Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC: Automobile Alley spotlight

The Greater OKC Chamber has relaunched the Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC campaign to encourage Oklahoma City residents to take pride in their community and rally together in support of small businesses. If you weren’t already excited about shopping local, consider this: for every dollar spent at a locally owned store, 67 cents stays in the community and gets multiplied by helping pay wages for local residents.

Throughout July, we’ll be sharing a series of spotlights on some of our city’s districts to highlight local retail and dining opportunities. Our first feature brings us to Automobile Alley, the historic district along Broadway in the heart of downtown.

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You have likely passed through Automobile Alley if you’ve made a trip south into the city. It’s hard to miss the neon signs, brick buildings, and bright red flags marking the district. With a combination of unmistakable pieces of history and a modern-funk aesthetic, Automobile Alley offers a fantastic destination for individuals of any age to enjoy.

As Automobile Alley’s district manager, Joe Hudson, notes, “Automobile Alley is an exciting place to experience not only because we have locally owned shopping and premium restaurants like Broadway 10,  Red Prime, and Jimmy B's, but because the community is working to create a lively art scene. I think by now most citizens have been to--or at least heard of--Oklahoma Contemporary and Factory Obscura, but there is cool street art and a lot of collaboration between businesses and artists. I love hanging out in the district and seeing something that surprises me like a secret music set or street performance.”

It is clear to anyone who has visited Automobile Alley that Hudson’s sentiments about the area are true. Tin Lizzie’s, Shop Good, Urbane, the Energy FC Store, Common Dear, and PLENTY Mercantile provide some of the most wonderful options in the city for gifts and Oklahoma-made products. Leaving any of these stores without making a purchase is tough. Each location has something that could appeal to anyone.

Julie Miller, owner of Tin Lizzie’s, said that her inspiration behind her store’s layout and product selection came from happy memories of her aunt. “My aunt was very eclectic. Her house was amazing. Every item she owned was interesting and had a story behind it, but she was also the kind of person that would send you home with a lamp if you said you liked it,” said Miller. “At Tin Lizzie’s, we want to sell things that speak to people. We want both the giver and receiver to have an emotional experience.”

By simply entering the store, shoppers can see and feel what Miller envisioned. Though Tin Lizzie’s has only been open for three and a half years, their selection of products and intentional customer service is top-notch. They offer the kind of retail experience that is as ideal for someone who loves to shop as it is for someone who would rather do anything else. For those who find it difficult to make gift selections or would prefer someone do it for them, Tin Lizzie’s offers shopping assistance. “We do a lot of private and personal shopping for men or corporations who call and need help figuring out what to give. We’ve put together ‘Made in Oklahoma’ gift baskets and other themed packages. We try to have a little bit of something for everyone.”

While the pandemic has been tough on many retailers, Miller explained, “Our loyal customers have been beyond loyal. I think it speaks to Oklahoma City. Words of encouragement have been huge, and The City of Oklahoma City has been incredibly supportive through 2020. During the pandemic, the SBCP grant helped us get an ecommerce platform up and running, which has helped us grow our business.” The SBCP’s framework was developed in a partnership between The City of Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. You can read more about how it supported Miller and others during the pandemic here.

Miller loves supporting her neighbors in Automobile Alley. You’ll often find her stopping by Coffee Slingers for a quick beverage or ordering lunch from Hideaway. In addition to their tasty pizza selection, Miller claims their fried mushrooms are incredible—and addictive.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 'STAND TALL, SHOP SMALL FOR OKC' CAMPAIGN AND GET SHAREABLE SOCIAL MEDIA ASSETS

Anything you find in Tin Lizzie’s is special in its own right, but one item that particularly stands out is a children’s book written by one of Miller’s valued customers. “We have met so many wonderful people and have become lifelong friends with individuals who we would have never met had they not walked through the store,” said Miller. The author of the book, titled ‘Jaylyn and Jaxon,’ was one of these individuals. Sadly, he passed away during the past year, but he wrote the second book of the series before his passing.

‘Jaylyn and Jackson’ is a story about adventure, love, and friendship. It teaches how those aspects of life can help people surpass their differences and strengthen relationships. If you are looking for a gift for a child or family, there are few better options than this one in terms of supporting local. The illustrator of the series, Koon Vega, is also a local artist. The second book will be available in the store soon and a public book signing and release with the author’s wife will be held on Friday, July 23 at 11 a.m.

