Joe Mathis

In need of some color this winter? So many beautiful blankets and pillows to do just the trick!

At Anybody's Guest - Tulsa, we are having lots of fun celebrating 16 holidays in the next 6 weeks -- come check it out -- we have the goods for your holiday celebrations.

Joe Mathis Joe Mathis is a designer, podcaster, party planner, event manager and author.

Thinking About Friends, Relationships and more!

A friend recently asked me something like, “so, is this store meeting all of what you wanted it to do?” — I’ve thought about that question over and over. My immediate response was, about how it had been fun, but I was still trying to understand my place. My main goals in the store were relationships and creativity! I suppose those goals are being met.

This Saturday, November 16, we are having a Holiday Open House at the store from 10 to 7. When we were dividing up responsibilities, I said I would host the snack table — it would be my way of greeting everyone that came to the store and also have longer conversations when time allows. I’m hoping to see a lot of friends. I’m also expecting to meet a lot of new ones. After all, that is our purpose for the store - to encourage relationships.

My main responsibility with the store has been as main buyer. We have sourced items from over 200 different vendors, manufacturers and cottage industries. Most of those suppliers have less than 15 employees. Many are minority-owned. I’ve had the honor of connecting with people who have big dreams and are having fun watching their business come to life.

I think of the two ladies from Wisconsin, who own a small store, that transitioned into sharing their products with others. I think about the lady I met last week, who figured out how to get some wine stoppers made and now she has a growing business. I think about the man, who as a hiker, has so much passion for the food product he has produced, his eyes dance as he talks about it. We became the first store in Oklahoma to sell his product and he is very excited.

I’m really looking forward to Saturday. We get to show our friends the items we’ve purchased for our guests to buy. I’m excited about imagining how the glass dreidels will decorate the homes of those who celebrate Hanukkah and how my Spanish-speaking friends will be excited when they see the greeting cards in Spanish.

We are having fun with ALL the holidays in November and December. I’ve ordered all kinds of llamas — so I hope some of you are having big llama day parties…

I hope you can stop by. I would love to see you. I would love to introduce you to our small shop and our purpose and hopefully inspire you to take a gift to a friend or neighbor or have some friends over or send a note.

In the end, to me that’s what life is about — bringing people together to enjoy the journey together. I’m glad you are in my life and on this journey with me. See you Saturday!

I’ve chuckled a little bit at the conversations that must’ve happened in meetings: “let’s wait until after the elections to release that!” Because, it feels like a flood of announcements coming out today.

Rick and Sarah Bennett Pendergraft at Riversong Films created this great video for us as part of the Tulsa Regional Chamber Small Business Awards (you know, the ones where we were honored with the Entrepreneurial Success Award. Todd and I talk about our company as a Guest Experiences Consulting company that also does Events (in the more traditional sense)

2024 Tulsa Small Business Awards - Entrepreneurial Success: RumbleDrum Founded in 2017, RumbleDrum started as an event design company and quickly adapted during the pandemic by reimagining itself as a guest experiences company. ...

Happy 918 Day!

I grew up in Southeast Kansas; the 918 area code was just a few miles away in Oklahoma. Growing up, I assumed I would live in Los Angeles, Chicago, or maybe Kansas City. I didn’t imagine living in Tulsa. Tulsa was a “utility” place for us. My dad came to Tulsa every week for 40 years to make money. We might buy school clothes here or look for a light fixture or something.

Around the turn of the century, I accidentally applied for a job at the City of Tulsa, working at the Convention Center. It was a welcome change of pace, and I began to meet some great people. I was at one of the first Vision 2025 meetings in 2001 and couldn’t imagine some of the improvements being discussed for this city. I also had some hard times in Tulsa, trying to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to live.

We had an excellent opportunity to move to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2005, and we said “Yes.” — while we were there buying a house, we switched climates and ended up saying “yes” to Council Bluffs, Iowa / Omaha, Nebraska. We loved the Omaha area and we could imagine living there “forever.” It quickly became our favorite city.

Thanks to the encouragement of Donna Swaffar and Karen Kemp at Saint Francis Health System, we made a slow journey back to Tulsa, landing here in December 2009.

After nearly 15 years of being “back,” I am grateful for this fantastic place.

