Inspirations Tea Room: English Charm Meets Southern Hospitality

Though he may be one of only a few men on the premises at any given moment, Inspirations Tea Room proprietor Larry Rhoads knows a thing or two about tea parties. “Inspirations is truly a celebration place,” he explains. “People come together for many different reasons and tea can help bridge the gap between generations. Whether she is two or 92, I always say you can never take the tea party out of the girl!”

Brooke Barnett

Shop Good: Merging Generosity with Industry

In addition to high-quality craftsmanship, Shop Good’s Audrey Falk says that every item in their inventory must come with a good story. And it’s only fitting, since this unique clothing and accessories store has a great story itself.

Brooke Barnett

Local Eating—Hummus Mediterranean Café

When asked what sets Hummus apart from other restaurants, owner Ammar Eisheh’s answer is the high quality of the ingredients used to prepare their appetizers, pitas and specialty plates. “We want our customers to know that we buy the best of the best,” he says. “We keep it high quality all the time. If you came on the first day, you will experience the same quality every time you come in.”

Brooke Barnett

15 Reasons to Shop Locally

Local retail consultant Allison Barta Bailey says that local shopping is crucial to the growth and expansion of our city. “If we want our community to continue to develop, we have to offer something that other communities don’t,” she says. “Our local business scene is something that’s unique to our city for travelers, and provides quality and convenience for residents.”

Brooke Barnett

Our Readers' Favorite Local Businesses

In working on a story for our February 2013 issue all about the importance of shopping locally, we asked our readers to give a shout out on Facebook to their favorite local stores, shops & restaurants. Here are the OKC-area businesses that our readers mentioned.

Ring in a Healthy New Year with Red Coyote Running and Fitness

Show of hands—who’s starting a new fitness plan this month? Come on, be honest; it’s a new year and that’s when we all make resolutions to be healthy. If you are making a resolution to exercise more in 2013 and you think that running might not be for you, a visit to Red Coyote in Classen Curve may change your mind.

Mari Farthing

Kidoodles Toy Zone: Putting the Magic Back in Holiday Shopping

Today, Copelin’s Kidoodles Toy Zone stocks a wide range of educational and developmentally-appropriate toys for kids of all ages, including Melissa & Doug, Playmobil, LEGO, International Playthings, Tolo, Brio and more. “We strive to provide both quality toys and quality service,” Jill explains. “We have things in our store that aren’t available anywhere else.”

Brooke Barnett

The Gourmet Yarn Company: Deliciously Creative

Margaret Shroeder honestly does not know how long she has been knitting and crocheting, but she recollects that it has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.“When I started knitting, it was thought of as being beneath a woman to do something so domestic and not supporting the women’s lib movement,” Schroeder explains. “But now it is making a resurgence. It has become really popular among young people.” And it is this very resurgence that makes her store, The Gourmet Yarn Company, a popular gathering place for knitters and crocheters of all ages.

Brooke Barnett

Verdigris: Exquisite Antiquity

In the dictionary, verdigris is defined in part as that greenish-blue patina that forms on copper, brass or bronze when it ages. On the corner of Classen and 10th in Oklahoma City, however, Verdigris describes a place to find a plethora of beautiful vintage pieces for your home.

Mari Farthing

Enjoy Sweet Treats at Norman’s Cookies n’ Cards

Nancy Russell’s first business venture was making and selling love beads to earn enough money to see teen heartthrob Davy Jones. By age 15, she had sold enough beads to buy a Volkswagen bus, but a faulty transmission ultimately kept her from ever making it to see Davy. That early jewelry making launched her into a retail career that led to her being the owner/operator of Cookies n’ Cards, a gift shop and bakery located in Norman.

Brooke Barnett