Dec 18, 2008

Gift shop opens branchBy Trevor DavisTulsaWorld.com

Customers peered through windows on a recent morning before Mary Beth Babcock opened the doors to her store early.

Such curiosity has helped Babcock open another Dwelling Spaces, a funky and eccentric gift shop featuring art, music and clothes. Babcock now operates stores in the Blue Dome district and at the Philcade Building.

She recently won an inaugural Tulsey award in the “Emerging Entrepreneur” division.

Babcock said she was reluctant at first about opening a new store in the Philcade, just a few blocks from her other store at 309 S. Detroit Ave. But she says the new site could appeal to out-of-town executives searching for souvenirs or gifts. The 321-square-foot store sells gifts, greeting cards and T-shirts.

Babcock opened the Detroit Avenue store in August 2006. She said that in the preceding months she would write down business ideas, including plans to open a 1950s-style diner or an ice cream shop, but she settled on a gift shop.

The entrepreneur took the name of a former Tulsa furniture store, and she still takes special orders for modern furniture.

Dwelling Spaces carries many local artists and products, including the Louis & Cluck clothing line that designs “Don’t Hate the 918” and “I (Heart) Tulsa” T-shirts.

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