Corporate Olympics – Battle for the Belt

Join us at Food Truck Thursday on September 28th to watch Claremore’s local businesses and industries compete in our annual Corporate Olympics. Who will walk away with the champion belt this year? Teams must sign up to compete, but the public is highly encouraged to come and cheer them on!

Food trucks will be set up, downtown shops will be open late and additional vendors will fill the streets. You don’t want to miss it!

Sailor Antiques Celebrates 10 years in Downtown Claremore

Located in Historic Downtown Claremore, OK, Sailor Antiques & Collectibles has two floors of antiques, vintage, collectibles, home decor, unique gift ideas, architectural salvage and so much more! 

Celebrate their 10 years of business with us on Wednesday February 1, 2023 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Join in on special sales shopping, live music, games, children’s entertainment, photo booth, interactive vintage project, chair massage, loyal & linked jewelry, coffee station, kids face painting, refreshments, door prizes, Vintage Market Day ticket giveaway, meet the Sailor Families!

 

Stop by Sailor and see what treasures you can find for yourself or buy unique gifts for friends and family.

422 W Will Rogers Blvd.

 

THE LILAC DISTRICT CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF THE SAME PAGE

Big changes are happening in The Lilac District, with several new retail and dining locations opening. This weekend, Claremore’s downtown district will welcome another new addition, The Same Page.

 

The Same Page is an independent, general-trade bookstore focused on community and sharing a love of books. Owner/Operator Katie Varner recently relocated to Claremore and fell in love with downtown during a holiday shopping trip. Varner co-owns the store with her mom, Laura Varner and sister, Kristin Johnstone. 

 

“Not only does The Lilac District offer residents a unique shopping selection, but business owners are embraced with a sense of community,” said Varner. “The Same Page was inspired by the love of stories my mom, sister, and I share. It has always been a dream of mine to share that love of books with others.” 

 

In addition to a variety of book genres, customers will also find puzzles, games, toys, stationery items and calendars on the store’s shelves. 

 

“Our goal is to provide a community-focused gathering space as well as sell books,” said Varner. “Customers should visit us for our curated selection, knowledge, fun environment and enthusiasm for books.” 

 

The Same Page will host its grand opening celebration on Saturday, January 21, from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy refreshments and prize drawings while perusing the store’s wide selection of inventory. 

 

“There is no better way to kick off 2023 than to celebrate this incredible milestone with Katie and her family,” said Allison Dietzfeld, Executive Director for Claremore Main Street. “I am excited to witness the start of this new adventure for her in Claremore and encourage everyone to stop by and welcome her to The Lilac District.” 

 

Varner utilized the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority’s (CIEDA) business development services for support during the beginning phases of her business launch. CIEDA’s small business platform centers around providing area entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and resources needed to be successful.

 

“I am incredibly grateful to Katie for taking a leap of faith and investing in our community,” said Terri May Peters, Business Developer for the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority (CIEDA). “She has an incredible passion for her business and we look forward to supporting her on her small business journey.” 

 

The Same Page is located at 514 W. Will Rogers Boulevard and will operate Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Customers can also order online at www.bookshop.org/shop/TheSamePage

“We’d like to thank Terri May Peters for helping us make our dream of opening a bookstore in Claremore possible and our contractor, Mike Pharis of Revive Home Renovation, for making the incredible improvements to our building,” said Varner. “We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome the community in!”

CMS Names New Executive Director

The Claremore Main Street Board of Directors would like to announce the addition of a new Executive Director.

Allison Dietzfeld is a life long resident of Claremore. She has a true passion for her community and is inspired by what the future of Claremore can and will be. Her background provides experience in event management, tourism, marketing and community relations.

Allison prides herself on being involved and making a difference. She currently sits on the leadership team for the Claremore Collective, acts as the Co-Fair Manager for the Rogers County Fair and has been a part of countless event committees over the years. She was awarded the 2021 Leading Lady of the Year Award for Community Supporter.

Along with her husband Jon, Allison is raising her daughter to see and appreciate everything Claremore has to offer. It’s not uncommon to see them as a family volunteering and supporting community activities.

We are looking forward to the leadership Allison will bring to the Main Street organization. Please help us give her a warm welcome!

Parklets Installed Downtown

BY CHELSEA WEEKS
News Editor Claremore Daily Progress
Oct 12, 2021

Two parklets have been installed in downtown Claremore in front of Taps on the Tracks and Crooked Roots.

“These parklets allow the public to interact with the public space in a different way than just a regular parking space,” Claremore City Planner Kyle Clifton said. “I think it will benefit the downtown merchants as a whole because it keeps people downtown. It gives people a place to sit, it gives people a place to gather.”

Claremore Main Street board unanimously approved the construction of the parklets during the September board meeting.

Andrew Jones, Co-Owner of Taps on the Tracks, grew up in Claremore and always found there was a faction that looks favorable on progress and a faction that doesn’t want anything to change.

“I feel like this is something that is easily reversible if it doesn’t work or isn’t popular,” he said. “I, for one, am glad to see Claremore trying new things.”

Jones said Main Street approached him to see if they’d be willing to give up two parking spots for the parklets.

“After looking at the designs, I said yes,” he said. “I think it’ll be awesome.”

After living in Seattle, Boulder and Los Angeles, Jones said these are common in those markets and will create a more pedestrian vibe in Claremore that will add to the quaintness of the town.

That sentiment was echoed by co-owner of Crooked Roots, Bailey Robinson.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “It will bring so much more to downtown.”

Robinson said she volunteered her two parking spots up for the parklet.

“It’ll give the vibe that downtown is a place to come, stay and hang out,” she said.

CMS Executive Director Jacob Garrison said having the parkets outside Taps on the Tracks and Crooked Roots will provide two different sets of data since they are two different types of business: retail and food and beverage.

“For us, we didn’t want to put them in the front of two similar businesses,” he said. “We wanted to be able to have that data and feedback on two different areas.”

The discussion of creating parklets began in January.

“We’re very excited,” Garrison said. “For us, it’s been a long time coming.”

Clifton said the parklet is a temporary solution to the comprehensive plan, which has a vision to create an expanded, urban designed, complex zone, like sidewalk cafes.

“The problem is, with our current configuration we don’t have enough width on the actual sidewalk itself,” he said.

Due to the lack of room, the parklet was brought up as an alternative to provide that alternative seating sought after in the comprehensive plan.

From there, tests were conducted during the St. Paddy’s Day Party event and the Taste of Claremore event, and a think tank was hosted by the Claremore Collective.

Garrison said they are trying to find what will work for Claremore.

Originally, the parklets were designed to take three parking spots in front of Back in the Day Antiques and three in front of the Homeward Bound building. After receiving feedback, the project evolved to take two parking spots in front on Crooked Roots and two spots in front of Taps on the Tracks, Clifton said.

“We tried to take into account all the feedback we received form the merchants,” he said. “They were concerned about the number of parking spaces, they were concerned about the location itself… So we tried to take all that into account.”

Clifton and Garrison conducted a week-long parking study in September. Data was collected every two hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“We had 15 different data points that we could collect and see what the usage was before the parklets and utilize the data,” Garrison said.

This was the second parking study conducted – the first one was done in October of 2018 – and the results were the same, Clifton said.

“The findings, in summary – contrary to popular belief – just like what we found in the first parking study, we don’t have a parking problem in downtown,” he said.

Garrison said the average parking utilization was at 49 percent.

Garrison said the goal of the study was to see what areas were being used, what areas were underutilized and what areas were under-marked as public parking.

With the data, Garrison said they will be able to educate the public on where public parking is located down town.

On top of parking concerns, some merchants were also concerned about a lack of communication with the project and the maintenance of the parklets.

Doe’s Eat Place Owner Betty Watowich said Main Street and the city are looking for ways to revitalize downtown and this is another idea.

Watowich said she has elderly patrons who struggle to walk and don’t come in because they already can’t find a parking spot.

“I don’t know how bad it’ll effect us,” she said. “I think it’s more of how other people will view it. I don’t care in the least if we do it. If it helps – hurray.”

Watowich said she was told in August that the parklets were only going to be in the 300 block.

“To me, it suddenly changed,” she said.

