Ida Red: Tulsa’s Blast from the Past

Sarah Brown

Photo Credit: Sarah Brown

When you think of the word “retro”, one of the first things that comes to mind is a soda fountain. You can picture people, young and old, seated on bar stools, gathered around a counter. A soda jerk serves sundaes, sodas, and other treats. Such a carefree and joyful environment is often hard to come by.

Walking into Ida Red General Store and Soda Fountain is like stepping into the 1950’s. The walls are lined with candy, cards, books, and trinkets. The soda fountain serves ice cream in a glass.

The ambiance is crisp, colorful, and warm—pulling you in to see the store up-close and personal.

The shop is welcoming and tidy, and the employees are friendly. Upon entry, I am immediately greeted as if we were best friends. Store manager Maggie Donoho explains, “We want to promote and influence a culture of love, acceptance, and pride in Tulsa.”

Ida Red has two locations - one in the arts district in downtown Tulsa and the other on Brookside. Wanting to get the best of both worlds, I visited both locations. With old sodas, candies, and other novelties, both shops mirror a homey blast from the past.

While the Brookside store doesn't have a soda fountain, they carry a “smorgasbord of unique gifts,” as Maggie describes it. Their demographic is unique, from wine glasses and bottle openers to toys and stuffed animals to apparel for all, the store seems like it is reaching every age group. “There is something for everyone.”

As I browse through candy, mugs, and socks, I find lots of Tulsa-inspired products. The item designs vary from modern to vintage. “The owners were inspired by their love of the city of Tulsa, and there was nowhere to buy Tulsa merchandise,” Maggie says.

There are T-shirts, cups, stickers, coasters, snow globes, blankets, and more available to further support and promote Tulsa. The merchandise ranges in price—some shirts and snow globes are more expensive. Maggie explained that the company makes a lot of their own products which can account for the higher pricing. Ida Red also sells food products from local venders, like jams and sauces.

All-in-all, Ida Red is a charming place to make new memories. The atmosphere is not like any other store I have visited and Tulsa, and it’s a place that everyone can enjoy— I know I did!