Broken Arrow's Rose District Awarded For Diversity, Character

Wednesday night, the state honored Broken Arrow’s Rose District with the Great Street Award for its diversity and character.

Business is booming in the area as more construction has taken place in the Rose District in the last five years, than in the past 50; and business owners are reaping the rewards.

Nouveau Chocolate owner Christine Joseph remembers staring at a boarded up building across the street when she first moved in over a decade ago.

"The next year nothing is happening, the next year nothing is happening, so we are like ‘when will this start taking off,’" she said.

Fast forward to 2015 and business couldn't be better.

There are almost 40 stores and restaurant, and construction continues as developers build from the ground up.

Chamber President Wes Smithwick said years ago he had to convince businesses to move into the area.

"We don't really have to do that anymore. There's a demand to come here. In fact, there is a shortage of available buildings here," he said.

Soon, the Painted Lyon will open near Fleet Feet, filling up the market square.

People are even building homes nearby to be close to the heart of the district.

Smithwick thinks the charm and accessibility are what make it unlike any other shopping district around.

"We created what we wanted to have here and we think we've hit it on the spot here," he said.

Joseph said, "This is what we had envisioned and a lot of people had envisioned."

Now Joseph can say, with certainty, she couldn't have picked a better spot to sell her Belgium chocolates.

"Business is great. It's the sweetest place around," she said.

The chamber estimates there's been about $30 million of private investment poured into the area recently, and the growing continues next year with flowers, plants and a fountain for all to enjoy.