Watowich said they are going to try and embrace it.

“We’ll see what happens,” she said. “I’m for whatever helps. I only wish we had been talked to about it earlier.”

GREEN GROWS THE LILAC DISTRICT: Downtown Claremore designated the Lilac District

BY CHELSEA WEEKS Claremore Daily Progress News Editor (September 11th, 2021)

Lilac roots are deep within Claremore history and are making their way to the center of attention throughout downtown.

Claremore City Councilors approved designating downtown Claremore as the Lilac District.

“When you come to the Lilac District, you’ll know you’re in the Lilac District,” said Jacob Garrison, Claremore Main Street Executive Director. “We want it to create that unique feel when you come to town.”

Every sign throughout downtown Claremore will be replaced with a sign that includes the Lilac District branding.

Garrison said this districting has been in the works for several years and when it came to the name of Lilac it was a great name that had relevance to Claremore’s history.

“It allows us to tell our story,” Garrison said. “When people inevitably ask ‘where did the lilac come from? How did you settle on that name?’ I think the story in itself – for many people who might not know about Lynn Riggs and “Green Grow the Lilacs” – it allows us to tell a story our town is very proud of.”

According to the Claremore Museum of History, Lynn Riggs was a Claremore native who wrote the play “Green Grows the Lilacs.” The play would be adapted into the famous Broadway play “Oklahoma!”

“Hopefully that gives Main Street the opportunity to show his family one step forward of how proud we are,” Garrison said.

As a way to connect the community with Claremore history and with the new districting, Main Street is kicking off the revival of an old tradition: the Lilac Festival.

“Lynn Riggs was an important figure in American history, and Claremore is honored to recognize his contributions as a poet, author and playwright,” Claremore City Manager John Feary said. “As part of continued revitalization of our downtown, we look forward to bringing back long-standing traditions like the Lilac Festival.”

Garrison said the Lilac Festival will take place in the summer of 2022.

“We’ve had great excitement with people in our committees who’ve been working on it with us,” he said.

According to articles published in the Claremore Daily Progress, the Lilac Festival began around 2008 and ended around 2014.

Bob Waters, Claremore Main Street Treasurer, said he used to be the chairman of a group called Care More for Claremore and would sell lilacs at the Lilac Festival.

Care More for Claremore was a voluntary citizens group focused on improving the public image of the city’s residential and commercial buildings, according to the Claremore Daily Progress. Care More for Claremore would sell lilac bushes to promote community beautification.

“I’m really excited to see it get it’s designation like that,”Waters said. “Just to have the designation because of ‘Green Grow the Lilacs.’ I think it’s something we can hang our hats on and feel special about.”

Waters said he feels great about the Lilac District.

Garrison said it’s within the strategic plan to create unique districting aspects in various parts of Claremore.

“The important thing for us and Main Street is this is work that the city of Claremore and the residents have decided they want,” he said. “This was one of the many things our town has decided upon.”

Garrison said getting that final stamp of approval from the councilors “allows us to start the work.”

Garrison said the districting allows entities and businesses to take the lilac and make it their own.

“To me it creates more of a cohesive unit of a district,” he said.

Garrison said they hope to continue to grow the district.

“Where it is now, God-willing, isn’t where it is in 10 years,” he said.

Garrison said this districting will position Claremore greatly on a state level.

“I think our community, people visiting and people through the state, will really see this will be a big launch to grasp our identity,” he said.

Spectrum Paint takes home the belt

 

Photo by RSU Honors Student, Emma Spear
Story by Claremore Progress News Editor, Chelsea Weeks

Downtown Claremore transformed from the average Main Street into an Olympic battleground as 16 local corporations fought for the title of Corporate Olympic Champion.

After a day of playing basketball, throwing axes and tossing bean bags, Spectrum Paint Co. walked away with the gold belt and title at the Claremore Main Street 2nd Corporate Olympic Games.

“It’s always exciting – doesn’t matter what event it is – to see so many people downtown,” CMS Executive Director Jacob Garrison said.

Spectrum Paint Co. secured first place with 13 points. Banc First followed with 10 points and last year’s champion, Pelco, fell to third place with 6 points.

