Forty years ago on April 1, 1981, Glen and Verona Mair opened The Emporium. The original business was located where the Subway Restaurant is now at 214 West Grand. The Emporium started in the rented building, then moved at the end of the contract in 1984 to the current location. Some of the inventory sold in the store was all wood furniture—Harden Furniture made in the United States which was founded in 1844 and eventually ceased operation in 2018. Neighbors Coffee was sold at the original location. The beans are procured elsewhere, but they are roasted in the United States. Mair continues selling Neighbors Coffee in the store.

Prior to opening The Emporium business, Mrs. Mair worked for Conoco, Inc. for 21 years. Conoco was sold to DuPont around the time she retired. Within one year after opening The Emporium, the Mair’s had the opportunity to purchase The Gift Shoppe business, which they did April 2, 1982. Following the purchase of The Gift Shoppe, Mrs. Mair was able to rent the adjacent building and moved The Emporium to this new location next to The Gift Shoppe. The Mair’s enjoyed a lengthy relationship with a family member of one of Ponca City’s founding families. The Gift Shoppe is in the building that was owned by Reginald D. Barnes, grandson of Burton Seymour Barnes who was the first mayor of Ponca City. Reginald’s father, Louis S. Barnes, constructed the building in 1911. It was called the “Daylight Store” due to the structure’s special design to allow lots of light inside. More information about the Barnes family can be found in an article written by Louis Seymour Barnes titled “The Founding History of Ponca City”.

Early on Hummel figurines (made in Germany, some now made in the United States) was one of The Emporium’s largest selling products. Around the same time Dept. 56 Christmas Village houses came out and Mair provided this product in her store, also resulting in the Mair’s getting to travel as one of the largest sellers of both products. Mair is very active participating in craft and event shows—Affair of the Heart in OKC and now Tulsa. They have been doing this for 35 years, taking gift and assorted kitchen gadgets to the shows. For many years they have had a booth at the Ponca City Herb Festival. Mrs. Mair’s daughters, Kathy Pettigrew and Konni Streeter, work in the business also.

Mrs. Mair has always lived in Kay County. Her greatgrandfather McGaha on her mother’s side got his land in the run of 1893, coming from Peck, Kansas; however, he was born in Illinois. Mrs. Mair was born on the original home place west of Tonkawa. Mrs. Mair’s other local relatives are the Morgan’s, on her father’s side.

Mr. and Mrs. Mair have a privately owned home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, previously owned by Daniel J. Donahoe. Mr. Donahoe built the Ponca City Milling Company and it was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

Their excitement of historical places sparked interest to attend a National Main Street meeting back east in the middle of the 80’s. The meeting was the first introduction at the time for states to get information about a Main Street project as a way to address the myriad of issues facing older and historic downtowns during that time. The project was a nationwide network of coordinating programs and local communities to bring economic vitality back downtown, while celebrating their historic character, and bringing communities together. This venture brought about the Mair’s bringing the project of Main Street to Ponca City in the middle 80’s, with the interest and energy expanding to Stillwater, Newkirk, and Winfield, KS communi ties. Many such festivals and events in Ponca City came about due to the various ideas the Mair’s saw and experienced in their travels. While associated with the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce, she came up with the slogan “Shop Ponca First”.

In this 40th Anniversary year, the business like many others around the U.S. and world, have experienced many adversities. Due to the amazing citizens and community, business is thriving and they are so happy to continue providing several products for the community. “Within the scope of the varieties of services and products, we also do embroidery work at the Stitches area; the pricing is reasonable and quick,” said Mrs. Mair, “and this is where you will always find the unusual.”

Visit The Emporium, The Gift Shoppe, Merle Norman Cosmetics and the Deli-Icious Diner. Lots of exciting and interesting things are happening locally. Mrs. Mair and her daughters wish to honor Verona’s husband and Kathy and Konni’s step-father, Glen Mair who passed away November 2018; and Sherry Treiber, a friend and employee of 35 years who passed away in June 2020.

The Gift Shoppe offers a number of mail order items for customers at their website: kitchenkornerpc.com and a variety of meal options at the Deli-Icious Diner. Contact information: 301 – 307 E. Grand Avenue in downtown Ponca City. The Emporium # 580-762-9614, The Gift Shoppe # 580-762-5345, Deli-Icious Diner # 580-765-6894, and Merle Norman Cosmetics # 580-765-3143. Facebook pages @ The Gift Shoppe – Ponca City OK, Merle Norman Cosmetics Ponca City, OK, and Deli-Icious Diner. Email address: thegiftshoppe@poncacity.net.