GuthrieAmerica Story: Stacy Staton

Hello. My name is Stacy Staton. I currently own and work at Rick’s Fine Chocolates & Coffees in downtown Guthrie (109A W. Oklahoma Ave.). I’ve owned the shop since 2006 and have eight employees. We will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary on Nov. 19!

And if you want to stop in soon, I’m a big fan of the Hot Caramel Macchiato, upside down, extra hot with whip. The milk chocolate covered almonds, I check quality control on these daily. I do check the milk chocolate Almond Wurtles at least once a week.

That’s just a quick plug.

We originally opened the store as a franchise under a different name. It wasn’t more than a year when we decided to get out from under that and try to run it on our own. Rick was my husband at the time and his mother had just passed away. He originally suggested we call it Kay’s Candies but that was already taken. I said, “if we’re going to put anyone’s name on the window it should be yours because you are the one who’s there every day”. Well, when I came home from work that day, he already had the sign on the window changed to Rick’s.

We bought land in Guthrie 2001 and moved in 2003. Land prices were affordable and it was close to Oklahoma City where we both worked at the time.

One of the reasons we looked for land was because of the feeling we had while walking through the streets of downtown Guthrie during The Victorian Walk in 2000. We just knew this was going to be home. We haven’t missed a Victorian Walk since and the feeling has never changed.

The people who live in Guthrie are what make it the best part of living in this town. From transferring our animal records to Corner Vet to working with the city to open a business, every person I have come into contact with is so helpful and friendly.  

There are so many materialistic things Guthrie has you won’t see anywhere else (largest Scottish Temple in the World, Train Depot, Glass Blower, Chocolate Maker, preserved historic downtown district, smallest National Park, Pollard Theatre, etc.), but what really makes Guthrie stand out is the people. You can ask anyone from Jam Productions that put on the Gentlemen of the Road tour, stopping in several other towns across the country, and they will tell you “by far Guthrie has the absolute nicest people!”

My son and I love to fish. Guthrie Lake, Liberty Lake, Mineral Wells Park and Highland Park are our go-to places! At night, it’s the drive-in movie. We are only like one of the few places in the entire state that still has a working drive-in theater.

I love being a mom! My son just turned 10 and is growing into a fine young man I am so proud of!

My Dad lives here now and so does my sister. That was random. But they do. I’m happy about that.

I learned about the GuthrieAmerica through Heady Coleman. He had come in to get a cup of coffee and talk to the building owners about possibly renting the space downstairs (109B) for guthrieamerica.org and told me about the Shipwreck Talks and other projects and events they facilitate and/or host to bring people and businesses together to learn from each other through storytelling.

I think the GA brand is spot on. Any brand that promises to be positive and constantly keeps that brand promise will have a sticking power that no one else will be able to duplicate.

I wear my GA tee-shirt because I love it. I told Heady last year the GA tee-shirt was going to be the next Eskimo Joe’s shirt coming out of Oklahoma. Just watch.

I want to give a shout-out to Tracy Zserdin our new Guthrie Chamber President. She has jumped right in whole body and is doing an amazing job. I am very proud to be a part of the Guthrie Chamber because of her and the legacy of Heady she is carrying on.

Thank you for this opportunity. I am honored to have been asked to share a little of my GuthrieAmerica Story.