Blue Jackalope Grocery and Coffee

[dayzella]

In late November of last year, the Tulsa World had a little snippet on a grocery/coffee shop opening in the neighborhood of Crosbie Heights on the outskirts of downtown.  

I send in a survey from the owner's website, and yesterday I received a note back saying that the grocery will open on March 1.

Here is the article copy:

quote: Grocery to open in Crosbie Heights
DAVID R. MILLION / Tulsa World
Scott Smith (left) plans to open a small grocery store in the Crosbie Heights Neighborhood before the end of the year. Lucio Benavides, a local artist living in east Tulsa, is helping with renovation of the building.


By DAVID MILLION World Staff Writer
11/21/2007

Lucio Benavides is familiar with the small neighborhood grocery store idea that Scott Smith is creating in the Crosbie Heights Neighborhood near downtown Tulsa.

"I grew up in Milwaukee's inner city where we had many little grocery stores run by mom and pops. I loved going in and buying a bag of candy for a dime," Benavides said.

Benavides, an artist, is helping Smith with the renovation of a 900-square-foot building at 306 S. Phoenix Ave.

In return, Smith will help Benavides by displaying some of his artwork when Blue Jackalope Groceries & Coffee opens in December.

"I plan to display local artists' work," Smith said. "I'm building my store around the idea of locally grown food and good nutrition. We'll be another outlet for local farmers you see at farmers markets during the summer."

Rita Scott is president of Sustainable Green Country, an organization that promotes locally grown food.

"We need more of these stores," she said. "They provide fresher, more nutritious food. Scott Smith is helping create relationships between local farmers, local sellers and Tulsa area consumers.

"He's also helping to create a sustainable, walkable community in his neighborhood,
an area underserved to access of locally grown food."

Smith predicts his customer base will be a mix.

"I believe 75 percent will be those in the immediate area with only their feet for transportation who'll do most of their grocery shopping here," he said. "The rest will stop in for between-supermarket trips."

The business website (it is mostly survey):
http://www.bluejackalope.com/

Scott Smith
Proprietor
BlueJackalope Groceries and Coffee
306 S. Phoenix Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74127

[Rico]

It has been mentioned that Brady has something similar in the works..

Off of Latimer and Denver.

[dsjeffries]

I took their quiz yesterday... Hope it helps!

[TheTed]

Bump.

Anyone heard anything on this place? I attempted to visit during the business hours listed on their website and they were closed.

It's frustrating trying to spend money downtown and being stymied because business owners just close early some days. It seems to happen to me all the time.

[Aa5drvr]

Another goofball idea.  
The owner has ties to local media and hyped it through them.  I would challenge the health dept to keep tabs on them.

[godboko71]

TheTed is you like I will let you know next time I see it open, I live about 3 blocks away so I see it often .

[OurTulsa]

He's still working on permitting.  He wants to open within the next month.  He'll be in front of the Board of Adjustment on the 22nd of this month for a variance of the parking requirement.  Seems like a good guy.  I love little businesses like this.  I hope it serves those already in CH well and draws others who will fix up the hood.

[cannon_fodder]

Why are so many new businesses having permitting issues?  That's what held up/is holding up the new brewery too.  

Is the city making it hard(er) to do business?  Making it easy should be their #1 goal.

[tulsasignnazi]

quote:Originally posted by OurTulsa

He's still working on permitting.  He wants to open within the next month.  He'll be in front of the Board of Adjustment on the 22nd of this month for a variance of the parking requirement.  Seems like a good guy.  I love little businesses like this.  I hope it serves those already in CH well and draws others who will fix up the hood.

The City KILLS businesses like Jacklope because of the off-street parking requirement in Title 42.  

Scott, if you lose, I'd take the City to court.  The City staff administering the code has NO training to administer its own off-parking rules.  The requirements themselves have no basis in the promotion of public welfare.  In fact, it is the antithesis.  Donald Shoup, The High Cost of Free Parking, Planners Press, 2005.

[Rico]

open?
[][]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm could be........

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Why are so many new businesses having permitting issues?  That's what held up/is holding up the new brewery too.  

Is the city making it hard(er) to do business?  Making it easy should be their #1 goal.

it is easy if you are part of the mid town money belt, hard if you are just a nobody wanting to start a business.

[godboko71]

Yes it is open, I will post the hours a bit later tonight when I have the mailer.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by godboko71

Yes it is open, I will post the hours a bit later tonight when I have the mailer.

[godboko71]

Mon- Fri 7am-7pm
Closed 11am-2pm

Sat-Sun 7am 0 2 PM

Closed Wenesday

Located
306 S Phoenix

[dayzella]

Here's a copy of the email that was sent out by Scott:


Dear Y'all,

The store is now O-P-E-N.
Or, as we say in the grocery world, JackalOpen...

I'm featuring local produce (Buy Fresh, Buy Local) this week:
Romaine Lettuce
Spinach
Onions-purple and green
Arugula
Turnips
Swiss Chard

I invite you to come for a visit. The store inventory is at ~65%.  Your
suggestions will be most welcome...

Best regards,

Scott Smith
Proprietor
BlueJackalope Grocery & Coffee
306 S. Phoenix Ave

582.5344-store phone