Atwoods Ranch & Home celebrates Grand Re-Opening of expanded Sand Springs location

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Atwoods Ranch & Home held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning to commemorate an extensive remodel and expansion at their Sand Springs location.

The store never closed during the six month expansion, but they were without signage for several months and significant portions of the parking lot were closed for construction.

The store expanded from 50,000 square feet to more than 82,000, adding a larger selection of food, gifts, clothing, feed, pet supplies, and more. They also carry steel tanks for the first time.

Atwoods Sand Springs is located at 730 East Charles Page Boulevard and can be reached at 918-241-1700.

Sam Shook wins inaugural SalsaFest at OkieSpice & Trade Co.

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OkieSpice & Trade Co. held their inaugural SalsaFest Saturday in Sand Springs and the event was a big success according to business owner Kim Zieg.

The event featured local craft, spice, and salsa vendors, as well as a homemade salsa making competition. Sam Shook took top prize in the salsa competition out of a field of 24. According to Zieg only a handful of the competitors were local and most traveled from out of town to participate.

“We exposed most to this area for the first time,” said Zieg. “Customers loved the event and the store. Our vendors were well pleased with their day and we had more entries than we could have hoped for!” She says the store plans to bring the festivities back next year.

OkieSpice opened in November of 2017 and have already made a big effort to be involved in the local community. In April they held their inaugural Westival event to coincide with the 29th Annual Herbal Affair and Festival. They are located at 501 West 2nd Street just west of downtown.

First Tuesday on the Triangle concert draws crowds to downtown Sand Springs

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The "First Tuesday on the Triangle" concert series kicked off this week in downtown Sand Springs and organizers are calling the first event a success despite unseasonably high temperatures that may have kept some Sandites at home.

Let Slip The Dogs battled the heat with some cool tunes, performing a broad selection of covers ranging from The Cure to Stevie Wonder.

Local shop owner Stormy Miller opened up the show with guitarist Brian Parker. Though he didn't play any instruments, Miller was instrumental in getting the event organized. His store, The Harvest World Market, sponsored the concert stage and helped secure sound equipment.

Several local food trucks were on hand, including Mannford-based Kingdom Concessions with Mexidogs, elote, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Jeremy and Tammy Myers served up Sonoran-style hot dogs, wrapped in bacon, and topped with refried beans, pico de gallo, and their secret Mexisauce. 

House District 66 candidate Rusty Rowe used the opportunity to meet local constituents, while his Democratic primary competitor, Angela Graham, took the evening off from campaigning and enjoyed the show with her son.

Several local businesses and organizations set up booths around the Triangle, including the Sand Springs Women's Chamber, who works to promote child literacy. The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum was also on hand, taking donations and selling raffle tickets for the Blue Dog Art Exhibit. 

SEE RELATED: Blue Dog art takes Sand Springs by storm

The concert series has an off-and-on history in Sand Springs, being organized by different organizations throughout the years.

The current face of the downtown revitalization is the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition, founded in 2017 by Joni Sporleder (Joni's on the Triangle Hair Salon), Susan Whitley (Yesterday to Now Antique Mall), and Jennifer Barretto (Chinowth and Cohen Realtors). 

The Small Business Coalition worked together with the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sand Springs to host the inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony which drew over a thousand people in December. The Tuesday on the Triangle series is the first event that the Coalition has hosted entirely on its own.

While the Chamber of Commerce works hard to improve the overall economy of the city, the Coalition, which includes several Chamber members, aims to host several events throughout the year to try and increase foot traffic into local restaurants and retail shops. 

First Tuesday on the Triangle won't be held in the month of July, due to the Sertoma Fireworks Show on July 3rd at Case Community Park. The concert will return on August 7th, followed by September 4th, and October 2nd. 

The Coalition is also working on festivities for various holidays as well as a poker run and car show in the near future. 

Sand Springs to unveil new downtown LED lights next Tuesday

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs will unveil its first LED (light-emitting diode) package during a commissioning event on Tuesday, April 17, in downtown Sand Springs. The LED lights will be put into service at 8:00 p.m. following a brief ceremony at 100 South Main Street at the US412 underpass. 