When you need a break from shopping, Chamber Member Oklahoma Contemporary is just down the street from the main strip of retail stores. They offer free admission and impressive exhibitions with both the work of local artists and those internationally renowned. You can learn more about one of their current exhibitions, which shares the story of two Oklahoma-born artists, here.

After you’ve seen what’s on view at Oklahoma Contemporary, if you want an art experience like no other, go visit Chamber Member Factory Obscura. They are an Oklahoma City-based art collective located in the building formally known as “The Womb.” They aim to “awaken wonder, build community, and make the world better.”

According to one of their five founders, Kelsey Karper, one of the original ideas behind the space was to create a “playground for people of all ages.” She added, “Our idea started to grow, and it became clear that we wanted people to share an experience in our space that would make them feel more connected to their community.”

Factory Obscura had to close for six months during COVID, but they are now back open and thriving with visitors, events, and new installation updates. Their permanent art experience is called Mix-Tape, which offers 6,000 square feet of original, interactive artist work. Their open hours run Wednesday through Sunday of each week, and on Mondays and Tuesdays they close to the public for artists to install new work in the space.

“We consider Mix-Tape to be a permanent experience; however, it changes and grows all of the time. We intend to make major changes once a year and continue adding new artists to the collective as we grow. Our goal is to produce work that couldn’t be possible in other spaces. Whether it is regarding logistics, timing, financials, or other factors, we are trying to make creation accessible,” shared Karper.

Entrance to Mix-Tape is $17 for general admission, $12 for ages 4-12, and free for children 3 years old and younger. If you want to take advantage of all the benefits of Factory Obscura, an annual pass is the way to go. It provides exclusive access to events and merchandise discounts in the gift shop.

Factory Obscura’s gift shop may be a place you’ll want to stop, even if you don’t have time to visit the Mix-Tape. In addition to items and memorabilia made by artists on the Factory Obscura team, they sell take-home art kits to create a Factory Obscura experience at home. During COVID, these kits were extremely popular. They had over a dozen different types of kits ranging between $25-$40 dollars apiece. You can purchase a kit online or in their gift shop, a great way to extend the fun at home after a day out.

When you are ready for a bite to eat, dining options are seemingly limitless in Automobile Alley. Restaurants range from upscale eateries to burger-lover paradises and nearly everything in between. There are over 20 different options to choose from when you need a snack, meal, or beverage. If you are interested in something casual check out Hideaway Pizza, , the Health Nut Café, Nashbird, or Iguana Mexican Grill. Need a caffeine break? Coffee Slingers, Café Contemporary,  , Eote Coffee, Prelude Coffee Rosters or Hatch will be at your service.  

For places with a little bit of everything, visit Packard’s New American Kitchen, Parlor, or Jimmy B's Culinary + Krafted. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, end the night in Automobile Alley with fine-dining at Red Prime Steak or Broadway 10 Bar & Chop House.

Because nothing feels more like summer than a cold beer after a long day. You’ll be excited to know there is a decent brewery scene in Automobile Alley. The four breweries in the district are made for beer lovers and socialites to enjoy. Vanessa House, Prairie Artisan Ales and Twisted Spike all produce exceptional beer and their staff will help ensure your day ends with a smile. Skydance Brewing is also preparing to open their taproom in the district soon.

Joe Hudson sums up the district well, “I like Automobile Alley because it’s easy for visitors to park once and do the triple treat: shopping, food/drink, and art!”

Automobile Alley is a place you must go and visit for yourself. It may seem as though this article tells it all in terms of what you can find in the district, but there are even more businesses in the area than what we discuss here, which is why we encourage you to go and experience it for yourself.

To learn all about the events happening in Automobile Alley throughout the month of July, visit their events calendar here. The next district-wide event will be Automobile Alley’s Art of Beer at Oklahoma Contemporary, on Saturday, September 25^th from 2pm-8pm. It will feature beer from the four district breweries as well as art programming for the whole family.

Our local businesses still need help coming out of the pandemic and we would love for you to consider being a part of their progress. Join us in supporting local by looking out for the latest district highlight on VeloCityOKC.com, using the hashtag #ShopSmallForOKC, and following @okcchamber on social media to get the latest updates on the campaign.