Plans Announced For Two Downtown Tulsa Grocery Stores

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa hasn't had a grocery store downtown in a decade. Soon there could be not just one, but two.

Right now, it's just a garage, but when Daniel Cameron walks through the space, he sees rows and rows of fresh, organic, and local food.

"We're going to be looking at a natural foods grocery store and café," Cameron said.

And for some in the neighborhood, Cam's Grocery is long overdue. Mary Beth Babcock owns the eclectic downtown store Dwelling Spaces.

"Very excited," she said. "I heard we were getting a new grocery store, Cam's Grocery, right across the street from Dwelling Spaces. Which, I've been here five years and I am thrilled!"

"I live downtown. I do 90 percent of my living, my entertainment downtown. And that was the one thing missing, for me personally. This is perfect!" she added.

So perfect an idea, Daniel Cameron isn't the only one who had it.

Local entrepreneur Blake Ewing is one of the businessman who's helped shake downtown from its slumber. He's opened a string of businesses from Boomtown Tees to The Max RetroPub and will now add a grocery store to his line-up.

Archer Market will take up residence on the first floor of the Detroit Lofts building, a block away from the ballpark.

With about 7,000 people living downtown, Daniel Cameron says there should be more than enough business to support two groceries.

"Downtown needs a grocery," he said. "There's another market going in not too far from here and we're going to complement each other."

Archer Market is set to open in October. Cam's Grocery should be open by the holidays.

Both businessman hope this will be a catalyst for even more development in downtown Tulsa.

05/06/2011 Related Story: Federal Government: Many Tulsans Live In 'Food Deserts'