Give small businesses some love this February

If you’re making Valentine plans, Oklahoma City is filled with interesting, entertaining and romantic local businesses and spots – perfect for a date night or night out with friends.

Oklahoma City has great brunch and coffee options. Stitch has amazing breakfast tacos and coffee roasted on-site. Co-spaced with the Plant Shoppe, you’ll be surrounded by beautifully curated plants and flowers. If you’re looking for coffee, cocktails or both, Spiked is your creative drink destination. New in northeast Oklahoma City, it’s a great spot to relax and find your new favorite drink.

For unique entertainment, plan to spend an hour or two wandering through the fantastical rooms of Factory Obscura with small details and oversized wonder in 6,000 square feet of hand-crafted, immersive art experience, suitable for all ages. They’re hosting the V-Day bash on Feb. 12 and the Adult Night with later hours on Feb. 17.

Give the gift of poetry with tickets to a Poetry & Chill workshop on Feb. 27, see Jewel Box Theatre’s Brief Encounters, the dinner party that goes hilariously off track, Feb. 10-20 or solve a crime with your date at Forensic Night at the Museum of Osteology. Paint and sip at Put a Cork in It or play in the Plaza District’s new adults-only retro arcade featuring 25-cent pinball machines, skeeball and video games.

Still need that perfect gift? Check out the Cargo Room, Oak City Vintage, Plenty Mercantile or Shop Good for a unique gift from a small, local business.

There are too many fantastic dining options to scratch the surface. Goro in the Paseo has a traditional Japanese highball machine with a special flavor each day. Chapala Family Mexican Kitchen recently opened and offers regional cuisine from the area of Chapala, Jalisco. Tokyo House has some of the best sushi in town with sushi-for-two options or keep it causal at Venn Pizza in the Old Britton district.

When it comes to supporting small businesses, you can also forget romance and consider our collective pocketbook. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, roughly $68 stays in the community, compared to $43 when you shop at a national chain. Local businesses also employ the most people in Oklahoma City.

I encourage you to discover new restaurants, retailers, coffee houses, spas and art studios and spread some love to all types of small businesses.