Historic Preservation 2025 Economic Vitality
Destination Downtown
Who We Are
Claremore MainStreetispartofanationalprogramthatusesa four-point approach to the development of downtown areas. This approach leverages four distinct committees: Organization,Promotion,EconomicVitalityandDesign.
Claremore Main Street works in partnership with the City of Claremore and Claremore Economic Development. We receive training through the provision of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’sMainStreetCenter.
Claremore Main Street is dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Claremore and the Lilac District. With a focus on economic vitality and historic preservation, CMS strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community.
We make it our business to promote our unique retail and dining options, to improve the experience for guests and to preserve the history of our community. Furthermore, we throw really great parties – hosting or cohosting many events on mainstreetannually.
Claremore Main Street is a non-profit 501c3 entity and has been focused on downtown revitalization since April of 2002. We are funded through municipal support, partnerships and fundraisingevents.
In September 2016, downtown Claremore was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District due to its significant role in commerce in Claremore from 1890 to 1955. This area has been the center of commercial development in Claremore from shortly after its founding in the 1880’stothepresent. 04
History
Claremore Main Street – where our historic past and present meet to shop, dine and unwind.
As we usher in 2025, we are proud to celebrate 22 years since Claremore Main Street officially came into existence – the result of the collaboration of several local community citizens who valued community. Since 2002, Claremore Main Street has continued to look for new opportunities to strengthen the core economic value provided by our historicdowntown.
At Claremore Main Street, we treat neighbors like family and visitors like neighbors. We invite you to discover the placewecallhome.
Who
We Serve
Claremore Main Street serves all who live, work and play in the larger Rogers County community, irrespective of age, income, culture, creed, gender, or language. Weareanorganizationdedicatedtoserving our community, no matter who you are or what you believe.
We feel it is important to emphasize that Claremore Main Street is for everyone – whether you are an occasional shopper, a regular and frequent customer or an out-of-town visitor. We are for students of all ages, parents and families, singles and seniors – and every other enthusiast or individual we did not mention. We serve visitors, new residents and those who have called Claremore and Rogers County home forgenerations.
An underlying tenet of CMS programming is accessibility, an ethos reflected in the numerous free events, free admission, affordable ticket pricing for events, membership, discounts and broad geographic reach. Moving forward, we hope to expand our sphere of influence even further through a series of pop-up installations and cultural experiences beyond our downtown nucleus. Our aim is to reach people wherever they may be, inspiring wonder and delight inunexpectedspacesthroughthecommunity.
What We Do
Claremore Main Street provides a wide array of programs and activities to further develop the historic Lilac District. To clarify and guide our programming, we follow the followingframework:
Promotions
Increase event attendance and retail foot traffic in the downtown district through by promoting events within the Lilac District and exploring advertising and promotional opportunities.
Design
Improve the visual appeal through façade and infrastructure updates while preserving historical structures and work with thecitytocreatedesignguidelines.
Economic Vitality
Ensure downtown businesses are successful, promote grants and other incentive programs and work with CED to recruit businesstodowntown.
Organization
Develop annual Membership and Partnership Drives, recruit new volunteers & committee members, and develop welcome packetsfornewdowntownmerchants.
Core
Narratives
Because so much of our work is developed through the lens of community, we have identified core issues that are important to local citizens as a way to help us understand how our Main Street integrates with everydaylife.
These areas of focus emphasize our sense of place, local identity, and collective history. As our spheres of impact, they help guide how activities at CMSaredeveloped. Theyinclude:
• Health & Wellness: Mental health and healthy living habits | Access to care, focusing on the needs of our most vulnerable | Connecting communities and resources
• Memory and Place: Looking back to look forward | Heritage,culture,andtradition
• Joy & Beauty: Experiences that provide space to pauseandimagine|Relief,reflection,andescape.
Milestones & Highlights
Entering our 22nd anniversary is no small achievement, and for us it is a great opportunity to reflect on our rich and storied history.
From our humble beginnings we’ve grown to sponsoring 10 events each year with attendances higher tan ever.
Why Be a Part?
Claremore Main Street prides itself on our events…It’s what keeps our visitors coming back, wondering what we will come up with next.
We identify with the Lilac District – that homey, boundary-pushing, happy, energized place that animates the heart of Will Rogers Boulevard, where people intersect, connect, and thrive. Where you can grab a coffee, meet up with friends for unique shopping opportunities, check out a museum or travel back in time atanhistoricmansion.
Community Collaboration
Claremore Main Street has long worked to unite community, engaging a broad spectrum of individuals, groups, and organizations and sometimes hosting as many as 200 partners on a project. Collaboration is fundamental to what we do.
We are humbled and honored to have such a committed group of partners. Our work would not be possible without your support. To the individual donors, volunteers, collaborators, State and Federal agencies, and private funders – we thank you.
