The beautiful deep chocolate brown tin ceiling; the thick knotty pine floors; the neat shelves of merchandise; and the display case of truffles, on a counter made of resin covered pennies; speak volumes about Kristen and Micky Lloyd; both native Oklahomans; and their attention to detail. The Lloyds are visionaries who bring with them a clear sense of what McAlester’s downtown can be.
Truffles.
The moment you step into the building at 111 East Choctaw; you might feel that you’ve stepped into a shop in a bigger city. “We liked the idea of the old time mercantile; but this is essentially a gift shop, and we are always looking for unique gift items you won’t see at Wal-mart.” Micky said. He is a huge proponent of a revitalized city center and supporting local businesses.
Common Roots Facebook image. Click to enlarge.
Common Roots Facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/commonrootsmerc
The shop also sells 30 kinds of ice cold soda from all over the country.
Abagail Brown, and Sally Judge.
Ten year old Abagail Brown, and Sally Judge, sat at the penny counter enjoying truffles from Texas and designer sodas. Abagail said she thought the new shop is pretty cool, and didn’t think it seemed like it was in McAlester. “I feel like I’m in Texas.” she shared while sipping on her “Texas” root beer.
Purchasing the 1905 Brown’s Shoe Fit building this year; a short three months later, the Lloyds almost single handedly transformed the building into a modern, trending show place, while seeking to bring out the integrity and history of the building.
“I think we have a good group of people who are coming along and can see the vision to bring one of these old buildings back and I’m hoping that this renovation will inspire other people to invest in the downtown because so many of the old buildings are falling apart, and I’d hate to see them go.”
“The price will depend on the shape of the building; but as far as price per square foot, you can’t beat it anywhere.”
Micky Lloyd.
It was shortly after posting the fanciful McAlester Matters April Fools article; Downtown To Get Major Facelift; that people began approaching me that a young couple was “buying up the buildings in downtown” which caused me to want to do a story on Common Roots Mercantile. The shop has only been open for business three weeks.
“Brown’s Shoe fit; had just celebrated 50 years at this location about a month before abruptly closing it’s doors on Choctaw this year.”
“No, we are not buying up all the buildings in the downtown, but we do own three properties here.” Micky said. The two buildings to the right of the Yellow Gazebo, now Common Roots Mercantile; Dottie’s Children’s Boutique and the “Cecelia” building at 120 East Choctaw across the street.
“We’ve owned the building “Dottie’s Children’s Boutique” at 113 East Choctaw for about 15 years. My wife Kristen has her Photography Studio (Studio 23) in the back. She was born and raised here. When we met and got married, Kristen was just finishing her photography degree at OSU in Okmulgee; in 1999; and we bought the (single story) building shortly after that. It’s where she started her photography studio in 2000.
Studio 23. Framed photo by Kristen Lloyd.
She had actually worked in a lot of the buildings in downtown during High School and even after that, so she has a lot of ties to downtown, and wanted to keep her business here.”
“We caught word of the ordinance where they were going to allow people to begin refurbishing and living above the businesses downtown, and we began looking at the Cecilia building across the street. The owner was ready to retire. We made an offer and she accepted it; so we started working on that one, with the intention of living in it.”
“Then Brown’s Shoe Fit just closed it’s doors; and we saw the owner over here cleaning it out a few weeks later. We asked him if he wanted to sell; and he said yes; so we ended up buying this building too.”
“Upstairs is in rough condition.”
The plan is to build an apartment above “Common Roots” for the Lloyds and their daughter and son. “After we saw this building; we really fell in love with it because it’s older and more original. It was built in 1905. The shoe store had a dropped ceiling with ceiling tiles; and when we lifted one of them we could see the original tin ceiling. That was what sparked the renovation.”
Common Roots has a unique internal doorway connecting to the children’s boutique, which must be seen in person, to be fully appreciated.
A classic, cut in half VW bug looks as though it crashed through the wall on the children’s boutique side. “I cut the whole thing in half by myself,” Micky said; “and I did it with a sawzall!” His face grimacing; as though he was remembering the difficulty of it.
The loft upstairs is huge. High ceilinged, lime green walls, and large windows; some of which had been bricked over. Of course the same amount of floor space as the shop downstairs, but is in rough shape. Four large rooms, with a wide hallway, and an outdated restroom at the end of the hall; with offices which used to belong to lawyers; until they were vacated in the late 1950’s. Vacant all these years.
All along the floors; lines of blue plastic kiddie pools; to catch water from the leaking roof, and high, tumble down ceilings.
Micky stands in a front room of the loft; the future home for his family of four.
Micky is anxious to restore the upstairs, and estimates a six month time period for the loft remodel; when the new ordinance is passed. It’s true that any city people care about is brimming with life; and has people both living and working in the city center. Micky, plans to tear some of the walls down to open up more living space.
His beautiful wife Kristen wasn’t available for comment. She was at Dallas buyer’s market purchasing more unique gifts and Christmas goods to sell in their new shop. All the while, Micky seemed a little reluctant to pose for pictures; “My wife would have been a better subject for photos!” he lamented out loud.
Lloyd family . Studio 23 image.
Did you like this article? Please go to the McAlester Matters Facebook link below and SHARE IT:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/mcalester-matters/218406501690629 —
Don’t forget to hit “Like ” while on Facebook!
mcalester matters 