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Entrepreneur working to open health food market in Tulsa

By D. Ray Tuttle, The Journal Record

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of stories on creativity in business, education and the arts in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City will host the World Creativity Forum in November.

TULSA – Deborah Perry believes that many people don’t realize how tasty and diverse healthy food options can be. She’s out to prove it, and she’s putting her kale where her mouth is.

Perry is working on a startup health food market, to be named Perry & Son Grocery, and is discussing potential locations with three downtown property owners.

Perry, a vegetarian for 23 years, has been involved with health foods and healthy lifestyles for years. She enjoys sharing that with other people.

Recently, she became involved with the Healthy Corner Store Initiative, and learned about the lack of healthy foods in comparison to the demand and need in downtown Tulsa. The initiative, which is working to bring corner stores into the north Tulsa area, has provided guidance for her.

“I really wanted to bring together the healthy alternatives that I have found for myself and to be able to educate people about ways to eat healthy and still be delicious,” Perry said.

Perry has aspired to open a restaurant or store and even entered the SpiritBank/Tulsa Community College Entrepreneurial Spirit Award competition for a restaurant project in 2006.

“This project has incorporated many of the concepts of the previous restaurant into the Perry & Son Grocery,” Perry said. “When I started hearing the statistics for Oklahoma and Tulsa and the huge need for healthier eating habits, as well as access to these options, I was immediately excited about bringing all of this together.

“There is also a really amazing group of people in the HCSI group who are working together to support new healthy corner stores. It is great to have that kind of support network behind you when you start something like this,” she said.

Since there currently isn’t a grocery store in the area, the store will be unique to downtown Tulsa. It will offer that sidewalk deli market feel that people are familiar with if they have visited other major urban cities. The products and prepared foods will include healthy options like fresh-squeezed juices, Perry said.

“We will also offer many unique ethnic, specialty and international foods. There will also be grab-and-go prepared foods for those on the go at lunch or those who want the convenience of a ready-made meal to pick up on their way home from work,” Perry said.

The growing number of downtown residents will finally be able to shop within walking distance, Perry said. She plans to offer not only healthy foods, but also basic grocery staples. She also plans a downtown delivery service.

Perry has entered the Spirit Award competition again, submitting her executive summaries for the market online during the spring.

After executive summaries were submitted, the top 25 businesses were notified to submit their full plans and make their pitch to a panel of judges. Perry was named one of the 12 semifinalists this summer. Next was coaching in support of the next round of competition. The number will be pared to seven finalists.

Winners will be announced on Nov. 16. The first-place winner will receive $30,000, second place $5,000 and third place, $2,500 – all provided by SpiritBank.

“I am very excited, especially after the (Spirit Award) coaching sessions that were provided as part of the process,” Perry said. “I had really great coaches who gave me so much valuable input and suggestions.”

Through the coaching, Perry took her project in a new direction.

“The project has improved since I have incorporated their advice,” Perry said.

Perry is gaining valuable exposure and benefiting from the coaching and support.

“The whole process really pushes you to keep moving your project forward and developing it,” Perry said. “The combination of all of these benefits certainly is worth it, regardless of the outcome.”