Folks Flock To Downtown Grocery Store Before Doors Close For Good

After being open only seven months, the only grocery store in downtown Tulsa is closing. Folks Urban Market, near ONEOK Field, will shut down for good Tuesday.

The store couldn't get into specifics about why they are closing, the owners simply said they got into some unfortunate circumstances when they first created the business, but the closing doesn't mean an urban grocery store can't survive downtown.

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There are currently close to a dozen residential development projects underway downtown, and tenants are going to need grocery stores to shop.

“I don't blame people of Tulsa. It's not their fault; it's not my fault; it's just beyond my control,” said Shawn Zenthoefer. That's all she said Monday, as she was obviously emotional checking out many of her loyal customers for the last time.

“Good food for good folks. I get teary,” said Diane Paxson.

Paxson, along with dozens of others, flocked to Folks Market as word spread of its closing.

Shawn's husband, Chris, said the city has supported them tremendously.

“We've had a heck of a lot of fun and so, can't wait to support someone else's effort on something like this,” he said.

The city said those efforts are underway.

“I know there's a lot in the works. Too many people who own these big buildings, and they want to put people in them some way,” said Thomas Baker with the Downtown Coordinating Council.

Baker said it's difficult to convince those types of businesses, like grocery stores and pharmacies, to anchor downtown until the new apartments prove successful.

He said the city has provided $4 million to those developers to help them get their mixed retail and residential dreams off the ground.

“I don't know of an owner down here that doesn't have plans that they are working on and that may already be in place to do just exactly what you're talking about,” Baker said.

Until that happens, with Folks now closing, downtowners are going to have to wait and see what happens next.

“I think, ultimately, downtown Tulsa can support a grocery store and I think someone will be successful at doing that,” Chris said.

As for Folks, they will be open Tuesday to make sure their inventory is sold before they close their doors for good.