Bite – pizza, soul food, and crepes

Shops & Services:

• Blooms Florist – student-run flower shop
• Haute Salon & Beauty Bar – operated by cosmetology students
• Retail Boutiques – Pine + Ivy, KLC2, Cheeky Chique
• PrinterTX – design & print shop
• Pin High Indoor Golf – golf simulator & lessons
• Recording Studio & Esports Lab – media and gaming tech

Plus: community seating areas, open workspaces, free Wi-Fi, and art on display by local students.

🔧 Wait… There's a Full Auto Shop?

Yes, a real automotive shop — complete with car lifts, diagnostic tools, and student mechanics — sits inside the OC. It’s not a repair shop for the public, but a fully functioning automotive training center for students in Forney ISD’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) program.

Here’s why it exists:

• Students in the automotive technology pathway learn how to service and repair vehicles using professional equipment.
• They can graduate with industry-recognized certifications, setting them up for jobs straight out of high school or further technical education.
• It teaches practical skills like diagnostics, brake systems, tire mounting, oil changes, and more — often by working on district vehicles or staff cars (under supervision).

🏫 Second & Third Floors – Education in Action

These levels are only open to students and staff during school hours, but they’re where the magic happens. Students train in:

• Culinary arts
• Cosmetology
• Health sciences
• Graphic design
• Business & finance
• Cybersecurity
• Audio/video production
• And yes — automotive technology

These programs are part of Forney ISD’s effort to offer real-world, hands-on career paths before students even graduate.

🎉 Event Space & Community Use

The OC is also a massive events center for the entire region:

• A 7,000-seat arena for concerts, graduations, sports, and expos
• Black-box theater and banquet rooms
• Rooms for public meetings, conferences, workshops, and celebrations

Groups like the Forney Chamber of Commerce host events here monthly, and many community classes (dance, swim, coding) also operate inside.

🧭 Clearing Up the Confusion

• Not just for students: The entire first floor is public, and many events are open to all
• Not just a mall: While it has restaurants and shops, they’re part of an educational ecosystem
• Not just a school: It’s a hybrid facility that prepares students for careers and connects them with the real world

🎓 Why It Matters

The OC is built on the belief that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms. Forney ISD is betting big on “learning by doing,” giving students job-ready experience while offering valuable services to the community.

That’s why you’ll find things like an auto shop, a beauty salon, and a full-blown concert arena all under one roof — they’re not random, they’re intentional. And they’re making Forney one of the most forward-thinking public school systems in Texas.

✅ Final Thoughts

The OC is not just a building — it’s an idea. A bold one. Whether you stop in for tacos, need a local salon day, want to book a wedding reception, or just grab coffee and cowork, you’re supporting a place where students are building their futures, today.

If you haven’t visited yet, now you know what it is. And if someone asks, “What’s with that big building on Innovation Blvd?”, you can tell them:
That’s the OC — Forney’s hub for education, entrepreneurship, and community connection.