Last updated on September 12th, 2021 at 03:59 pm
Homeland, an Oklahoma-based, employee-owned company, celebrated the opening of its new, full-service grocery store at NE 36 and Lincoln in Oklahoma City with a grand opening ceremony on Sept. 1 and “First Sunday” Community Day on Sept. 5.
The grand opening included remarks from Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice, Cathy O’Connor from the Alliance for Economic Development for Oklahoma City, private investors, and Marc Jones, CEO and president of Homeland. The Douglas High School Band, Comm-UNITY line dancers and Rumble entertained guests.
The “First Sunday” Community Day featured local organizations, music, food trucks, kids activities, an appearance by OKC Thunder’s Rumble and live remote with Power 103.5. Food trucks and music will continue every first Sunday of each month.
“We are thrilled that an Oklahoma City- based grocery store will serve the neighborhoods in Northeast Oklahoma City,” said O’Connor. “The area has been underserved for far too long. The city of Oklahoma City, Ward 7 City Council members, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the Alliance for Economic Development have been talking to grocers about locating in NE OKC for nearly 25 years. Homeland recognized the need for healthy, full-service grocery options in this area, and we are thrilled with their leadership and partnership.”
Homeland and Hunger Free OK also announced that the NE 36th and Lincoln store is the first in Oklahoma City to offer Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Double Up Oklahoma Program, which matches SNAP dollar for dollar with Duo Bucks redeemable for fresh fruits and vegetables (up to $20/day). Anyone receiving SNAP benefits is automatically eligible and no application is required. SNAP participants may simply shop with their SNAP/Oklahoma EBT card to start earning Duo Bucks.
The new 30,000-square-foot grocery store offers fresh, healthy grocery options to customers in the underserved northeast Oklahoma City area. It features a pharmacy and an array of fresh offerings such as organic fruits and vegetables, freshly baked breads, a custom butcher shop and fresh, ready-to-eat deli foods. Daily lunch and dinner hot menu has made-to-order salads, grilled wraps tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas and 14-inch take-and-bake pizzas. Party trays are available every day, along with a bakery offering custom cakes.
Perhaps what’s most exciting about this Homeland location is the participation of locally established businesses such as, Not Your Average Joe coffee and Lil’ Leos Barbeque. NYAJ offers a variety of coffee drinks and an ever-changing menu of beer and wine-by-the-glass. And we expect a line out the door for Lil’ Leo’s delicious barbeque and their famous strawberry banana cake.
The store will have indoor seating for 38 near the grab-and-go prepared foods and an outdoor patio that seats 19. With wine and beer by the glass from NYAJ, the patio will serve as a perfect environment for the monthly “First Sunday” food truck and music event.
“The combination of the fresh deli, bakery, wine by the glass and casual seating areas allows us to offer an inviting atmosphere,” said Marc Jones, CEO and president of Homeland. “We want our store to serve as a gathering place for the neighborhood, where shoppers can grab a prepared lunch and enjoy it on the outdoor patio or where we can host community gatherings with food trucks and entertainment. This store combines several new ideas that our customers are looking for, and we’re excited to offer them together in one store.”
Another feature of this store is the public art not only outdoors but also indoors by artist Shakurah Maynard, local graphic designer and photographer who created murals and black and white photography throughout the store as homage to the sense of family, community and joy she has found in the Northeast Oklahoma City community.
Outdoor murals will be created by Manifold Creative Concepts. Homeland, The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City and The City of Oklahoma City’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs announced previously that the firm had been chosen to design murals covering two exterior walls visible from the corner of NE 36th and Lincoln. The exterior murals will connect the store to the surrounding community, reflect the culture of this Oklahoma City neighborhood and help to reveal the city’s unique character. This investment in public art is a priority in northeast Oklahoma City, the core of the city’s Black heritage.
CMSWillowbrook built the store and the architect is Mark Thomas of Architects Collective. The store serves several local neighborhoods and will share the block with the new MAPS 3 Senior Wellness Center that is planned to be complete in summer 2022. The store and wellness center will be served by a new EMBARK bus shelter.
Learn more about the Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Double Up Oklahoma Program at hungerfreeok.org.
Click below for scenes from the grand opening.
Homeland Grand Opening, Northeast Oklahoma City, OK, Sept. 1
