Booming Downtown Broken Arrow Brings In Two New Businesses

Downtown Broken Arrow is welcoming two more businesses to its blossoming Rose District. The three-block long, pedestrian friendly area in the heart of downtown Broken Arrow has a Pinot's Palette franchise and a restaurant called the Rooftop scheduled to open in June.

The city finished a nearly $4-million improvement project in the Rose District around the end of last year. There's still some work to do, but they say they can see that hard work already paying off.

Christine Joseph knows all there is to know about downtown Broken Arrow. She opened her chocolate shop, Noveau Chocolates, almost ten years ago, when there was hardly anything around.

"Every year it was just, 'let's hang in there another year, let's hang in there another year.' So now it's paid off, and that's really nice," Joseph said.

It's paid off in, what the city calls, the Rose District, with shops and restaurants all within walking distance.

Business owner, Jason Scarpa, said, "The whole community has really come together to make this area work."

Scarpa owns the Main Street Tavern. It sits in one of Broken Arrow's oldest buildings. Scarpa was part of an announcement Wednesday that revealed two more businesses are coming to the Rose District.

Scarpa, himself, is opening another restaurant called the Rooftop.

"I think the area still has a lot of potential," Scarpa said.

Business owner Lisa Riley, said, "Here is becoming extremely hip and cool."

Riley is opening another franchise of the popular Pinot's Palette in the district.

"We paint, and we drink and we have fun at our studio, so it's actually a great cohesive environment," Riley said.

She and Scarpa credit the city's dedication to the Rose District. The $3.7-million project widened the sidewalks and narrowed Main Street from four lanes to three, with a center turn lane. The goal was to create more space for businesses and pedestrians.

Joseph said she's glad she never gave up on downtown and is proud to see how far it's come.

"What we've been looking for, what we've been hoping for is finally happening," Joseph said.

The mayor of Broken Arrow admitted there is a big need for parking downtown as the Rose District continues to grow. He said the plan is to build at least one parking lot and maybe more.