A black and white photo of a small town street with brick buildings on the left and modern structures on the right, a few parked cars, and a clear sky.

Economic Growth

Building a Thriving Downtown, Together

Economic growth in downtown Okemah isn’t about big box development — it’s about local vision, restored buildings, small businesses taking root, and people choosing to invest here.

Through collaboration, creativity, and intentional revitalization, Main Street Okemah is helping transform vacant spaces into vibrant businesses that serve both locals and visitors. These businesses represent entrepreneurship, job creation, restored architecture, and renewed confidence in Okemah’s future.

Below are just a few of the businesses helping shape that growth.

Custom Creations & Consignment

Custom Creations has brought new life into downtown through a shared retail and creative space that supports local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. By offering vendor booths, workshops, and hands-on classes, Custom Creations fosters small business growth while creating a destination for community connection and creativity.

Impact:

  • Supports dozens of local vendors

  • Encourages entrepreneurship and skill-building

  • Activates downtown foot traffic

The storefront of a shop named 'Custom Creations & Conciement' at 211 West Broadway, with two American flags and a bench outside. Signs indicate the shop is open.

Mosaic Grind Coffee Shop

The Mosaic Grind is more than a coffee shop — it’s a community hub. Located in downtown Okemah, it provides a welcoming space for connection, meetings, Bible studies, creatives, and everyday conversations. Its presence has helped redefine downtown as a place to gather, work, and belong.

Impact:

  • Creates local jobs

  • Draws consistent daily foot traffic

  • Serves as a meeting place for community and visitors

Exterior of Mosaic Grind Coffee shop decorated with fall-themed pumpkins and scarecrows outside the entrance, with a neon 'Open' sign in the window.

Emily Anderson Photography Studio

Emily Anderson Photography Studio is a professional photography studio operating in the downtown district. In addition to serving its own clients, the studio is also available for rent by other photographers, providing a much-needed creative resource for professionals across the region. This shared-use model supports multiple small businesses while increasing consistent activity downtown.

Impact:

  • Brings creative professional services downtown

  • Provides rentable studio space for other photographers

  • Supports multiple small businesses and creatives

  • Contributes to steady weekday and weekend activity

Brick building with large windows on either side of a black door, a sign above that reads 'emil anderson photography,' and white curtains inside the windows. There are two potted plants on either side of the door and a tree branch in the foreground.

The Rusty Shovel

The Rusty Shovel is a locally owned outdoor garden center that adds both beauty and function to the downtown area. By offering plants, outdoor goods, and seasonal items, it enhances curb appeal, supports local projects, and encourages residents to invest in their homes and community spaces.

Impact:

  • Supports outdoor and home improvement efforts

  • Adds seasonal and lifestyle retail downtown

  • Enhances the visual appeal of the district

Flowers and a pumpkin outside the Rusty Shovel Garden Center with a sign displaying hours of operation.

Legacy Urban Heights

Legacy Urban Heights represents long-term investment in downtown Okemah through redevelopment and revitalization projects. By focusing on restoring and reimagining existing structures, it supports sustainable growth, housing opportunities, and continued reinvestment in the historic core.

Impact:

  • Encourages downtown living and investment

  • Preserves and reuses historic structures

  • Supports long-term economic sustainability

A building with brick and black metal siding, featuring three windows with lace curtains and holiday decorations on the right side door.

The Wooden Willow

Wooden Willow is a boutique clothing shop offering thoughtfully curated apparel and accessories. Its presence downtown strengthens retail diversity and provides a stylish, locally owned shopping experience that attracts both residents and visitors.

Impact:

  • Supports boutique retail growth

  • Encourages shopping local

  • Attracts foot traffic to downtown businesses

Store display window with mannequins wearing summer clothing, decorated with flowers and vines, night-time view.

The Velvet Woody

Velvet Woody is a boutique Airbnb that supports tourism and overnight stays in downtown Okemah. By repurposing space for short-term lodging, it allows visitors to fully experience the heart of the city while contributing to the local economy through dining, shopping, and events.

Impact:

  • Supports local tourism

  • Encourages overnight stays downtown

  • Reinvests in existing downtown property

A collage of four interior room photos: bedroom, kitchen, living room, and another bedroom, with a black overlay in the center featuring a guitar outline and the text 'Velvet & Woody'.

Papa’s BBQ

Papa’s BBQ is a powerful example of adaptive reuse in action. Located in a restored vacant gas station, the restaurant transformed an unused property into a thriving dining destination. Its success demonstrates how creative redevelopment can breathe new life into neglected spaces.

Impact:

  • Revitalized a long-vacant property

  • Creates jobs and draws regional visitors

  • Activates surrounding downtown businesses

A small brick building with a sign reading "Papa's Barbecue" and large windows, next to a gas station canopy with a black roof, under a clear blue sky.