"This project was approved by our City Council a few years ago as part of our Vision 2025 community enhancement master project," stated City Manager Elizabeth Gray. "The Case Community Park was a major component of our overall project. With this light commissioning event we are pleased to offer this unique roadway lighting for our citizens and area businesses. This is another example of the Vision2025 funding program, which has enhanced quality of life efforts throughout Tulsa metro, and we wish to thank voters for their support."

The lighting system addresses one of the darkest underpass areas in Sand Springs.

It is designed to improve public safety at night, and will help bridge the pedestrian space between downtown Sand Springs businesses and the Riverwest shopping district.

"We're excited to bring this colorful, artistic light display to our community," said Community Development Director Grant Gerondale. "The LED lights have an automated calendar holding various lighting scenes which will reveal different colorized scenes throughout the year. For example you'll see red, white and blue for major holidays like Independence Day; red and green for Christmas; and the bridge underpass will go pink during Cancer awareness month in October. It's a creative way to add lighting safety and bring a splash of color to our town."

The last remaining round of Vision 2025 funding will be provide visual highway enhancements in Sand Springs. Following a vegetation clearing phase this spring, highway travelers can expect to see additional white vinyl rail fence installed around Sand Springs.

Business of the Week: YellowHouse Market & Boutique

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YellowHouse Market & Boutique first opened its doors in Sand Springs in October of 2015. Less than three years later, the locally owned and operated business is the model of success thanks to strong customer service and a heart for the community. 

"We started out with a booth in Vintage Stables," says owner Lisa Miller. "We started putting clothes in there and we would sell out right away. That's when we decided to open a store and give it a shot."

The boutique first opened up at Livi Lee's Corner and relocated to the historic downtown Chastain's building in time for their one-year anniversary. The relocation was a coming-home of sorts for Miller, who previously worked for the prior owner of the building. When Laurie Joslin decided to close DejaVu Decor, both she and Miller felt it was God's plan for YellowHouse to take over the location.

The business takes its name from Lisa and Mike Millers' first home, a yellow farm house in their hometown of Skiatook. The couple arrived in Sand Springs thirteen years ago with their three kids, each of whom has a hand in the family business. 

"We've been surprised by how well it has gone and how supported we've been," says Miller. 

YellowHouse is unique in that they carry Small through 3X sizes in almost all of their clothing. They also receive lots of praise for their customer service, and carry a nearly-perfect 4.9 star rating on Facebook with over 200 reviews.

Miller hopes to launch a new online store in the next couple of months, and recently purchased a mobile boutique to use at road shows and events like Chillin & Grillin, which will be held in Case Community Park this April. 

"When I opened YellowHouse I was really terrified that it would not go well, and as it has grown, I've learned to start telling God 'yes' instead of 'no, because I'm scared,'" says Miller. "The more I say yes, the more that happens. I want women to get over the fear of 'what if this doesn't work.'"

YellowHouse has hosted popup shops to help promote other small businesses. Jaden's Designs sold wooden signs and other calligraphy-related home decor, Jade Crawford held an art show, and All Blessings Boutique showcased their custom burlap pillows. They will have several small vendors in the shop during the Herbal Affair and Festival later this month. 

Miller was asked to join the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in January, and has helped organize a new Small Business Initiative to guide other local startups to success. 

"People really want small businesses and stuff like this in Sand Springs. It's evident in the way we've been supported."

YellowHouse Market and Boutique
918.720.8370
122 North Main Street
Sand Springs, OK 74063
http://yellowhousemarket.com/
Facebook
Instagram
Hours:
Sun: CLOSED
Mon: CLOSED
Tue: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Wed: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thu: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fri: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

ALDI grocery store to hold grand opening Thursday in Sand Springs

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Sand Springs - ALDI grocery store will be holding a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday, January 25th in the Sand Springs River West development at 101 West Alexander Boulevard. 

