Decopolis, originally founded in downtown Tulsa to pay tribute to the city’s storied Art Deco architecture, announced it is adding two stores along Tulsa’s 11th Street alignment of Route 66.
Decopolis founder and artist William Franklin told the Tulsa World newspaper he plans to open two venues, Decopolis Curiosities & Wonders and Tulsarama, at 1401 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) by summer.
“We will be keeping the downtown location open as well,” Franklin said. “We’ve had a long-range plan that included additional locations. With all the buzz and activity happening around Route 66, we decided that would be the perfect place to expand.
“A good portion of the people who come to our downtown store are tourists who are wanting to see and learn more about art deco in Tulsa,” he said. “Our new location is just across the street from Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, and a block or two from the big Meadow Gold sign. We think all these attractions will make this part of town a real tourist destination.” […]
Franklin said the new venue will take the basic ideas of the existing Decopolis and “take them up a notch.”
Decopolis’ announcement page contains more information about the upcoming stores:
Inside the TulsaRama you will enter an Art Deco-inspired town square. The fronts of the buildings will feature Art Deco artifacts and museum displays. Inside you will find our great selection of Tulsa gifts and souvenirs, most made and designed right here in Tulsa!
“Sitton Indadark Theater” (managed by Wes Tern, concessions run by Candy Zaripov) in which we will feature a selection of Tulsa and Oklahoma western-themed products along with fun info about Tulsa and Oklahoma’s famous Hollywood connections like Will Rogers and others!
“Mrs. Pat Chandmend’s Seamstress” Tulsa T-shirts, pillows, patches, hats and more will be found inside!
“Lotabargins Department Store” will feature a wide selection of Tulsa books and gifts.
“Courteous Courier Air Mail” will have our great selection of Tulsa postcards and prints!
More:
Inside you will enter the Discovitorium where you will be able to explore realms where Science and Magic meet, with the Wizard of DECOPOLIS! […]
Inside FableRealm you will find our selection of classic toys and childrens books!
Visit a cave on Mesmer Island, inside you will find books on dinosaurs and nature, dinosaur toys, fossils, science toys and gifts and more.
We like to say that the Discovitorium is “Where Science & Magic Meet”. We will also have our great selection of Harry Potter and Star Wars books and gifts, along with more rocks and fossils, our great steampunk-inspired gifts, and more!
Franklin is a creative guy whose work can be seen here. If this latest venture comes to fruition as planned, it will be a destination unto itself.
(Artist’s rendering of Decopolis store along Tulsa’s Route 66)