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Downtown Tulsa Launches Small Business Initiatives, Pop-Up Shops Open for Biggest Shopping Week of the Year

Nov. 27, 2024 — Downtown Tulsa Partnership (DTP) is launching two initiatives this week designed to support small businesses during the holiday season. Additionally, through DTP’s award-winning Pop-Up Downtown program, four new Downtown retail shops are open and ready for holiday shoppers.

“In advance of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 and 30, we invite Downtown residents, workers, and visitors to shop small in Downtown Tulsa this holiday season,” said Brian Kurtz, DTP’s President and CEO. “Dollars spent locally stay in our community and support hard-working entrepreneurs, from our Downtown business owners to our newest Pop-Up Downtown cohort.”

Window Wonderland is a new temporary public art initiative designed to enhance the Downtown experience and increase foot traffic to businesses. In partnership with Jamie Pierson of Scraps Designs, DTP paired 10 local artists with 10 Downtown businesses to enliven ground-level storefronts with holiday-themed public art. Window installations will be on display through Jan. 31, 2025. A map of locations can be found here.

DTP provided $1,600 in grant funds to incentivize Downtown businesses to hire the artists. The program has injected approximately $4,000 into the local art scene, creating more than 750 square feet of new temporary public art. Window Wonderland comprises the following 10 business/artist pairs:

  1. 108|Contemporary, 108 E Reconciliation Way; Artist: Sean Tyler
  2. Brook Restaurant & Bar, 201 E 2nd St; Artist: LIV Creative
  3. Coracle Coffee, 314 S Cincinnati Ave; Artist: Lauren Mitchell
  4. Deco Deli, 415 S Boston Ave, Suite 104; Artist: Chris Vanndy
  5. Doubletree by Hilton Downtown, 616 W 7th St; Artist: Hightail Creative Company
  6. Fulton Street Books & Coffee, 21 N Greenwood Ave; Artist: Alexandra O’Neal
  7. Narrate Design, 2 W 6th St, Suite 100; Artist: Caleb Burgess
  8. Poppi’s Spa & Lounge, 302 S Frankfort Ave, Suite C; Artist: Red Dirt Rosie
  9. Tulsa Drillers, 210 N Elgin Ave; Artist: E. Danger! Wright
  10. Tuly’s Tacos, 419 S Boulder Ave; Artist: Zadith Rodriguez

DTP is also bringing back its Shop Downtown initiative, which incentivizes Downtown shopping during the holiday season. Shoppers who spend at least $50 at participating retailers from Nov. 29-Jan. 4 will be entered into two drawings for prize packages from Downtown businesses. A list of participating businesses can be found here. Last year, 1,020 shoppers participated in Shop Downtown, representing more than $25,000 in spending at 26 Downtown businesses.

Additionally, four new holiday pop-up shops are open in Downtown Tulsa now through Jan. 31. Now in its third year, the award-winning Pop-Up Downtown (PUDT) connects emerging entrepreneurs with ground-floor vacancies to create unique storefronts:

  • Box Co. Antiques & Vintage, 522 S. Boston Ave., Suite 103: Nostalgia is at the forefront of this shop owned and operated by David Sison. His storefront of rare finds includes a curated collection of antique signs, décor and gift boxes.
  • Calm & Co., 300 S. Cincinnati Ave.: Founder Kalish Nesbitt brings her experience in health and wellness to this new studio in the Deco District. Services such as yoga, coaching and interactive workshops are available, as well as a variety of wellness products.
  • The Painted Moth, 427 S. Boston Ave.: Founders and best friends Katy Casillas-Gray and Theresa Henson have created an art and gift marketplace in the historic Philtower. These two artists make and sell their own products, as well as gifts from other local creatives.
  • Vintage Barbie Museum, 216 N. Main St.: This new storefront in the Arts District is the culmination of 30 years of collecting and knowledge from entrepreneur JD Houchens. Houchens, along with his partner, Karl Jacobs, have created a museum that features Barbies throughout history as well as Barbie-themed merchandise.

Since launching in 2022, Pop-Up Downtown (PUDT) has activated 15 businesses earning more than $49,000 in sales during the program. Entrepreneurs are 94% BIPOC and 73% are female representing. Four PUDT graduates are still operating Downtown businesses from their original pop-up locations: Mi Tea Lounge, Slate Sourdough, Da’ Shade Room Eyewear and LAMIK Beauty.

PUDT is supported by The Commemoration Fund and The Coretz Foundation, with BAM Properties, Four Mile Capital, Philtower LLC, and Sharp Development as property partners. The PUDT program received a Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence from the International Downtown Association in 2023.

These initiatives are part of Downtown Days of Wonder, a collaborative campaign to attract locals and visitors to Downtown Tulsa during the holiday season. For more information, visit DowntownDaysofWonder.com, DTP’s go-to resource for Downtown holiday events and activations.