The public is invited to attend the event, which will begin at 8:00 a.m. Following the ceremony, the first 100 customers will receive a golden ticket, each containing ALDI gift cards of various amounts. Customers can also tour the store, sample ALDI exclusive brand products and enter an on-site sweepstakes for a chance to win a year's supply of ALDI produce. 

“We value our customers in Sand Springs and we’re excited to open our new Sand Springs store to continue offering high-quality groceries at prices they love,” said Mark Bersted, Olathe division vice president for ALDI. “We’re proud to offer shoppers a variety of fresh produce, USDA Choice meats, organic items and gluten-free choices, all at affordable prices that our competitors can’t match, in an environment that’s easy and quick to navigate.”

The new store is part of a $3.4 billion investment plan to expand from 1,600 stores in 35 states to more than 2,500 stores by 2022. The Sand Springs location will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. All ALDI stores nationwide accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

As part of its accelerated growth and expansion across the U.S., ALDI plans to add 25,000 new jobs in stores, warehouses and offices. ALDI was recently named to Forbes’ list of America’s Best Large Employers and offers employees generous wages and benefits that are higher than the national average for the retail industry. ALDI staff working at least 25 hours per week receive full health insurance benefits and dental coverage, and all ALDI employees are invited to participate in the 401(k) program.

Located adjacent to the historic downtown commercial district, the River West development currently is home to McDonald's, Starbucks, IHOP, CVS, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Centennial Baptist Church, and El Maguey Mexican Restaurant. Colton's Steak House and Warren Clinic are currently under construction and expected to open this Spring. 

A look back at Sand Springs's biggest stories in 2017

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Sandites enjoy a free concert from The Rogues Five at Riverfest.

From high school athletics to a growing economy and quality of living improvements, the history books will look on 2017 as a pivotal year in Sand Springs. Here's a look back at some of the biggest stories around town. 

Jan. 19 – USDA rolls out new Rural Development loan opportunities for Sand Springs area. – Read More.

Jan. 19 - CPHS Wrestling team pins entire U.S. Grant team in fourteen minutes and two seconds, setting national record for fastest dual won entirely by pin. - Read More. 

Feb. 01 – Ray Brown Park receives $37,000 renovation. – Read More.

Feb. 11 - CPHS Wrestling team wins first-ever Dual State Championship 40-26 over Broken Arrow.  - Read More.

Feb. 25 - Riley Weir, Daton Fix, Jack Karstetter, Beau Bratcher, and Payton Scott win individual State Titles and lead Sand Springs to their first State Wrestling Championship since 1971. - Read More.

Feb. 27 - ALDI grocery store and St. Francis Warren Clinic & Urgent Care announce plans to open new locations in River West Development. ALDI is new to community, Warren Clinic is relocating from Charles Page Boulevard. - Read More.

Mar. 02 - CPHS Womens' Basketball wins Area Championship to advance to State Tournament for first time since 2011. - Read More.

Mar. 06 – Rusty Gunn elected as Board of Education President, Mike Mullins sworn into new term on Board. – Read More.

Mar. 22 – Chinowth and Cohen opens new Prattville location.

Mar. 27 - Sand Springs City Council authorizes new murals and $1.5 million Prattville Fire Station. - Read More.

Apr. 04 – Payless ShoeSource announces shuttering of Sand Springs and Sapulpa locations. – Read More.

Apr. 05 – CPHS Winter Percussion wins State Championship. – Read More.

Apr. 19 – El Maguey Mexican Restaurant relocates to new building in River West. – Read More.

Apr. 20 – Tim Wright, Larry Hurst, and Dr. Stacey Butterfield are inducted into Sand Springs Education Association Hall of Fame. – Read More.

Apr. 22 – Herbal Affair co-founder Sandi Byerly receives Hometown Hero Award. – Read More.

May 02 - Individual Career Academic Plan bill authored by Jadine Nollan is signed into law. - Read More.

May 08 - Mike Burdge elected to 12th term as Mayor, Beau Wilson elected as Vice-Mayor. - Read More.

May 12 - Morgan Ganem releases new album, Paradise. - Read More.

