NORTHWEST
Austin-based organic and natural grocer Whole Foods Market opened its first Oklahoma City store Oct. 12 at 6100 N. Western Ave. in the Triangle at Classen Curve. 

The 41,000-square-foot store features a variety of foods, including options from Oklahoma such as grass-fed beef and goat cheese. In addition, the store features a 50-foot bulk section and specialty foods for those who are vegan, and those who require gluten-free foods.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

NORMAN
A franchise of Nashville-based Gigi’s Cupcakes opened in Norman at 1636 24th Ave. N.W., Ste. F-102. It is the second Oklahoma store. The other shop is in Oklahoma City on N. May Avenue. Oklahoma-born Gigi Butler started the company in 2008.

Each store offers a variety of cupcakes, and each day has 33 different flavors available. The company reports the Norman store is its 40th location with stores in 16 states. Cupcakes are about $3 each.

The Norman store is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

NORTHEAST
The Gift Shop at Remington Park opened near the casino entrance of the racetrack and casino, 1 Remington Place, and offers items from $3 to $300. Designers featured in the store include Steve Madden and Betsy Johnson.

“Our goal is to provide luxury items for less, all the while keeping merchandise fresh and changing inventory often,” says Sharon Lair, Remington Park marketing director. “So the Gift Shop at Remington is filled with trendy, unique items with reasonable price points.”

It is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

MIDWEST CITY
A Walmart Neighborhood Market has opened in Midwest City at 7520 E. Reno Ave. The 40,000-square-foot store carries groceries, produce, frozen foods and meat and dairy items, including organic and gluten-free foods, in a former Albertsons. The store also has a pharmacy, and the company reports hiring 85 new employees.

In January, Walmart Real Estate Business Trust purchased the property for $1.7 million. Mark W. Inman, with CB Richard Ellis|Oklahoma, handled the transaction.

SOUTH
My Personal Trainer, a franchise of the Ohio-based company, opened at 9101 S. May Ave. The local franchisees are Fanci Armstrong, Gary Armstrong and Jon Vanderslice.

The company reports its clients typically lose up to 15 pounds of fat for every 30 days they spend in training, while also toning and building muscle. This is the first branch of the company in the local market.

DOWNTOWN
Officials with Devon Energy Corp. marked the topping out of the company’s 50-story tower Sept. 21 and applauded the 1,200 construction workers who have built the tower and surrounding Devon Energy Center.

The topping out included hoisting the final steel beam and an evergreen tree to the top via one of the construction cranes that looms over the building. The tree was returned – roots and all – to a nearby park where it has been planted for the past few years.

Work began in 2009, and employees will occupy the building next year. Devon officials estimate construction work will be complete by October 2012, and the project will officially wrap up in the first quarter of 2013.

Photo by Shannon Cornman