Dream Store 30 Years In The Making

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

JENKS, OK - This is a story about a dream coming true.  Back in 1978, Crista Grimes created a small retail shop called Crista's Corner for a high school business class.

Now, in 2008, Crista Grimes has finally opened her dream store.  The idea for the shop was born in a Memorial High School business class 30 years ago.

"It was gonna be at 51st and Harvard, at the time.  And, I wanted to make it spectacular so, I made it over the intersection, not just on a corner or anything like that," said Crista Grimes.

That part of the dream had to be abandoned, but she found a spot in Jenks she thinks is perfect.  She likes the small town feeling and she calls it Crista's Corner.

Her Crista's Corner dream lay dormant among her Memorial High School memories until she suffered through one too many corporate downsizings.  First there was CITGO.

"Then, I went to work for Dollar Thrifty.  Then I went to work for a title company, and the mortgage crisis happened.  You know corporate America.  I'm done," said Crista Grimes.

She knew she had to try to carve out something different for herself so, she scours the internet looking for things she hasn't seen.

She's found a line of one of a kind pieces of jewelry from California.  And, she also has some items that are handmade in Tulsa.

She says she's read all the books and attended all the seminars.  She's excited about what's ahead.  She opened her Crista's Corner dream two weeks ago on her birthday.

"It's just a whole different attitude every morning when I get up.  I bought a sign that says I love myself, I love my boss, I'm self employed," said Crista Grimes.

Crista's Corner is at 404 South Elm in Jenks.