May 13 - Aden Baughman wins 800-meter Track State Championship, Cheyenne Walden wins eighth and ninth State Championships. - Read More.

May 13 – Sand Springs graduates 392 in Class of 2017 – Read More.

May 16 - Hannah Rose releases More Than Conquerors EP. - Read More.

May 21 - CPHS Fishing Club wins Oklahoma Bass Nation State Championship. - Read More.

May 26 – Dog and Duck Antiques opens at 21 East 2nd Street, expanding from booth space in Vintage Stables on Main. – Read More.

Jun. 01 – The Ground Floor Salon opens at Village Square.

Jun. 06 – State Senator Dan Newberry resigns seat seven months after reelection. – Read More.

Jun. 08 – OSU Medicine opens in Shops at Adams Road.

Jun. 24 – EuroMotor Extravaganza returns to Sand Springs after five-year hiatus. – Read More.

Jun. 24 – Historic Twin Cities Elementary is demolished after nearly a century. – Read More.

Jun. 26 – Sand Springs City Council evicts Round Up Club from River City Park. – Read More.

Jul. 09 - Janeway Castle Stone Estate & Venue opens in Sand Springs. - Read More.

Jul. 10 - Sand Springs's Janet Johnson named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist. - Read More.

Jul. 11 - James Garrison hired as new CPHS Head Baseball Coach.- Read More.

Jul. 21 – Carter Young wins Cadet Greco-Roman National Championship. – Read More.

Jul. 29 – Aden Baughman wins National Championship in 800-meter run. – Read More.

Aug. 01 – Daton Fix wins Junior Freestyle World Championship. – Read More.

Sep. 09 – Case Community Park unveiled with all-day Riverfest celebration after $6.2 million renovation. – Read More.

Sep. 13 – Edward Jones agent Casey Loper relocates Sand Springs office to new building. – Read More.

Sep. 30 – YellowHouse Market & Boutique relocates to historic downtown Chastain’s building, buying out DejaVu Décor.

Oct. – Prattville Braums and QuikTrip are demolished, work begins on larger, newer facilities. – Read More.

Oct 11. – Colton’s Steak House and Grill breaks ground in River West development. – Read More.

Oct. 21 – CPHS Boys’ Cross Country team qualifies for State for first time in school history. – Read More.

Oct. 27 – Payton Scott sets school rushing record with 507 yards against Bartlesville. – Read More.

Nov. 02 – Stage department store relocates to former May’s Drug Warehouse building. – Read More.

Nov. 04 – It’s Just a Girl Thing Boutique opens in Prattville.

Nov. 08 - OkieSpice & Trade Co. celebrates grand opening in Sand Springs. – Read More.

Nov. 14 – Voters approve $18 million in General Obligation Bond packages. – Read More.

Nov. 14 – Democrat Allison Ikley-Freeman wins Senate District 37 seat vacated by Republican Dan Newberry. – Read More.

Nov. 28 – Downtown Sand Springs hosts inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. – Read More.

Nov. 28 – WSB Homes opens in downtown Sand Springs. – Read More.

Dec. – Philip D. Smith publishes new book, From Praha to Prague. - Read More.

Dec. 01 – Rod’s Books and Relics hosts inaugural Christmas Parade of Books. – Read More.

Dec. 12 – Sand Springs breaks ground on new Prattville Fire Station. – Read More.

Dec. 17 – The House of Hair and Boutique opens on Livi Lee’s Corner. 

Dec. 27 – YellowHouse Market & Boutique, Sarah and Kyle Baumann win inaugural Sandite Pride Christmas Light Contest. – Read More.

Dec. 29 – El Patron Cocina Mexicana opens in Shops at Adams Road. – Read More.

Sand Springs celebrates Grand Opening of new Stage department store

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Stage Stores, Inc. opened a new facility in Sand Springs Thursday morning, relocating an existing Stage department store a mere thousand feet across the street from its previous location. Formerly in a storefront at the Atwoods Plaza, the new Stage has expanded to a 14,000 square-foot facility at 651 East Charles Page Boulevard. 

