On July 1, 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kelly opened Kelly’s Corner Grocery & Market on South Chestnut with a grand opening that included a celebration for the community to enjoy. Years later and for a few decades, that unassuming building on South Chestnut hosted Lawson’s grocery, where the late, beloved Eunice Lawson ensured some of the community’s most vulnerable could access food and the kindness of friendship. After she retired, the building housed the Dykes’ family businesses, providing delicious, quality meats and food products for townspeople to enjoy. Now, as the building undergoes a stunning transformation, it nurtures creativity and imagination, connecting nature, environment, body, mind, spirit, and community. In doing so, “The Wild Jennys” awakens and entices the free spirit in us all.
Freshly dressed in bright, cheerful colors with artistic flare and imaginative design, the building beckons onlookers to venture inside and explore. Upon entry, visitors find themselves treated to a second childhood of nostalgia, intrigue, and invitation to wander and play. Plants, native, wild, exotic, and tamed, grow within delightfully adorned pottery scattered about the store and within the once refrigerated deli-cases-turnedterrariums. Nearby, a section dedicated to artwork, handmade crafts, and decor also showcases works created by The Wild Jennys’ local artist of the month. Beyond the charming artwork, a true gem designed specifically for children awaits.
Nestled within the southeast section of the store, an enchanting creativity and play center invites children to indulge their imaginations. To the delight of kiddos and parents alike, a cozy book nook tempts youngsters to choose a book off of the shelves, cuddle up, and read while parents investigate available goodies and delve into their own long-forgotten, innocent wonder and creative abilities.
See Jenny’s, Page Three Creative delight also draws gardeners and tomato lovers to the terrariums and plants. Rachel noted that they plan to offer rare, specialty tomatoes, including one of her late father’s favorites: blueberries and cream, also called blue cream berries tomatoes. She also stated that a minimum of 90% of their tomato plants will be rare varieties.
Along the north wall, refrigerators bear locally sourced veggies, fruits, meat, and eggs. Handmade birdhouses by Rustic Acres’ Shane and Sharla Bowling await purchase, resting on shelves throughout the store along with brightly designed tapestries, clothing and accessories, and Talavera pottery. Oklahoma crafted soaps and other goods fill the store; however, The Wild Jennys’ owners, Rachel Taylor and Jenni H., hope patrons acquire more than purchased goods while shopping with them, saying “We hope to reignite some of the community passion for creativity and involvement in the arts and hope for a revival of interconnectivity among community members, businesses, and the environment. We strive to be known as being conscious of our movements and local impacts of them. We want to help others become more aware, too.”
With their goals in mind, The Wild Jennys currently plans to dedicate a space on the building’s exterior walls for a mural created by a local artist, which will be replaced about every three months by a new mural from another local artist. Rachel and Jenni also plan to host community centric art walks, box car races for all ages, outdoor painting events featuring the instructional videos of Bob Ross, and creative community contests.
Perhaps one of the business’ most anticipated products for sportsmen and women in the area, The Wild Jennys will place a live bait vending machine outside the store. The machine will be available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, and will offer live crickets, minnows, worms, fishing hooks and line, and more. Rachel and Jenni are excited to offer live bait.
Like Kelly’s Corner, everyone is invited to celebrate The Wild Jennys’ grand opening on July 1. The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rachel said the celebratory “shindig” will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include live music from Oklahoma’s own oneman band Mike Hosty, cotton candy, cookies, cake, popcorn, a paint-a-pot flower pot project, and goody bags with peanuts and water in reference to Bristow’s historical claim of being “Peanut Capital of the World” and associated ordinance requiring all eateries to provide patrons with a peanut and glass of water. Piñata fun is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.