Tulsa Shopping

Island Nation is such an unique shop (especially for the Tulsa area). It has a thatch ceiling, bamboo walls and seasgrass carpeting - just walking in the door transports you to your favorite island. Even if you're not in the mood to shop, it makes a great photo stop.

What to buy: Island Nation carries the entire line of Life is good, Tommy Bahama for men and women, Tori Richard, Reef sandals and clothing, and great art, bath & body, books, swimwear, gifts, jewelry, shells, and home accessories from the islands.

What to pay: Items range from $5 to $250

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The Pink Daisy is a women's clothing store in Tulsa, Oklahoma that specializes in selling Fresh Produce brand sportswear. It is a really cute little shop on the Riverside Parkway. The staff is very helpful. The owners of The Pink Daisy told me that they wanted to give women in the Tulsa area a selection of Fresh Produce clothing like that of company stores but in a more intimate shopping environment. Fresh Produce sportswear is very comfortable and yet stylish clothing for vacations or just around the home.

What to buy: In addition to Fresh Produce sportswear, The Pink Daisy also carries additional lines like Born Shoes, Not Your Daughter's Jeans and various other accessories like Zulu Grass Beads, Ellen Medlock Purses, Simple Treasures Jewelry, Avalin Sweaters, Wallarro Hats, Douglas Paquette, Carol’s English Garden Cards, and Premier Designs Jewelry.

What to pay: Each item costs from $25 to $100.

On my travel page, I've tried to highlight some of the shopping venues that are unique to Tulsa - places that aren't the same as what you can visit in other cities. But, I understand that some people just have to go to "the mall" - and the bigger the better. So, as a public service to you die-hard mall rats, I present Woodland Hills Mall - 1.2 million square feet of suburban shopping heaven (or hell, depending on your viewpoint).

The center is anchored by four major department stores - Dillard's, Macy's, JCPenney and Sears - and contains 165 other retailers. There is no doubt that if you're so inclined you can spend a full day at this mega-mall. A number of the most popular national retailers - Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Hollister Co., J. Crew, Sharper Image, Talbots, and Victoria's Secret - can only be found in Tulsa at Woodland Hills. One uniquely Oklahoma store is the Eskimo Joe's clothing outlet (Joe's is the Stillwater, OK, restaurant who's T-shirts featuring the toothy Eskimo Joe and his slobbering canine sidekick Buffy have become somewhat of an Americn icon).

As far as malls go, Woodland Hills is actually very nice. The two-level center has an open, airy feel to it, with numerous large glass skylights flooding in the sunshine. Polished stone floors and glass balcony walls topped with dark wood and brass handrails give the center an upscale appearance.

There is also a very large food-court with most of the typical mall fast-food offerings (although, sadly, the Hot-Dog on a Stick stand is no more. I really miss the girls in those crazy big, striped hats!)

What to buy: What can you shop for here? It's "the mall" - you can get all the things you can get in the mall in every other American city!

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Do your visions of a visit to the American heartland include strolling down the main street of a small town, finding hidden treasures in its quaint shops and exchanging pleasant nods and greetings with the friendly locals? If so, the Tulsa suburb of Jenks, OK, could be the fulfillment to your dreams.

Located on the west side of the Arkansas River 15 miles south of downtown Tulsa, Jenks has dubbed itself the "Antique Capital of Oklahoma." With 30 specialty, gift and antique stores, plus several "antique malls" leasing sales space to 100's of smaller dealers, the claim is probably true. The town takes great pride in fostering a relaxing shopping experience along its broad Main street and has undertaken a number of restoration and streetscaping projects to enhance the ambience for pedestrian shoppers. There are several decent dining options in downtown Jenks, including a tearoom popular with women making a day out of a shopping trip with friends. On Saturday mornings during the growing season, Jenks also hosts a Farmer's Market selling fresh produce and baked goods.

