D’s Creations, a woman-owned boutique and micro-market located on Historic Route 66 , has been selected as one of only 505 businesses nationwide to receive a $20,000 Amex Shop Small Grant from American Express and Main Street America.
But what makes this story unique is what the grant represents for a rural town like Depew. In many ways, this story is about more than a grant award. It’s about a tiny Route 66 town refusing to disappear.
When local grocery access disappeared and larger corporate stores moved into surrounding areas, many residents, especially seniors, were left traveling long distances for fresh food and basic necessities. Instead of leaving town or scaling back, owner Destiny Parrick began transforming her small boutique into a communitycentered micro-market focused on local food access, Oklahoma-made products, and Route 66 tourism.
Now, with support from this national grant program, D’s Creations plans to expand fresh food capacity, install industrial embroidery and printing equipment to keep production local, and continue investing in community programs like Depew’s Annual Back to School Bash.
As communities across Oklahoma prepare for the upcoming Route 66 Centennial, Depew is working to
See D’s Creations,, Page Four The grant will provide D's Creations with $20,000 in funding to transform its historic 1926 storefront into a high-tech manufacturing
hub and expanded grocery destination for the Depew community. The project, titled 'Securing Depew s Future, will allow for: Industrial Expansion: Installation of industrial embroidery and DTF printing systems to automate production for local schools and Route 66 tourism.
Cold Storage Infrastructure: New commercial-grade refrigeration to triple the shops capacity for locally sourced, grass-fed beef and organic produce.
Community Investment: A commitment to continue the Annual Back to School Bash, which provides free supplies and haircuts to hundreds of local children.
'When the corporate dollar store moved in and our local market closed, our town faced a crisis, said Destiny Parrick, owner of D's Creations. 'I didn't want to see our seniors and residents struggling to find fresh food.This grant allows us to buy the industrial freezers and printing equipment we need to grow. We ‘re staying right here on the Mother Road, and we 're proving that Depew isn't just surviving, we re thriving' Parrick is a life long Depew resident and graduated from Bristow High School.
.The program was initially launched with a $5 million contribution to support 250 small businesses in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Through a Small Business Saturday giving pledge, an additional $1 was given to the grant program for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday, and American Express contributed an additional $5.1 million, expanding the program’s reach and impact to small businesses and the communities they serve. The 505 recipients reflect the vitality of U.S. small businesses, spanning industries from retail and food service to healthcare and professional services.