Stage carries hundreds of brands, including Adidas, Chaps, Converse, Dockers, Levi's, Skechers, U.S. Polo Assn., Vanity Fair, Lee, and Tommy Hilfiger.

To celebrate the Grand Opening, the store held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with City, Corporate, and Chamber of Commerce officials, and gave away gift cards to the first 100 customers. Free tote bags and donuts were given away and 25% off coupons were available upon checkout. 

Former the site of May's Drug Warehouse, the new facility is far larger than Stage's previous location and is a standalone building that will be wholly occupied by its new tenants. The building has been unoccupied for several years. 

The new building is located immediately south of the Sand Springs Expressway and is easily accessible via Katy Trail, which runs for 8.5 miles from downtown Tulsa to East 34th Street in Prattville. The new tenants will continue to allow trail-users to park at their facility, providing easy access to the Sand Springs Rotary Centennial Park where the town's namesake Sandy Springs are located.  

Stage Stores operates nearly 800 stores across 42  states under the names Bealls, Palais Royal, Peebles, Gordmans, and Goody's, including 148 with the name Stage. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The company claims sales of $1.4 Billion in Fiscal Year 2016 and employs more than 14,000 employees. 

OkieSpice & Trade Co. to open in north Sand Springs this winter

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Steve and Kim Zieg are the owners of the soon-to-open OkieSpice & Trade Co. in Sand Springs. (Photo: Sam Shook).

The north side of Sand Springs will soon be the recipient of a brand new business, possibly the most unique business in Sand Springs. OkieSpice and Trade Co. just had its first health inspection and is in the final stretch of preparations before opening this winter. Homegrown Sandites Kim and Steve Zieg, both graduates of Charles Page High School, are the owners.

Located at 501 West 2nd Street in the old Roary D’s Hair Emporium, the cooking and novelty store will fill a niche that had previously been unoccupied in Sand Springs. The store will carry cooking supplies, novelties, and Made-in-Oklahoma products that are often hard to find.

“When we got married we were able to take some really nice vacations and long road trips and found some really spectacular stores that had a lot of these kinds of products in them,” said Kim. “We love cooking and spices and seasonings. The spicier the better. Initially it was just going to be spices and then we’ve kind of branched out to ‘Made in Oklahoma.’ We just want to have things in here that are unusual products. We’ve found a lot of neat things in our travels and we’ve tried to incorporate some of that and bring it back here for people in Sand Springs.”

A display of OkieSpice products. (Photo: Sam Shook). 

The store will be growing their own peppers and creating a few spices on their own, but most of the inventory will be bought through suppliers. They will also carry salsas, summer sausage, chips, drinks, smoked cheeses, and grilling items, as well as nostalgic candies and soda pops that are often hard to find in regular convenience stores. “We’re trying to really focus on the Oklahoma vendors,” says Steve. “We want to help them have a place to sell product.” They will even carry pork rinds that you can microwave a portion at a time so they don’t go stale.

“We do have a big garden,” said Kim. “Every year we grow peppers, that’s just our wheelhouse. We grow great peppers, the hotter the better. We’ve done that for years. We’ll dehydrate and grind and make our own powders. We’ve got a whole cabinet full right now of jalapenos, ghost peppers, Carolina reaper, poblano. We were hoping that we would be open in time that we would have those out for purchase as well. You can’t find those kind of peppers around here. Maybe next year.”

While Kim manages the OkieSpice operations, Steve will be maintaining his employment with the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company where he has worked for the past 35 years. “This is kind of a prelude to retirement,” says Steve. The couple will be celebrating their sixth-year anniversary this October. Together the two have seven adult children.

The two decided to invest their business in Sand Springs to support the community, says Steve. “We think we have something here that’s unique and different and could be a draw for people from the greater Tulsa area. Having grown up in this town and raised our children here, we wanted to do something here in Sand Springs.”

“We’ve utilized a couple of his high school friends that have had talents that have been able to help us,” says Kim. “We’ve tried to stay local. The sign was made by Andy Anderson Metal Works.” The carpenter that did the work in the building graduated with Steve and local artist Jonny Rice is painting a mural on the east side of the building.