The 2005 addition of the Riverwalk Crossing complex has made Jenks an even more popular destination for shoppers and visitors. The Riverwalk is a open air center located directly on the banks of the Arkansas River. Containing numerous shops, restaurants, a multi-screen cinema, a beautiful riverfront promenade, and an outdoor amphitheater featuring free concerts throughout the summer, it is a terrific addition to the Jenks' offerings.

What to buy: Antiques and Americana

This was a happy find. Hidden amongst the strip malls and box stores of Tulsa is Gordmans, one of those department stores in the same vein as Kohls or Dillards.

What to buy: However, towards of the back of their store I found several shelves of goodies from Kansas. Treats like honey toasted sunflower seeds (they taste just like Cracker Jacks ) and Fiesta Three Berry & Chipotle passion sauce (a sweet and spicy jam with boysenberries, blackberries, raspberries and smoked jalapenos).

They also were selling microwave popcorn on the cob. You stick the entire corncob into the bag provided, run it through the microwave and in a couple minutes you've got delicious popcorn (with no added salt, fat or chemicals). Plus there was a huge range of BBQ sauces, jars of queso and other TexMex sauces. And it was all made in Kansas!

On top of these treats, they had a huge range of old fashioned candy in big boxes like I used to get as a kid at the movies, like Mike & Ike, Red Hot Dollars, Boston Baked Beans, Milk Duds and Raisenettes.

What to pay: Sunflower seeds...3 dollars for a 6oz jar
Passion sauce...3 dollars for a 10oz jar
Popcorn on the cob...2 dollars for 3 cobs
Movie sized boxes of candy...2 dollars each (NOT movie priced!)

"Brookside" is the name Tulsan's apply to a free-spirited shopping and entertainment "neighborhood" centered along Peoria Avenue south of East 31st Street. Numerous unique stores selling clothing, art, gifts, home furnishings, and all manner of other wares share the area with a variety of hip restaurants and night spots. Known as an area that doesn't take itself too seriously, annual Brookside events include the "Boo-Ha-Ha" Parade in October and "Tulsa's Longest Sidewalk Sale" in September.

What to buy: clothes, furniture and decorating items, art, gifts, herbs, homemade root beer (Weber's), good food, nightlife

Its a natural that many vistors to Tulsa would want to take home a purchase that reflects the importance of the Native American heritage to the past and present of the area. Since 1916, Lyon's Indian Store has been helping travelers fill that desire. Over the years, those travelers have included such notables as Cher, Johnny Cash, George Strait and Steven Tyler.

With a history that includes trade with tribal members in the early 1900's and a partnership with Pawnee Bill (of "Wild West Show" fame), the Indian Store still describes itself as "a go-between for craftsmen and customers" and report that it's "not uncommon for someone to bring in beadwork to trade for more supplies or a blanket to take to a powwow."

Original Native American art and prints, concho belts, hand-made beaded moccasins, buckskin dresses, silver jewelry with turquoise and coral, Pendleton coats and blankets, rugs, and reproductions of artifacts, staffs, shields, bows and arrows are some of the many items available. Some of the most impressive (and expensive) items are Native American headdresses made in Pawnee, OK. A popular line of gifts sold in the store are pieces of the unique and highly collectable Frankoma pottery made in Sapulpa, OK.

Besides the wares available, the location of the Indian Store also makes a visit unique. The store is in the historic former Warehouse Market. The building was built in 1929 on old Route 66 near downtown, and is an Art-Deco landmark. The buildings most prominent feature is its multi-story zig-zag style tower, decorated with colorful terra cota tiles.

Also located in the building is "Tulsa Treasures" a gift shop specialing in Tulsa themed gifts of a non-Indian nature.

What to buy: Native American art and objects

What to pay: Prices vary widely. There is something for all budgets.

Utica Square which is off of 15th street provides a wide variety of shopping from Williams-Sonoma, Saks 5th Ave, to the Russell Stover's Chocolate store where you can hand pick fresh chocolate truffles. There are several nice restaurants to choose from and during the summer and fall there are jazz concerts outside. Christmastime it is a wonderful site all decorated.