I decided to list my top 7 things about Tulsa and the 918.

1. Generosity - the most generous city in so many ways.
2. Innovation - I love this forward-thinking place.
3. Cultural - From at least two symphony orchestras, multiple community theater programs, and multiple venues, including a world-known Cain’s Ballroom and BOK Center, a world-class ballet company, and so much more.
4. Parks - While Gathering Place dominates our media, Tulsa has 135 parks within the city limits.
5. Education—with excellent elementary and secondary school districts within the 918, including Tulsa suburbs. Additionally, the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College are known worldwide. It’s also home to the University of Oklahoma—Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa—Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Tech, Spartan School of Aeronautics, Rogers State, and Tulsa Welding School.
6. Corporate Community—The Tulsa Regional Chamber’s work has created a collaborative and generous corporate community. We work together to improve Tulsa. Our strong leaders, from ONEOK to QuikTrip, are community-minded.
7. Leadership—Since moving to Tulsa, I have personally known most of the mayors (some better than others). They are very involved in our community, and our city’s nonpartisan role is a strength. Our city councilors are rock stars.

I really can't imagine living any other place (ok maybe NYC or Nashville... ) but really -- an amazing city with so much opportunity. AND great things to come! I love the 918.

And some of my personal favorites from the Anybody's Guest - Tulsa opening night party.

Here we go! Ribbon cutting at 10am and Anybody's Guest - Tulsa will officially be open. Come check us out at 11th and Lewis in Tulsa - we are the corner of NOMA Tulsa!

Over a decade ago, I showed up to help a friend (Kelly McElroy) put together a party for a client. It was a lot of fun and a great event.

Somehow, Kelly transitioned me into her spot of helping this client and I was off and running.

Through the years, I’m guessing I’ve managed more than 100 parties, dinners and gatherings for that client. If you know much about me, you probably have already guessed that client is Kathy Taylor.

Kathy has become more than a client. She has been a trusted friend, mentor and advisor.

Now, she is becoming a business partner as she, Todd and I open a small shop on Route 66, called “Anybody’s Guest.”

This idea came about in 2023, as the three of us were waiting on guests to arrive for a party. As we started talking about our plans for 2024, it was just a matter of minutes that it became apparent, we were jumping into the retail world TOGETHER or To Gather! The three of us knew immediately that the store would be more about relationships and building friendships than merchandise. We wanted a place that would help people gather in a thoughtful way.

It feels like a whirlwind, as we identified our space (NOMA Tulsa at 11th and Lewis), began searching for ideas (a store not found in Tulsa) and shopping for products. Between the three of us we looked at small shops in places like New York, Dublin, Paris, Greece, Provence, New York, Dallas and Sonoma.

Our mission grew to promote and encourage small businesses. We began to search for suppliers, vendors, wholesalers and craftsman who are emerging, not seen, not largely marketed with unique stories and products.

As we open our doors in a few weeks, we hope we have designed a small shop that will inspire the world to build relationships, bring friends together, and create a welcoming environment that celebrates our differences and shared experiences. We believe in expanding our table to include everyone, highlighting the beauty in diversity.

Watch for details!

Sign up for our newsletter at anybodysguest.com.

And please like and share our pages on Social Media. (Oh - and RumbleDrum continues to grow strong and great things are happening!) Anybody's Guest - Tulsa

I was at a restaurant in NYC recently, and they gave me some post cards and told me that if I would take time to write the message, they would stamp them and put them in the mail for me. It was fun to send a few notes.

It was very easy to do. I've been thinking a lot about that. I love sending cards and notes -- or should I say, I love the IDEA of sending cards and notes, but many obstacles get in my way.

Does anyone know of stores or places that mail cards for you including putting the stamp on them?

The fun surprise of getting a handwritten note in the mail can change my day. Don't you agree?

(PHOTO BELOW -- In other news, I was working on some genealogy notes online this week and ran across this post card sent to my grandmother's sister. I traced down the person who posted it on my great aunt's page -- and discovered she had bought it on eBay and posted it on the site. That was a cool moment.)

After nearly 6 months of ideas, discussions, graphic identity possibilities, patent attorneys and so much agony and tons of opinions - we finally have a name for our new venture! Announcements coming soon.