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East End Merchant Association works to develop Northeast Oklahoma City

Northeast Oklahoma City’s desire for redevelopment acted as a guiding force for the recent creation of the East End Merchant Association, which advocates for advancing retail activity in the area’s struggling commercial district. 

The retail sector in Northeast Oklahoma City has experienced high levels of unemployment and weakening business after seeing their only neighborhood grocery store, Smart Saver, close last month. 

Oklahoma Christian alumna Skye Latimer, an officer for the recently established association, noted the name of the coalition serves as an embodiment of the district as a whole. Backlash surrounded the naming, as many constituents wanted the group to resemble a more cultural distinction.

“In trying to encompass everything that this district could be and has been, there were some great opportunities for great names,” Latimer said. “But this one did win twice, and that was a vote by the people who live here, people who work here. This is what they wanted it to be called.”

Since its establishment in early August, the East End Merchant Association has inaugurated an executive board, enforced the creation of neighboring committees and cemented their mission statement. 

Latimer said the East End Merchant Association’s core objectives act to strengthen community ties.

“We want to bring awareness to this district,” Latimer said. “We want to empower the businesses here, we want to become more aware of how the dollar is turning over here, grow new businesses and attract new businesses.”

The district has communicated it wants to facilitate a feeling of community. The East End Merchant Association has hopes of displaying local art in the form of murals and sculptures throughout its boundaries to combat recent backlash regarding the choice of the association’s name.

In a recent interview with the Oklahoma Gazette, association president Victoria Kemp stated she wants the art to represent the people of her community and her state.

“We really want to see art that represents our experience in Oklahoma,” Kemp said. “People already know that this has been a majority African American neighborhood, and for those people who are mad that that’s not in the name, art is the way we can let people know that this is us and make it more beautiful and interesting for people to come and see. I can just see that down 23rd street, every block or two blocks, that there is a piece of art that represents what our experience has been in Oklahoma.”

The first sculpture, which will feature a bison, is being prepared in front of the First Security Bank & Trust Company, located on NE 23rd St.

East End Merchant Association’s vice president Brandi Jones noted in an interview with the Gazette the nonprofit is striving to guarantee residents that they can enjoy living in the district while they reinvigorate the neighborhood. 

“Even with everything that is going on with the lack of resources that we have over here for the community, we’re still looking to help them stay,” Jones said. “We want to give the community and the people here something to be proud of when you step outside your door. My goal is also to help the kids over here on the east side with education, with activities, with everything that they don’t have.”

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