To highlight the building’s rich history, owner Gary Boyd contracted Dr. Bob Palmer, head of the art department at University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, to paint historic murals on the plastered walls inside The Oklahoma Store. Working from old photographs, Dr. Palmer and his students recreated scenes from early-day McAlester, including one larger-than-life mural that shows Boyd’s building shortly after the turn of the century. Also featured are famous city landmarks like the Kali-Inla building and the old Grand Hotel. The huge mural on the wall inside the café depicts Choctaw Ice Company workers delivering large blocks of ice to downtown businesses, as well as the trolley cars that ran regularly through the city in the early 1900s.

The Oklahoma Store stocks Grandpa’s Beef Jerky, which is manufactured in Boyd’s hometown. Offerings from nearby Krebs include jars of pasta sauce from Roseanna’s Italian Food restaurant. The store also carries a complete line of products made by Pepper Creek Farms in Lawton, including jellies, salsa, spices, hot sauces, cornbread mix and dip mixes.

From Antlers, there’s chocolate fudge. And from Pauls Valley, you’ll find a line of Bedre Chocolates. Also on hand are Country Sunshine Specialties products from Enid, including apple butter, pickles, jams, jellies and pickled beets. Store shelves are also stocked with fine French chocolates from Tulsa. Straight from El Reno, a “tornado in a jar” – called an Oklahoma Tornado Twister – is also among the items offered for sale. Handmade mosaic items, crafted by former McAlester art teacher Rhonda Clifton, are on display, along with a variety of candles from Carmen’s Candlery in Checotah.

The Oklahoma Store also features lots of OU and OSU merchandise, including some unusual finds like photo albums, compact disc cases and purses made from university car tags. In addition, there are Oklahoma tea shirts, caps and other souvenirs, as well as books about the Sooner State.

“Made in Oklahoma” baskets are available for purchase or visitors can custom-stock a basket with some of the state’s finest.

The historic pie-shaped building housing The Oklahoma Store was constructed in 1904 by city pioneer and namesake, J. J. McAlester, during the town’s “boom town” days. The Oklahoma Store shares first floor quarters of the building with Boyd’s other new business, Dancing Rabbit Antiques.

Boyd plans to double the size of his antiques business once renovation work is complete on the 8,300 square feet of space in the building’s basement. The lower level has underground tunnels, in which train passengers once walked from the nearby train station to the various retail outlets in Boyd’s building.

Looking for a truly original gift from the Sooner State? Visit The Oklahoma Store, at the corner of Main and Choctaw Streets in McAlester. On-line shopping will be available soon at the store’s website, www.theoklahomastore.com.