“I love Sand Springs,” added Kim. “Sand Springs is seven minutes away (from Tulsa). It’s time that Sand Springs changes its course.

“Opening has taken us longer than we planned or had thought it would,” says Steve. “This is the first time we’ve done a business, so there’s been a lot of learning for us to get to this point. We know we still have more learning to come.”

“The City has been pretty easy to deal with,” said Steve. “The building inspectors have been pretty good to work with. We haven’t had a lot of interaction with the City outside of that. We had to do sign permits and those went by pretty quick. They’ve gotten back with us really quick when we’ve had a need.”

The business plans on holding a soft opening for the first couple of weeks, followed by a grand opening weekend at a later undetermined date.

Downtown Sand Springs experiencing growth and restoration with several new businesses

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YellowHouse Market and Boutique is the newest business coming to downtown after buying out Deja Vu Decor. 

A city's downtown business district is often considered the heart of the community. In Oklahoma, where municipalities are almost fully dependent on sales tax revenue for general operations, a healthy downtown can be paramount to a healthy economy. 

If City officials and local businesses have their way, Sand Springs will soon be one of the premier downtowns in the State to spend the weekend shopping and sightseeing. 

In the recently-approved Sand Springs 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the City identified having an assorted variety of downtown restaurants, businesses, and services as vital to creating a sense of place within a community. The plan sets a goal of enhancing the downtown area as one of the primary focal points of the community.

Beau Wilson Insurance.

In the past, downtown Sand Springs has struggled with attracting both patrons and quality business establishments. Vice-Mayor Beau Wilson attributes the lack of customers to lack of quality retail, the curb appeal of many older buildings, and a failure to market downtown as a destination for Sand Springs. He also says that this is beginning to change.

"Downtown has a number of thriving boutiques and antique shops," says Wilson. "We are beginning to see citizens reinvest in our historic downtown." Beau Wilson Insurance opened in the historic Boone-Rose Building at 17 East 2nd Street this past November. The building was constructed in 1924.

"When I was looking to relocate my business to Sand Springs, there was no other location but downtown in my opinion. My wife, business partners and I were fully committed to finding a location in downtown...and it has been an honor to restore and revitalize a piece of our town's history." 

Dog and Duck Antiques.

Just two doors down from Wilson, Chris and Julie Bedokis opened Dog and Duck Antiques at 21 East 2nd Street on Memorial Day weekend. The couple already had a small booth at the Vintage Stables on Main Street but decided to open their own facility. The store didn't open with much fanfare initially, and is tentatively planning on a Grand Opening event later this year.

Another newcomer to the downtown area is YellowHouse Market & Boutique. Lisa and Mike Miller first opened YellowHouse at the Livi Lee's Shopping Center in October, but just nine months later they're already planning on relocating to a larger facility in the downtown business district. 

The new YellowHouse location will be at 122 North Main Street in the former Chastain's Department Store building. "We did buy a new building. It's a larger space. It's going to help us reach Sand Springs with more clothes, more goodies, and lots of fun," said Lisa Miller in a Facebook Live announcement. The Millers plan to stay open in their current location until the new building's remodel is complete.

The Chastain's building, constructed in 1931, has been owned and operated by Laurie Joslin for the past two decades. At one point she owned the Kindred Spirits novelty shop in the front and The Back Porch Cafe in the back. The Back Porch Cafe acquired a front porch after Joslin purchased the building next door and relocated the diner. She rebranded as The Lunch Box, then rebranded again as Chastain's Casual Cafe and Catering. Eventually the buildings were separated and Joslin opened DejaVu Decor while the old restaurant building was purchased by Boomarang Cafe.

Joslin and her husband, Mark, have plans to relocate their business to The Antique Depot in Skiatook, but will still reside in Sand Springs. They plan on featuring their house in the 39th Annual Pilot Club Parade of Homes later this year.

