Pioneer Woman's Mercantile Store Sparking Growth, Interest In Pawhuska

A Green Country town is expected to explode with new business in the coming months.

The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond - is renovating a historic downtown Pawhuska building, with plans for a general store, bakery, deli and much more.  

On one of Pawhuska's main street corners, renovations are being made to the old Osage Mercantile building. The one-time hot spot will soon be back in the limelight thanks to The Pioneer Woman's blog and cooking show.

“Ree Drummond is doing a lot, yes. And I met with her just a few weeks ago,” Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said.

The chief says Ree Drummond plans to open her new general store, deli and bakery September 15th. Which is why on another main street corner, work is being done to the town's old pawn shop. That’s where the tribe plans to put in an interpretive center.

It will open for a trial run the same day as the grand opening for the Pioneer Woman's store.

“We'll run it for like three days and after we get that moving, we'll make it a permanent facility,” said the chief.

The goal, Standing Bear says, is to intercept some the traffic the Drummond's store is sure to bring through Pawhuska.

Pawhuska's city manager says some research shows the Pioneer Woman's new business could bring as many as 1,500 new people to town every day. And the Osage Nation says that's the perfect opportunity to share its culture with others.

Standing Bear says Osage Nation’s museum will have a display in the interpretive center, as well as their culture department. It will also promote the tribe's eco-park that's in the process of being built. And then they’ll eventually they'll add a gift shop.

“We're trying to interpret our culture, under our terms, not Hollywood,” Geoffrey Standing Bear said.

A culture that has long been engrained in Osage County.

“Pawhuska is the capital of the Osage Nation and it was before statehood. After statehood it became the county seat as well,” Geoffrey Standing Bear said.

You have a chance to work for the Pioneer Woman. Drummond is holding job a series of job fairs over the coming days.               

"We are absolutely thrilled to be opening The Mercantile in our hometown of Pawhuska," said Ree Drummond.

"We have worked hard to create a warm, welcoming, and truly unique place for both locals and visitors from other areas. From unique goods in the general store to scrumptious dishes in the deli to pies, sweet rolls, croissants, and cakes make fresh daily in the bakery, there is sure to be something for everyone. We can't wait to open our doors!"

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is looking to hire deli staff, bakery staff, servers, baristas, retail staff, warehouse positions and more.

Come and go job fairs are being held at several locations on the following date:

Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Saturday, August 27, 11:00am - 3:00pm

The Constantine Theatre, 110 West Main Street, Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Tuesday, August 30, 11:00am - 3:00pm

Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Wednesday, August 31, 11:00am - 3:00pm

The Bond Event Center, 608 East 3rd Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma