Growing Downtown Coweta

This past Saturday, I decided it was time to visit my mom's town of Coweta, Oklahoma. I referenced it before when we visited a couple of shops after spending the day in Wagoner, and I've wanted to come back for a day ever since. The catch was that I wanted to do it on a Saturday when they were doing their monthly street market, which is the second Saturday of the month during the summer and harvest months. Well, this past Saturday was just such a day.

With the company of my mom and step-dad, we headed down to the Saturday Street Market. There were about forty spaces marked off for the market, but it looked like rain earlier that morning had kept some of the vendors away. However, with fifteen or so vendors there, I didn't have a problem finding some items to come home with and one that has made it to my wishlist--in fact I'm probably going back in August to purchase it. The street market was a nice blend of tasty treats (I had a bread pudding from one vendor that was very delicious), home-grown vegetables, homemade preserves, and home-raised honey, independent consultant booths, handcrafted furniture, and handcrafted jewelry (including a booth by a sweet young lady about my daughter's age who makes some of the cutest bracelets and sells them for her business she calls Okie Art from the Heart).

My wishlist bench

 With the street market shopped, we continued down their Main Street to visit the shops Coweta has to offer. One of the shops I had visited when I stopped through on my way back from Wagoner had closed, but there were some others that had opened as well. Our first stop was a quaint little two-story shop called Off the Beaten Path. It was a nice blend of antiques, gifts, and handcrafted items. I found several items that I liked and even came home with a beautiful basket I purchased for five dollars and two individual-sized containers of fudge that were made in Bethany, Oklahoma, and that were delicious. In fact, I'm already plotting time to get back there to buy some more of the fudge.

Another "gift shop" we visited was City Drug. Now, if you don't live in or frequent small towns, I know what you're thinking: How is a drug store a gift shop? Well, anyone who lives in a small town can tell you that our drug stores sell much more than just over the counter medicines and prescriptions. Most carry a vast array of items from toys and stuffed pets to clothing to gifts, and City Drug is no different. They have a great children's section where one can buy shower gifts or little birthday gifts for a child in his or her life, a great selection of boutique-style shirts for ladies and girls, a garden decor section, a unique gift collection (including the most adorable umbrellas that are packaged as wine bottles), and plenty of OU and OSU gear for the fans.

In addition to these gift shops in the heart of the downtown area, there also have opened a couple of gift shops that perform double duty. The first one we visited was 4 Tons of Blessings Craft Boutique. At first glance, walking in, it seemed like simply a cute collection of jewelry, clothing, and wall decor, but just past the racks up front, there was a huge crafting table, and after talking to the employees and customers painting, we discovered what this boutique was all about. Owner, Misty Edwards teaches painting classes in this little boutique, and not just a picture. The tin signs on the walls were all hand-painted and the idea that I've fallen in love with and am dying to try is a class where you first paint a ladder, which has three velcro spots on it, and then you paint three signs or designs that adhere to the velcro. Once you have your ladder completed, you can come back for other classes and paint series of three decorations that can be used interchangeably on the ladder, so you can build an entire collection for every season and/or holiday of the year. Love. It. Sign me up.

The second shop that performs double duty is Completely Random Designs. Owner, Jennifer Collins keeps herself busy reinvigorating furniture and turning what was something old into something new. The front part of the shop is devoted to her craft as well as a sampling of gifts, but at the back of the shop is a haven for children--or for adults with a creative spark. The store has shelves of ceramic figures that people can paint and take home with them, or have the Collins fire for them. So whether you're looking for a gift, a unique piece of furniture, or a place to take your kids to do something creative, you should definitely check this little store out.

Outside of shops, there are several places to eat in downtown Coweta. A staple is the Green Parrot Cafe. I know my mom and step-dad have eaten there numerous times over the years that they have lived in the town. On this particular Saturday we went to Goodfellas, whose Grove restaurant I wrote about last summer, because despite it having been there for quite a few years, my mom and step-dad had never been. It didn't disappoint. The pizza was loaded with toppings and the flavor was equal to that of its Grove counterpart. Another restaurant my mom and step-dad haven't been to, but that I had the privilege of eating at last spring in Dixie's cafe. It is homestyle cooking that is delicious, and what adds to the ambiance of the place is how they serve the food. Your meal comes out in a pie plate and your drink is served in a measuring glass. So if the food doesn't stick in your memory, and it's definitely good enough to, the eating utensils definitely will.

 My last stop of the day was a place I have to visit anytime I'm in Coweta's downtown and that is the Emporium Boutique. The Emporium is located in a house at the end of the Main Street, and is well worth the browsing through the rooms. I never go in there without finding something I love. This past Saturday it was a great pair of jeans and an adorable dress. And while the store has a beautiful collection of clothing for ladies of all sizes, that isn't what it's limited to. There is a vast array of jewelry from the popular caviar beaded bracelets to cuffs to necklaces and earrings, beautiful purses, blingy dog collars, seasonings and cooking mixes, gifts for the home, and some peach salsa when it's in season. No wonder I never have a problem finding something I love there anytime I go.

After our final stop at the Emporium, it was time to head back to my neck of the woods. All in all, it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday, and I look forward to being able to go back. If you are looking for something to do with family or friends, whether it is shop or exercise your creative genius, check Coweta out. You can find these merchants on Facebook and follow what is going on in their stores to help you plan your trip. After all, I've heard the Dallas Housewives were there, so shouldn't you be, too? So, until next time, readers, remember to shop local and support our Main Streets. In the meantime, I know where I'll be:

Off the Beaten Path Boutique