Teams completed in 3-on-3 basketball, Angry Axe throwing, corn hole, football target throwing and Hillcat Hacker golf.

Garrison said the original event was scheduled for May, but was postponed because of the weather.

“We had to make a few adjustments on the fly,” he said.

Garrison said overall the turnout – and weather – was great.

“It’s really exciting and promising that we’re seeing a great turnout downtown,” he said.

Garrison said when they began planning for this event in January, they weren’t sure what to expect due to the pandemic. Garrison said he’d like to see the event become a staple event in the community and grow to a two-night event.

“We’ve seen it grow from 10 teams to 16,” he said. “People are getting more familiar with the event and what the event — and more importantly how much fun the event is. We want to see that continue to grow as the community gets more excited.”

The teams that participated included Spectrum Paint Co., BancFirst, Pelco Structural, RCB Bank, Rogers State University, City of Claremore, Chick-fil-A, Baker Hughes, Cedar Point, Clear Title, Claremore Christian Schools, Destiny Life Church, Rhapsody Boutique Salon & Spa, Solid Rock Realtors and Tulsa Federal Credit Union.

“This is a really great event for those community employees that maybe don’t live here, that head home at 5 o’clock, this gives them an opportunity to stay and, not only see our event, but go into our shops and get acquainted with what we have to offer,” Garrison said.

Not only could attendees watch the Corporate Olympic Games and shop, but they could also eat at one of 10 food trucks, check out items at the numerous vendors and listen to music performed by the band The Aviators.

CMS Banquet Award Winners

CMS hosts appreciation banquet

CMS Banquet Award Winners

Story by Chelsea Weeks, News Editor Claremore Progress
Photo by Emma Spear

Claremore Main Street hosted an appreciation banquet Thursday.

“2020 brought many challenges to this community and it brought many challenges to Claremore Main Street as well,” said Board of Directors President Kyle Clifton. “However, despite the adversity this community was faced with, Main Street continued to push forward with it’s mission to preserve, restore and revitalize downtown Claremore. As well as provide critical support to local businesses and local merchants.”

Executive Director Jacob Garrison said he would not be able to name all the volunteers who showed up and dedicated their time to help downtown.

Claremore Main Street came up with a new award: the Lilac Award. Garrison said this award goes to someone who has been a part of the journey for many years.

Carolyn Peterson was the recipient of the Lilac Award.

“There’s not a folder of photos in the Main Street computer that does not have one of her faces on it,” Garrison said.

The 2021 Board Member of the Year recipient was Bob Waters.

Here are the names of the 2020 awards and recipients:

• Community Partner of the Year — Claremore Signs.

• Community Volunteer of the Year — Bob Hawkins.

• Volunteer of the Year — Jimye Sharp.

• Downtown Business of the Year — LoliPop a sweet boutique.

• Downtown Merchant of the Year — Kathy Glover.

Because COVID prevented Claremore Main Street members from having a banquet in 2020, they announced the 2019-20 Board Member of the Year, Nancy Fitts, at Thursday’s banquet.

Garrison said it was humbling to look back at everything done in the past two years and everyone involved.

During Garrison’s first year — 2019— he started by looking for ways to enhance the visual aspect of downtown Claremore.

The first thing he did as executive director was change the benches and trash cans. He then added downtown banners on the light poles.

Several businesses began investing in downtown in 2020, including Taps on the Tracks, Smoke and Tonic and Wildflour Baking Co.

“I can’t think of anything I appreciate more, outside our volunteers, than people who come in and invest in our downtown,” he said. “Because if we were to just continue doing what we’re doing, and we didn’t have those people putting their dollars in, we’d just be spinning in the mud.”

They began working on the Muskogee Corner — a project Garrison said was the longest project so far during his career as the director. He said the project has received compliments statewide.

The mural on the Spectrum Paint building was completed, the downtown map was donated, Claremore Main Street was rebranded with a new logo, the windows on Ann’s Cleaners were remodeled and events such as Food Truck Thursdays started.

“It’s been a fast ride of momentum that we want to keep going,” he said.

That momentum has continued within the first half of 2021.

