Choctaw Landing Mercantile stocks products you’ll find in most convenience stores—tobacco, drinks and snacks, among others—but that’s not what draws customers to the Hochatown, Oklahoma, store. The main attraction is its unusual assortment of gift items. “Our uniqueness is our selection of special items—it makes our store memorable,” said Misty Hendricks, executive director of retail operations for Choctaw Nation.

The new Choctaw Landing Mercantile is the Choctaw Nation’s 21st store location, but it’s the first with a focus on upscale gifts and souvenirs. “Because Choctaw Landing [a 100-room resort and casino] is a tourist destination in and of itself, as well as being situated near hundreds of rental cabins tucked into the woods close to Broken Bow Lake and Beavers Bend National Park, we knew we needed to create something really special for tourists and locals alike,” Hendricks said.

Celebrating Heritage

The Mercantile, along with the entire Choctaw Landing complex, honors its Choctaw and Oklahoma history. “Throughout the resort, we have around 600 pieces of artwork by 20 Choctaw artists on display, which adds to the uniqueness and authenticity of Choctaw Landing,” Hendricks said.

Customers at the Mercantile are greeted with a large white buffalo statue made out of fine crystal. “It’s massive and stands right outside the store entrance and attracts a lot of attention,” Hendricks said.

Employees continue the reception by greeting customers with “halito,” a traditional Choctaw greeting. “We want everyone to feel welcome with halito and other Choctaw sayings,” Hendricks said.

Visitors can take a bit of the area’s rich heritage home by purchasing souvenirs made by Choctaw Nation members, such as medallions, beaded jewelry, stick balls and dream catchers. “We’ve begun to seek out Choctaw vendors for other items, such as firewood and freeze-dried candy to add to our merchandise,” Hendricks said. Choctaw Farms, for example, provides jams, jellies, spreads, pickled items, salsa and relish for the store.

To learn more about Choctaw Landing Mercantile, check out the October 2024 issue of NACS Magazine.