Chip and Annette Stacy opened Stacys' Resale Shop at 12 East 2nd Street in September of 2016 and recently expanded to their neighboring storefront for a music and guitar shop. The store boasts a large array of modern and classic comic books, records, 8-track cassettes, CDs, jewelry, knives, home decor, furniture, and more. 

The shop is filled with dozens of classic Les Pauls, German fiddles, and other unique instruments and collectibles. Looking up at the walls is like a trip through a museum. Original Black Sabbath, Jim Morrison, Joan Jett, Elvis, Willie Nelson, and other vinyl records wallpaper the store.

Troy and Stephanie Cleveland opened The Vintage Stables on Main in 2016 and performed one of the most notable restorations in recent years. The bright red barnstyle building could easily serve as a stop sign, telling drivers to pull over and shop. 

WSB Designs, LLC.

It's not all shopping in downtown, either. After the passing of Reverend Terry Scott in October, Future Vision Ministries closed their office on the Triangle and sold to local builder William Bell. Bell recently showcased a house in the Tulsa Parade of Homes and is still renovating his new studio. The front of the building pays homage to its prior resident with a quote from Scott. 

Unfortunately, not all classic buildings can be saved. In April of 2012, a fire devastated a historic building housing the Sand Springs Beauty College and Covington Credit. The skeleton remained until 2016 when it was demolished by the Sand Springs Home and construction began on a new retail/office building.

Left, damage from the 2012 fire is cordoned off with caution tape. Right, a new building is erected in the same location.

"The City has made tremendous strides in the past few years to give downtown its identity and purpose," says Wilson. "Under the excellent leadership of City Manager Elizabeth Gray and her staff, we will continue to see downtown prosper."

"As a city, we have some of the most talented employees. Many of whom donate their own time and particular talent and skill-sets to make Sand Springs better. Take the Triangle for example. Jeff Edwards and Grant Gerondale and the entire Parks Department took on that project making it what it is today...it truly is our employees who make the difference and will be the engine behind fueling the growth of downtown."

"I can remember a day when I was a kid when downtown seemed like a ghost town. Especially when all of the growth and emphasis was to the south of Sand Springs...Urban renewal and suburban sprawl were the catch phrases of the day. Rather than restore old buildings, it was easier to tear down and build something new, or reface old buildings with a new modern facade, losing that building's history entirely."

As to the future, Wilson says that the current City Council is committed to saving Sand Springs history. He would like to see downtown business owners take a more active role in beautifying their buildings, with further investment by both the city and its businesses. 

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Ashton's Boutique launches new website for online shopping in Sand Springs

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Ashton's Boutique has been open for business for three years, and the quaint Prattville shop owns the market on that side of town as the only store in Sand Springs carrying certain high-end products.

From Vera Bradley and Rustic Cuff to Dear John Denim, Z-Supply, and Bridgewater Candles--Ashton's Boutique offers a number of zip code-protected market favorites that can only be found at the local family-owned business.

Ashton's is located at 3401 S. 113th W. Ave across from Domino's Pizza, next door to Serendipity Salon and Spa. It is perfectly located for a girls' day out as customers can relax at the spa then satisfy any shopping needs right next door.

However, they're also taking into account the number of locals who prefer to dodge the register and build their wardrobe online. Ashton's partnered with Nozak Consulting to build out a user-friendly online store. 

Mother-daughter duo Ashton and Teresa started the business so that Ashton would have more time to spend with her kids, but that doesn't mean they give any less than 100% to providing the best Sand Springs shopping experience possible. The family-friendly business is the perfect place to find wedding gifts, home decor, baby shower gifts, and more.

Ashton and Teresa visit marketing sessions in Dallas several times a year to make sure they're up to date on all the newest fashions and trends, as well as to make sure they're bringing home the best products at the lowest prices.

Not only do they make sure they're bringing America's best to Sand Springs, but they're also supporting fellow local businesses in the process. The Vintage Pearl and Rustic Cuff jewelry are handcrafted right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Not local, but still Made in America are Bridgewater candles. The South Carolina-based company donates enough money to Rice Bowls to feed a child three meals a day. Rice Bowls, a South Caroline nonprofit, supports 56 orphanages in 8 different countries.