Claremore Main Street moved into its new offices and has organized at least one event every month.

Claremore Main Street is working on creating a Parklet Program.

“We wanted that to increase some of the sitting areas in our downtown,” he said.

Garrison said a parklet encompasses a parking space and creates a seating area. The goal with the program is to get more people engaged downtown.

“Our success can not be measured from one perspective, or part of the main street process,” Clifton said. “It takes the sum of all the parts working together to achieve the vision.”

Taste of Claremore is Tonight!

What to know about tonight’s Taste of Claremore Event:

 
  • Tonight’s event is hosted by Claremore Main Street, and sponsored by our downtown partner Spectrum Paint Company.
  • Event starts at 6:00pm
  • Tickets to participate in the TASTE OF CLAREMORE portion of the event go on sale at 5:00pm at the Claremore Main Street offices (VERY limited number of tickets remain!)
  • Food samples are first come, first serve. When all samples are gone, they are GONE! So get an early jump on visiting our stores and getting your amazing samples.
  • The concert portion is FREE TO ATTEND. Even if you do not get food tickets to sample over 20 local restaurants and wineries, you can still enjoy the fun with downtown shopping and live music.
  • An autographed guitar by the Swon Brothers will be raffled off tonight, with tickets being sold for $5.00 at the Claremore Main Street offices.
  • Water will be sold at the Claremore Main Street offices for $1.00.
  • Limited number of chairs will be set up downtown, but those attending the concert are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair as well.
  • Food options will be available at all of our downtown restaurants throughout the night, as well as a food truck, which will be located in the RCB ATM parking lot.
 
Music lineup included:
  • 6:00pm- George Melton and The Bison – Feat. Travis Pec
  • 7:00pm- Jake Tankersley
  • 7:40pm- Makayla Gaylord
  • 8:00pm- The Swon Brothers
 
We are excited to see everyone downtown tonight!

Claremore Main Street hosts Taste of Claremore

Story by Claremore Progress News Editor, Chelsea Weeks

If You Go

When: April 24th, 2021 6-9 pm

Where: Downtown Claremore

Cost: $12 pre-sale, $15 night of

Best Contact:

Claremore Main Street Executive Assistant Shiloh Johnson discusses the upcoming event Tastes of Claremore and what attendees can look forward too.

1. What is this event?

Taste of Claremore is a food and wine tasting event with shopping and live music. From the 500 block to Weenonah, ticket holding patrons will wander Downtown Claremore and have the chance to taste food and wine from over twenty of the best local restaurants. The restaurants will be stationed in our downtown small businesses so patrons can shop while they taste. The street will be closed from the 500 block up to the Claremore Daily Progress to provide space for entertainment and for guests to walk with ease from store to store. We’ll have live music entertainment by local musicians throughout the evening with The Swon Brothers taking the stage at 8 pm for a free outdoor concert. This year’s festivities are sponsored by the amazing folks at Spectrum Paint Company.

2. How can Claremore residents get involved?

Grab your ticket and come out to support your local restaurants, wineries, and stores! Buying your ticket early gives us important information on how many samples our restaurants need to prepare. Tickets are on sale now at Spectrum Paint Company, The District on Main, Rhapsody Boutique Salon & Spa, and the Claremore Main Street Offices. In the meantime, share your excitement for the event and your love for our historic downtown Claremore with friends, family, and social media. Every little bit helps our vibrant community continue to grow!

3. What is the goal of this event?

The goal of the event is to support our downtown small businesses and our local restaurants and wineries. The past year has been difficult for everyone, so we want to provide a space for our local restaurants and our main street businesses to be highlighted. We also want to provide some fun for our community.

4. Where did the idea for this event originate?

The idea came from the desire to showcase our local restaurants, wineries, and our downtown small businesses. We have held the event in various forms for years. It was previously known as Sip, Savor and Shop and boasted a silent auction. The event has evolved overtime to the Taste of Claremore it is today with the fun atmosphere of live music.

5. How has this event impacted Claremore?

This event is such a great opportunity for our local restaurants to showcase their skills and for our community to try something new. Our stores have the added benefit of foot traffic into their awesome spaces. It’s a fan favorite event!