Watch a video of Scott Smith sharing his philosophy about building community:
tulsaworld.com/bluejackalope

A grocery store on downtown's edge is just a start for the man trying to revive Crosbie Heights.

When Scott Smith shows up to open Blue Jackalope Groceries & Co7ee at 306 S. Phoenix Ave. in Tulsa — usually clad in some variant of a blue dress shirt with khaki shorts and brown boat shoes — he is acting on an idea that had been floating around his head for years.

Smith has developed his newly opened community grocery store with the abandon of a man not encumbered by a knowledge of what is safe or practical.

He doesn’t have any experience running a grocery store, unless you count the year he spent as a convenience store clerk while attending college in Austin, Texas.

He wants to do more than just sell quarts of milk and baby carrots. He wants to help revive Crosbie Heights, the nearly 100- year-old neighborhood northwest of downtown, where many of the homes have fallen into disrepair.

“For me, a lot of what this store represents is an opportunity to re-create community,” said Smith, also the president of the Crosbie Heights Neighborhood Association.

His store, in a former Church of Christ building, underwent

Stephen Carr, a senior planner for the city of Tulsa, said the store is creating a buzz. He visited a handful of times to check in as Smith prepared to open. Carr said small business owners are flexible and able to respond to the community’s needs.

One of the biggest issues among residents considering relocating downtown is the availability of services such as groceries.

“I think it is a service that was missed, and it is a market niche that Scott Smith is filling,” Carr said.

Smith said he opened the Blue Jackalope with about half of the inventory he plans to carry and has been polling customers about what they would like on the shelves.

Manny Pagan walked over to shop on a recent Sunday afternoon. He picked up a loaf of Mrs. Baird’s bread and a box of Ghirardelli brownie mix to satisfy a nagging sweet tooth.

Pagan said he plans to shop at the Blue Jackalopebetween major grocery store visits.

“I’ll stop by very frequently because it’s convenient,” he said.

David Parker dropped in on another day to try one of Smith’s co(ee creations and discuss the Blue Jackalope’s serving as a hub for area gardeners.

Parker, who lives in the nearby Owen Park neighborhood, said he has known Smith for years and is glad to have a co(ee shop in the area.

“I prefer to shop with people I know, as much as I can,” he said.

Smith saidmaking the jump from employee to business owner has been gratifying.

“I think the greatest thing about having started this business is all the characters who come in the door and shop here and come in and visit,” he said. “ It has been pretty interesting so far, and I think it is only going to get more so.”

Ryan Gladstone 918 732-8103
ryan.gladstone@tulsaworld.com

Open for business

For more information on the Blue Jackalope, call Scott Smith at 582-5344. The store is at 306 S. Phoenix Ave., west of Interstate 244 and north of Charles Page Boulevard. Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 7 p.m.

Hours Saturday and Sunday are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.