WHAT'S IN STORE?
The Market at Commonplace, an extension of Commonplace Books, opened this week in Midtown
Downtown once again has a neighborhood corner grocery whose owners beli eve will match the needs and wants of residents in Midtown, Mesta
Park, the Plaza District and Heritage Hills.
T h e M a r k e t a t Commonplace, 1325 N Walker A v e . , o p e n e d T h u r s d a y a f t e r a n e a r l y t w o - y e a r wai t . Ori g i n a l l y l a u n c h e d with Ben Nockels, Jenn and Duggan Roberts, the market is now separately owned and o per a t e d f r o m t he near by bookstore.
Er i c Ber umen a nd Chri s Castro own and operate the store, which i s open seven days a week, 7: 3 0 a . m. t o 9 p . m. Monda y s t h r o u g h Saturdays and 8 a. m. t o 6 p. m. o n Sundays. Cast r o , who previously operated the Commonplace Cafe attached t o t h e b o o k s t o r e , wi l l b e making grab-and-go meals at the market that customers will be able to enjoy on the store's
patio as furnishings arrive.
Berumen said first day sales exceeded expectations even as more product stocking continues over the next several days.
“We're working with local farmers on produce and trying to get to where it's 100% locally sourced,” Berumen said. “We will have fresh baked goods including from Big Sky Bread (Oklahoma City) and Ferrell Family Bread (Tulsa).”
C o o k i e s , p a s t r i e s a n d baguettes also will be locally made, Berumen said.
The store will have staple items, from cleaning supplies to glassware from locally produced Craig Proper ceramics and home goods. The mix, Berumen said, is inspired by what they are hearing from area residents and will evolve with ongoing feedback. He said they also believe they learned from issues that led to the closing last year of Native Roots Market in Deep Deuce.
The Market at Commonplace has an extensive wine room featuring 100 labels and an equally extensive cheese selection.
“Our drivers will be wine and cheese,” Berumen said. “Our wine philosophy is based on low-intervention wines (free of
additives), small producer stuff from all over the world that is not being manipulated.”
Joining the market as a consultant is Gersand Cazaux, a cheesemonger originally from south France.
“She set it up, she trained our staff, and we'll be doing a cheese and wine t ast i ng monthly,” Berumen said.
Shoppers also will be able to find regular items from frozen pizzas to eggs and milk. The overall mix, he notes, is different from how Native Roots started.
“We see this being a different spot,” Berumen said. “I love what they did. But bringing in the wine selection, the
cheese, the fresh meats — if you only sell a few items in the corner grocery and with shoppers going elsewhere for the rest, they'll just go elsewhere instead.”
With the market open, the bookstore, Gogi Go Korean restaurant, and Sincerely Coffee Roasters now in the former Commonplace Cafe space, the retail space at The Edge Apartments is filled with a mix that ranked high on downtown surveys of desired retail.
“The market is something we've been excited about,” Edge owner Gary Brooks said. “It will be an exciting amenity for our tenants and the surrounding community.”