Downtown OKC to get Grocery Store

From sky rises to restaurants and bars, even retail shops, those living downtown enjoyed all the amenities at their finger tips.  Everything except a grocery store-- until now.

"Downtown OKC has a huge loss for groceries, I mean like a gaping hole," said Matt Runkle, co-owner of Native Roots Market.

After years of driving miles to get groceries, people living downtown only have to go blocks for all their kitchen needs.

Runkle said Friday, "We have a lot of local products that what we aim for then we aim next for independent and family owned companies."

Native Roots fills the void settling in a corner store at Northeast 2nd and Walnut.

"There's really not the foot print to put the traditional sized," added Runkle, "But we can get away with going into the corner of a building quite nicely."

Runkle owns the store with his wife, Sara.  They say it mimics traditional stores from the past where you do not go just for the products.

"Meet talk, be here three or four times a week. Bump into your neighbor so you're not just bumping into each other at the mail box or in the hallway but the next thing you know you're seeing each other and what's in the other person's fridge, what kind of beer they drink," said Runkle.

But the items on the shelves are just as unique as the concept.

"You know we have olive oil, just like every body else, extra virgin olive oil, ours just happens to come from a fair trade cooperative in Palestine that basically takes youth and teaches them not to and to grow olives," said Runkle.

Native roots plans on opening its doors next week but say a grand opening is in the works.Downtown OKC to get Grocery Store

Posted: Friday, October 19 2012, 10:05 PM CDT