Summer Ellis jewelry is another quality Made in America product carried at Ashton's. Summer Ellis produces dainty but eloquent designs in sterling silver and 14k gold with all real stones. You can often see Summer Ellis worn by Johanna Kerns of HGTV's Fixer Upper. 

Looking for quality footwear? Glitterflops are hand-embellished in Whitesboro, Texas with Swarovski Elements and are made from the finest leathers and Memory Foam rubber. All shoes come with a six-month warranty, so if you lose any stones or have a blowout, you can send your shoes to Texas and get them back as good as new!

These are just a few of the great American products available at one of Sand Springs's finest boutiques! All of Ashton's inventory is viewable online and many products can be ordered online as well.

Next time you're in the Sand Springs area, you have to visit this Grade-A establishment!

Payless ShoeSource to shutter 400 U.S. locations, including Sand Springs and Sapulpa

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This Payless ShoeSource at Springs Village in Sand Springs is one of hundreds expected to close across the U.S.

Payless ShoeSource announced Tuesday that is has filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in United States Bankruptcy Court and will be closing nearly 400 under-performing locations in the U.S.

The Payless locations in Sand Springs and Sapulpa are among twelve Oklahoma stores that will be closing as part of the restructuring.

Payless CEO Paul Jones commented, “This is a difficult, but necessary, decision driven by the continued challenges of the retail environment, which will only intensify.”

“We are confident that this process will also enable us to leverage Payless’s existing strengths to succeed,” said Jones.

Consumers will have full access through the Payless corporate website www.paylesscorporate.com to information about the location of stores at which they can shop if their current store is being closed, as well as information about going-out-of-business sales.

Payless is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, operating approximately 4,400 stores in more than 30 countries since its founding in Topeka, Kansas in 1956.

City officials hold ground breaking ceremony in River West Development

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs City Council members and other City officials held a ground-breaking ceremony for the new El Maguey location Wednesday evening in the River West Development. 

Owners Rogelio and Norma Ayala and their two children were visibly excited about their new property and the progress being made. The Ayalas have been renting their current facility at 520 East Plaza Court for the last fourteen years and are expected to move into the new restaurant next summer. 

The new restaurant will feature the same menu, but the Ayalas look to improve service and atmosphere while adding quality patio seating. 

The thirty-acre River West property was purchased with Vision 2025 funds approved in 2003 and development began in 2007 but stalled out due to the Great Recession. 

Centennial Baptist Church and McDonald's have been present in the area since 2000. In 2010 IHOP opened as the first sit-down restaurant in the development and in 2012 an existing O'Reilly Auto Parts location relocated from within the property. In 2013 a CVS pharmacy opened on the former site of the Booker T. Washington High School and Kindergarten Center. Holiday Inn Express opened a new location in 2015 and Starbucks opened a small location the same year. El Maguey will be the second restaurant to join the fast-growing development.

 

Hibbett Sports opens its doors in Sand Springs

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

In a town that has seen the State Championship finals in three sports in the last year and has multiple national-level athletes, one would think it would be fairly easy to find a premium sporting store. Not so, until today.

For years, the only option for sporting goods in Sand Springs was Wal Mart, or a road trip to Sapulpa or Tulsa Hills. Friday morning, however, Hibbett Sports opened its doors for the first time in the Springs Village Shopping Center on the Prattville side of town. 

Hibbett already boasts over 1,000 stores in the United States, and Sand Springs will likely be a worthwhile addition to their fleet. The town is home to the large and growing wrestling club Team Big, as well as the highly successful West Side Alliance soccer league and the Tulsa Roller Derby league. The town has nationally ranked wrestlers, runners, little league baseball teams, soccer teams, and more. The High School Softball team, Football team, and Wrestling teams all came in runner-up at the State Championships this past year.

The store typically employs a staff of about eight full-time and part-time positions, and is currently hiring. Hibbett carries a large selection of athletic footwear, apparel, and team athletic equipment.