We look forward to strengthening and growing our current partnerships through deep, meaningful collaborations. We also hope to establish new partnerships, and to reconnect with past partners with whom we’ve not engaged recently.
We are proud of Claremore Main Street – not only of where we are now, but of our colorful, grassroots past and our promising future. We are eager to hear what you think, and to share our plans with you. Our hope is that will be as exited as we are to build a future together.
Claremore Main Street
Cultural Vibrancy
Together with our partners, Claremore Main Street plays a key role in nurturing cultural vibrancy inRogersCounty.
Our work to enhance cultural vibrancy centerson:
Placekeeping – recognizing and celebrating a community’s existing cultural identity, history and people through our eventsandpromotions.
Community Belonging – Cultivating a sense of belonging contributes to healthy, meaningful lives and safe, inclusive neighborhoods.
Social Connectedness –Connectedness is key to growinga sense of belonging and the experiences we craft around it encourages people to come together, interact, and engage in mutual value creation by exchanging knowledge and information.
Claremore Main Street
Today’s CMS
We have tales of the mighty railroad, the relaxation of the radium baths, and the romance of America’s MotherRoad.
Our Main Street merchants, partners and sponsors share our stories with the world and make everyone fallinlovewiththeuniquecharmofourhometown.
Claremore Main Street
Main Street
Happenings
Souper Saturday - February 8th
Main Street Masquerade - March 1st
St. Paddy’s Pub Crawl - March 15th
Taste of Claremore - April 26th
Boots on the Boulevard - May 29th
Lilac Festival - June 26th
August in Rogers County - August 23rd
Corporate Olympics - September 25th
Fall Festival - October 30th
Dickens on the Boulevard - November 21st & 22nd
Our goal is that our calendar offers something for everyone – from those who find their way to historic Main Street Claremore for food, drink and shopping to those who don’t get downtown often but still appreciate their world transformed by a charming historical neighborhood. We believe Claremore Main Street can meet all of those needsatonce.
Claremore Main Street has been an industry leader, distinguished by the Oklahoma Main Street Program.
We continue to expand upon moving Claremore Main Street forward in a way that is relevant and responsive to our diverse community.
Why Support Us?
Claremore Main Street is a hub at the heart of downtown Claremore, a symbol of how urban space can be revitalized as a thriving center where people from all walks of life congregate and commune over a shared love for community.
When you support Claremore Main Street, it is not a gamble. You are joining a committed professional team with a long record of success working tirelessly on behalf ofthecommunity–buildingontheworkthatcamebefore and reenergized under new leadership - to take CMS to newlevelsofengagement,collaboration,andexcellence.
We hope you will not only support us, but join us on the next steps of this exciting journey. Together, our potentialknowsnobounds.
How to Engage
There are several ways to support Claremore Main Street, with many benefits and opportunities offered to recognize and thank our donors and volunteers. Your support is essential to our shared success. Whether it’s through becoming a member, participation in our activities, sponsorship or donations of time and money, our partners allow us to share our progress withabroadaudience.
We thank our members, sponsors and volunteers for their tremendous support and look forward to working with new friends as we continue to pursuenewhorizons.
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Leadership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
President, MattMize
Vice-President,JamieSitsler-Peckham
Secretary, CassieWoods-Howell
Treasurer,AnitaMiller
Directors
BryceBethel
MeganDouglas
SusanGebhart
LindseyMartin-Dow
PhilTubbs
Advisory
KyleClifton,CityofClaremore
Relationships
Claremore Main Street operates in keeping with the beliefs, values and ideas of our city, an effort that honorsandstrengthensoursenseofplace.
In order to involve the community comprehensively in our mission, CMS undertakes frequent collaborations with individuals, organizations and businesses. We take pride knowing that our growing community-based alliances reflect diversity,inclusionandgrowth.
Here are some of the dynamic groups and individualswithwhomwearerecentlypartnered.
What do we offer?
There are many unique opportunities for shopping, dining and handling business on the corridor of our main street, Will Rogers Boulevard. Here is a current directory of services.
OUR PARTNERS
Accounting
Matt Heppler, CPA………………………………………. (918) 630-4771
Antiques
Back in the Day………………………………………….... (918) 404-9905
Cranberry Merchant………………………………………(918) 343-8960
Sailor Antiques………………………………………….…. (918) 231-5256
Banking
RCB Bank………………………………………………………(918) 342-7219
BancFirst…………………………………………………….…(918) 807-4101
Boutique
Presley Jay Boutique………………………………………(918) 346-3293
Construction
P&F Construction………………………………………….. (918) 798-1373
Dining
Gibby’s……………………………………………………….…(918) 923-2150
Eye Care
Howell Family EyeCare…………………………………(918) 825-8022
OUR PARTNERS
