For this group of 8- to -12-year-olds, the 75-cent fruit bars at CHOP are all the craze. Sometimes, if they’ve got the funds, they can swing a Gatorade or a $3 scoop of ice cream.
Their mom, Shannon Wheeler, says this is their life about five days a week. She too regularly walks over from her home in the Owen Park neighborhood for a cup of coffee before work or some last-minute vegetables to pair with dinner.
“It’s just too easy to grab something and hang out there,” Wheeler said.
CHOP, which combines initials of the Crosbie Heights and Owen Park neighborhoods, is a grocery store off Archer Street in west Tulsa. It sells locally-sourced foods, ready-made meals and national brands, plus coffee and ice cream. Neighbors say the prices are affordable and competitive.
Owner Chris McCabe bought the building at 1301 W. Archer St. in 2024 with visions of a bodega and art store. Next door to CHOP, Mary’s offers local art and home goods.
McCabe is fascinated with third spaces, which are gathering spots outside home and work. He also owns Belafonte, a nearby music venue. He says today’s stores don’t inspire meetings with neighbors or hanging out. He plans to change that in Crosbie Heights and Owen Park.
“We’re not trying to reach all of Tulsa, we’re trying to be here for these 3,000 people that live in these neighborhoods,” McCabe said.
For many neighbors, including Wheeler, CHOP is a short walk away from home. Larry Mitchell, who’s 73 years old and retired, moved to Crosbie Heights from Broken Arrow 14 years ago. The neighborhood is a historic place, he says. There used to be grocery stores and laundromats where people could just walk up and do business.
Things changed. Crosbie Heights became run down. Nobody was building, renovating or fixing up homes. The neighborhood became a food desert.
With the help of CHOP and city funding, there’s new momentum. The neighborhood is one step closer to fulfilling what’s in its small area plan:
“Historic Crosbie Heights will be known in 10 to 20 years as the eclectic Tulsa neighborhood that is welcoming and convenient, respects tradition and embraces the future.”
McCabe feels closer to fulfilling his aspirations too.
CHOP has become a gathering place. Wheeler has met new neighbors while shopping and knows some who have started to supplement their regular grocery runs with items from the store. Mitchell, who’s changing his habits to shop there more often too, thinks CHOP could be a model for other neighborhoods.
“It is like having that more people-centered way to do grocery shopping,” Mitchell said.
Only two months into business, the store has exceeded projections, McCabe said. He employs seven people and has around 70-120 customers during the store’s 12-hour days. CHOP is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with Sunday hours running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A yearly membership costs $50, which gets you swag, $1 off coffee orders and a 5% discount. In the future, members will get first access to community offerings, like classes by vendors.
“We have a lot of dreams to activate this corner and make it a true community hub,” McCabe said. “I’d love to put seating up on the roof … We have long-term plans that maybe won’t take a long time. Things are really moving fast.”
Part of CHOP’s success draws from neighbor insight. Around 500 of them responded to surveys saying what they wanted to see. McCabe made sure to offer what people were looking for from the beginning.
In the future, Wheeler would love to see more community events, like the movie she watched there recently. She also looks forward to a local beer selection. The store will also start accepting SNAP benefits, known as food stamps, soon.
“I’m just really impressed by the neighborhood’s willingness to support us,” McCabe said. “It’s been a neighborhood starved for attention for a long time.”
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