Shops of Seville Celebrates 15 Years
INTERIOR VIEW: The Shops of Seville as seen from the outdoor cafe at the Bistro.
Tulsa-based developer Ray Biery of the Winbury Group first announced his Shops of Seville, a dynamic package of unique shops and services, at a grand opening celebration on Sept. 27, 1997. The Shops of Seville, located at 101st Street and Yale Avenue in South Tulsa, continues to be an upscale center serving one of the region’s finest residential areas. The location also boasts one of the highest average household income levels in Oklahoma.
Some of the original businesses at the Shops of Seville celebrating their 15th year include the Bistro, Roberts Fine Interiors, Anita Swearingen State Farm Insurance, Spiffy Cleaners, of Oklahoma, Hunter Construction and the Winbury Group. Donna’s Fashions is just shy of 15 years.
The location of the Shops of Seville is one of the most beautiful anywhere. Realizing this in the planning stages, Biery wanted his shopping center to be one of the finest in northeast Oklahoma. He has accomplished that. He first enticed Don Merrill to design the center. “He’s the premier designer in Oklahoma,” says Biery. Merrill, from Tulsa, was formerly with McCune and Associates and worked with Parker Associates, the architects of the Shops of Seville project.
Biery said that he and Merrill “walked around the Plaza in Kansas City and centers in both Scottsdale and Palm Springs and took the best ideas we could find from those areas. We got our thoughts together, and Don put them on paper.”
Hunter Construction Manage-ment Company built the center, using the highest quality materials and craftsmen on the project.
Merrill even went to New Orleans to purchase the light fixtures from Dan O’Melia at Rau Antiques in the French Quarter. O’Melia is the son of Tulsan and internationally-known artist Jay O’Melia. The cut stone columns are from a quarry in Mexico. The fountain is highlighted by the massive, magnificent “Master of the Sky” bronze eagle sculpture by Jay O’Melia. The roofing is authentic Spanish tile and the extensive landscaping is designed by Steve Williams.
The Shops of Seville is a sophisticated shopping gem for South Tulsans who appreciate such convenience with quality. In addition, the Shops of Seville hosts an Outdoor Concert series throughout the summer months; many of the Shops are open late those evenings for customer convenience. The concerts are free and serve as an evening activity that the entire family can enjoy. The Fabulous Mid Life Crisis Band performs on Thursday evenings. The talented group, with their own take on classic songs, brings back memories to those in attendance. Upcoming dates for the performances are Thursdays Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 from 7-9 p.m.
Happy 15th Anniversary, Shops of Seville.
Updated 09-11-2012
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