As they set up that first day, it never occurred to either of them what the future would entail. Now, they own and operate two gourmet and specialty stores in the metro.
“We got corporate orders for Christmas baskets that year, and people actively encouraged us to open a store,” McDonald said.
The Gallery’s first store was located in Kickingbird Square, off East Danforth Road in Edmond. The shop outgrew the space by 2003 and moved to its current Edmond location, 1532 S. Boulevard St. The pair then expanded to a second location at Northpark Mall (now rebranded to The Shoppes at Northpark) in 2007, where Gourmet Gallery stayed until 2010.
“We moved out of the mall [in 2010] because we didn’t have an outside entrance,” McDonald said. “We have always wanted to be in Northpark; it’s locally owned, and … we love our neighbors there.”
On Sept. 2, Gourmet Gallery moved back into The Shoppes at Northpark, 12100 N. May Ave., claiming a space in the mall that better suited the needs of the store and its clientele.
McDonald said they will have a grand-opening celebration on the shop’s 12th anniversary — Saturday — which corresponds with Northpark’s 40th anniversary celebration. Located next to Kokopelli, on the west side of Northpark, Gourmet Gallery now has an outside entrance off May Avenue.
McDonald said they won’t be making a major expansion, as the size of the store is virtually identical to the previous location.
“With our business model, we’ve learned that 2,000-2,300 square feet is perfect for what we need,” McDonald said.
However, Gourmet Gallery will expand two different offerings.
Soup Soup, 7606 N. Western Ave., is a line of prepared meals and snacks from Terry Sinclair, formerly of Crescent Market. It is one of the lines that will undergo an expansion in the new location. Soups are available at the Edmond location, as well as at its own shop.
“We’re
going to carry more of Terry’s soups, salads and other meals so people
in Northpark can have more lunch options,” McDonald said.
McDonald
and Utrecht have also partnered with Altus-based Holder Brothers Beef.
Holder recently closed its Edmond location, so Gourmet Gallery agreed to
carry the line in its stores. In addition to that arrangement, McDonald
said Gourmet Gallery products are now being offered in Holder’s Altus
location.
“We have already placed some inventory there, and we’ll be expanding [after the] grand-opening event,” McDonald said.
The
store will continue to offer the quality, gourmet products its
customers have come to expect, including its madein-Oklahoma lines.
“This
grand opening happens to correspond perfectly with our annual
made-in-Oklahoma tasting,” McDonald said, “so we’ll be featuring a
variety of items.”
The Shoppes at Northpark gets festive for the anniversary and will feature ’70s-themed sales and activities all day.
While Soup Soup won’t be
changing too much about its menu for the Northpark location, it has
begun to work on its fall lineup. Try festive flavors like Autumn
Bisque, Squash, Creamy Carrot and Baked Potato. —Gazette Staff
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