Monthly Archives: March 2019

Kicking off St. Patrick’s weekend with an Irish meal

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For the 11th year in a row, downtown Claremore will be serving up delicious dishes of a classic Irish feast to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Bangers & Mash Lunch.

The annual lunch has become one of Claremore’s favorite ways to enjoy lunchtime each spring. It takes place on March 15 in the Claremore Daily Progress parking lot, 315 W. Will Rogers Blvd.

Running from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the lunch cost $7 for a traditional Bangers & Mash – or otherwise known as sausage and mashed potatoes. New this year, attendees can opt for some of J. Farley’s famous Guinness gravy as a free addition. The meal also consists of a cookie and drink.

“We love this event,” said Nancy Fitts, interim director of Claremore Main Street, the event’s host. “It’s an opportunity for the community to come together for lunch and celebrate.”

“Given that it’s scheduled for a Friday during Lent, a meatless option will be available,” Fitts said.

During the lunch, the ever-popular Timothy O’Brian’s Celtic Cheer will play to entertain the crowds and prizes will be drawn for guests as well as the Pot-O-Gold Giveaway worth $400.

The Pot-O-Gold Giveaway offers a chance to win “Green Bucks,” shopping dollars to spend downtown. To enter the giveaway, simply visit any of the 18 participating stores between now and noon on March 14 to enter.

Each store can be visited daily to enter, but you must be 18 or older to win. There’s no purchase necessary although some stores may provide additionally entries for purchases to increase the costumer’s chances.

Green Bucks can be used at any of the participating stores like cash. Participating stores are: Lolipop A Sweet Boutique, Back in the Day, Bike About Bicycles, Boarding House Books, The Haberdashery, Thrift Harbor, Boom a Rang Diner, The District on Main, Outwest Home Décor, Art Nest Boutique & Studio, The Belvidere Mansion/RCHS, Coleman Antiques, The Turquoise Couch, The Cozy Cottage (Main Street Mercantile), Sailor’s Antiques & Collectibles, Frosted Cake Studio, A Place ‘n Time and Femme Forte.

The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. March 15 during the lunch but does not need to be present to win.

Two smaller giveaways worth $25 each and one $50 giveaway will be drawn during the lunch as well, and guests will need to be present to win those prizes.

Following the lunch, a Not-A-Parade Irish Stroll will take participants through downtown sidewalks.

T-shirts, trinkets and raffle tickets will be on sale during the event as an additional fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.

The Bangers & Mash Lunch is sponsored by Boom-a-rang Diner, Walke Brothers Meats, The Daily Progress, Claremore Fire Department, McDonald’s of Claremore, Froman Propane, What-A-Burger and Cedar Point Church.

The organization also hosts the St. Paddy’s Day Party, this year at Main Street Tavern and J. Farley’s from noon to 10 p.m. on March 17. For more details on the party, visit downtownclaremore.org.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering at either of the events should contact Fitts at  or 918-341-5881.

Claremore Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore. With a focus on economic vitality, historic preservation and placemaking, the organization strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community.

Cash Mob returns to downtown Claremore

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After a brief hiatus, Claremore Main Street is bringing Cash Mob back to downtown with a few key changes to improve the shopper experience as well as the impact on the local community.

The first Cash Mob will be on March 12. Participating shoppers should meet at the Claremore Main Street office, 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., by 5:30 p.m. This year’s Mobs are sponsored by Pelco Structural.

Historically, shoppers gathered during Cash Mob and a business was selected at random to “mob.” All shoppers then traveled, en masse, to the store to spend at least $20. Stores boomed with $500-$1,000 in sales in just an hour. One local nonprofit was chosen each time to receive 10 percent of that night’s proceeds.

This year, stores will be chosen in advance but shoppers still won’t know until they arrive at the Cash Mob. Stores will provide snacks and goodies, and store owners will share a brief summary of their business’ story before shopping begins.

“We wanted Cash Mob to be more about the interaction between the merchant and the shopper,” said Nancy Fitts, interim director of Claremore Main Street. “It’s about supporting local, nabbing great finds and fostering community togetherness.”

The nonprofit Pay It Forward aspect of Cash Mob is changing as well. Instead of a little bit based on sales going to a local nonprofit, one nonprofit will receive a larger donation at the end of the year after collections have been gathered all year long.

“This allows us to make a larger impact to one nonprofit,” Fitts said. “Shoppers will still get a chance to vote for the winning nonprofit all year long and will receive one vote per $10 spent on Mob nights.”

The first 75 shoppers at Cash Mob this year will receive a free re-usable tote bag for their merchandise. Shoppers who attend five of the six Cash Mob’s for the year will be entered into a drawing to receive a prize worth $300.

“We are fortunate to have Pelco Structural sponsoring Cash Mob in 2019,” Fitts said. “Their support of this community event has been unwavering since it began years ago.”

To get the latest updates about Cash Mob all year long, email us at .