gifts Archives - One Delightful Life

On a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma my boyfriend mentioned,”Hey, do you want to stop at The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile?” I answered, “YES!” Then, I wondered if he could read my thoughts. How did he know I already researched it and wanted to visit?

View from the stairs that lead to the bakery.

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma is more than just a general store or simple, country retail store. It’s an experience! Complete with a restaurant and an upstairs bakery, “The Merc” attracts visitors from all over. Having done my homework, I knew there could be a line leading from the front door and down the sidewalk but to my surprise there were less than six people in line when we arrived! Maybe it was because it was a Friday at 11:15am. Maybe it was because it was raining. Maybe it was just my lucky day. Either way, I would recommend visiting even if you see a line when you pass by the building.

An employee greeted each person waiting in line with a big smile and a welcoming “How are you guys doin’?” Within minutes we were ushered inside by our hostess and led into The Deli to an oversized, distressed wood table adorned with gingham cloth napkins and menus.

Speaking of the menu, you’ll love the food options ranging from sandwiches stacked tall with flavorful meats and veggies to hearty, big plate dinner entrees. The food is wonderful, the waitstaff is incredibly friendly, and the overall dining experience was amazing. It’s obvious that Ree Drummond has put considerable effort into every detail of your experience from the menu options to the red gingham employee shirts. Reminder: Make sure to plan enough time during your visit to enjoy a meal from the restaurant – and bring your appetite!

What did we eat for lunch? We shared two sandwiches: Ladd’s Favorite Chicken Sandwich and the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Each were delicious in their own right, but we decided that Ladd, Ree’s husband, was on to something when he added bacon, cheddar, and honey mustard to a grilled chicken sandwich. YUM! View the menu here. We splurged and added a side of baked macaroni-and-cheese, which may have been more than enough food. I didn’t care. I finished off the cheesy pasta in no time. (No surprise there!)

Don’t forget to ask for thick, zesty ranch dressing to dip your fries (or peppered potato chips) into!

After finishing our meal, we walked over to The Merc and I was immediately overwhelmed with delightful feeling that only comes from “retail therapy.” In fact, another female shopper heard me say, “I’m not responsible for the amount of shopping I may or may not do in this store,” and then we shared a giggle. Then, my boyfriend rolled his eyes and laughed (nervously?) as I located a shopping basket.

The retail store includes everything you can imagine from whimsical, classic toys to leather handbags to colorful kitchenware. You’ll be hard-pressed to leave The Merc without at least buying a t-shirt or decorative plate – I did!

Don’t forget to head upstairs to check out The Bakery. I recognized the space from an episode of The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network. Less crowded than the downstairs areas, you’ll appreciate taking the time to savor a homemade cookie or a few pieces of retro candy.

You can make a day of your visit to Pawhuska. Many people make it a weekend and stay at one of the town’s bed and breakfasts and then shopping downtown. Next time, We’ll be sure to make time to visit P-Town Pizza, another Drummond family restaurant.

Not wanting to give away too many details, I would just say this about our time at The Merc – we had so much fun! We’ll definitely return to The Merc (and any other businesses she decides to open) in the charming little town. I know you would enjoy the visit as well.

Have you traveled to Oklahoma? Are you a fan of The Pioneer Woman? Feel free to ask me travel questions in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you!

Catch more of my travels and recipe posts on Instagram and Twitter. Have a delightful day!

Do you love your hometown as much as I love mine?

Great people make a town great. My home city, Wichita, has some of the best people I’ve ever met. People often say Midwesterners are some of the most polite people in the States. We care about one another, which is one of the reasons I shop local. Actually, there are many reasons why I shop local all year long and not just on Shop Small Saturday.

Consider my 4 Reasons to Shop Local All Year Long and “shop small” at every opportunity you can:

You’re contributing to the vibrancy of your town. For every $100 you spend in your town’s locally owned shops, roughly $68 stays in the local community. There is a rewarding feeling knowing that my purchases contribute to the success of my town’s Main Street every time I walk into a locally owned retail store, mechanic shop or restaurant.
You’re helping another family’s success rather than a big box store’s success. It’s a rewarding feeling to know that my purchases, and the purchases of others, help independent store owners send their kids to college and pay their bills. I don’t know the name of the CEO of Target, but I do know the name of the store owner where I buy hand crafted candles. Better still, she knows my name as well.
You’re inevitably going to make friends with store employees. Each time I stroll into a locally owned store, the employees (and often times the owner) make a point of getting to know me and what I’m looking to purchase. Many local store owners know my preferences and show me items they know I’m interested in purchasing. That saves me time! And the only thing we can’t buy or get back is time.
You’re going to find unique gift items to purchase unlike the standard items in a big box store. I would much rather purchase a growler of locally brewed beer or hand poured scented candle to give to someone rather than a generic gift from Walmart or Target. When handing the gift to a friend, I’m able to tell them the story behind the creation of the gift and about the store’s history.

Of course, there are times when a locally owned store isn’t open when I need something in a hurry. (I know you can relate.) But, I try my best to buy what I need from local businesses.

You can buy locally produced food all year. Many towns have indoor local farmers markets during the winter months.

The next time you need to purchase groceries or a gift, consider where you could make that purchase locally. Need some more inspiration?

The following items are some that I’ve purchased from locally owned stores that I could have easily picked up at a nationally known retailer, but I chose otherwise.

locally grown vegetables
dog food
holiday decor
clothing
hair styling
books
soap
coffee
landscaping materials
chocolate
jewelry
auto repair
kitchenware
beer
entertainment
and much more!

It’s official. I love my hometown and I love supporting it any way I can. What can you buy locally this week? Think back to my 4 Reasons to Shop Local All Year Long the next time you start to drive to a big box store for something you could simply purchase locally.

Perhaps you also support local businesses in your town. Tell me why it’s important to you to shop local in the comment section below!